How to sharpen drill bits using angle grinders

Last Updated: February 28, 2022 by Amer

An angle grinder is a hand-held tool designed for fabrication jobs like cutting and deburring various materials like aluminum, wood, metal, etc. Not just that, it also does an awesome duty of sanding and polishing surfaces for sharpening tools. But why do tools need polishing? Can’t we use them as it is? Better yet, buy new ones when the old ones run out? No, you can not! Tools are too expensive to be bought every time you go grocery shopping. Secondly, who does not want to breathe some life into their toolbox right?

This piece of writing will provide an accessor method to revive your dull drill bit and get it the desired edge that you might need to work on a specific project. But first, let’s address why our drill bit needs to be sharpened. Most of us are aware of how drill machines work. While drilling wooden or steel objects, we all must have encountered our drill bits not spinning as much as they once did at least once in our lives. Instead, plumes of smoke come out and our ears are subjected to high squeaky noises. The minute drill attachments become dull and blunt after some grind which leads them to become unstable or even break off if too much pressure is being applied. This calls for a makeover by a trip to the salon! In this case, re-sharpening using your angle grinder.

Who knew angle grinders held this much versatility in function.

 Things you need to sharpen drill bits using angle grinders:

Below is a list of the things you will need to put a crisp edge to your worn-out drill bit using an angle grinder:

1. Angle grinder:

Some angle grinders come with a speed regulator which works far better in this case. Because you get a certified level of control in your own hands which you can utilize to up-regulate the speed and down-regulate the time taken for this process.

2. Abrasive discs:

A new one would work better because you need a bit of edge. A diamond-coated disc would do wonders too.

3. Drill bits:

They are the subjects of this project. It is also a handy approach to have a new drill bit lying on the side as a guide so you know from which angle your worn-out and blunt drill bit needs edging.

4. Safety gloves:

This is for precautionary measures. Nothing much.

 

Step by Step Process:

Let’s go through the various steps to achieve the edge of the sharp angle you want to achieve with your drill bit.

Step#01: Examine

Familiarise yourself with the rough and blunt edges and grasp that you only need to remove enough metal to get the crisp edge back.

Step#02: Practice

Before the onset of the actual process, you need to practice. For that, you need to get accustomed to the shape and size of the drill bit along with its hold. Choose the distance and gradient at which you want to hold it and familiarise yourself with it so there is a minimal risk of accidents or wrong curves on your drill bits later on. Once you form a memory of the adjustment, handling and sharpening become a child’s play. 

Step#03: Let the game begin!

Once you become confident in your grip and the angle at which you are holding your drill bit against the angle grinder, don your safety goggles and switch the grinder on. Slowly, move the drill bit until it contacts the disc.

Step#04: Uniform grinding:

Firstly, you will aim to get a sleek edge throughout, no specific angle is required. Lightly touch up the drill bit against the appliance and rotate until you are happy with the level of sharpening. Make sure to not go too deep or twist the drill bit too much or it might become slanted. This gets rid of the overall dull impression of your object. Remember to not hold it against the grinder for more than five seconds or you will wear it down beyond repair.

Step#05: Give it a break

After a few seconds, dunk the drill bit into cold water to normalize the temperature. Overheating makes it difficult to hold and optimise it’s control. Inspect your cooled-down drill bit and see if it is good to go.

Step#05: Repeat step four

Upcoming steps will be easier because now you just have to modify your angles and keep repeating the fourth step. Keep rotating the but 180 degrees around every few seconds and the ideal angle to hold it against the grinder is 60 degrees.bFor the indents, hold the drill bit at the extreme edge of the angle grinder.

Step#06: Test run

The final test to whether you were successful at this task would be to cross-check if your newly sharpened drill bit can drill like it’s supposed to. For that. Adjust the drill bit in the drill machine and test try. It should be the surface right away which means that the drill bit works just fine and does not break off. This also implies that you have successfully averted too much sharpening.

Additionally, the test tries also to prove that you have done your job right, in which case, Congratulations!

Tips:

Some additional pointers to keep your drill bits tip-top for longer durations are:

• Blow off the chips and flakes from the drill bits after every use.
• Incorporate the stop-and-cool technique in daily use.

That is all for today’s topic How to sharpen drill bits using angle grinders