How To Sharpen Drills

[JonnyAlpha]

Hi;

I am fed up with picking blunt drills from my tool box and today I managed to blunt a new ish 8mm drill bit that was bloody expensive (alright £8).

I'm sure I remember my Grandad and my metalwork teacher sharpening drill bits on the side on a bench grinder??

What's the best way to sharpen drills? I don't have a bench grind but do have an Angle Grinder and a Drill of course ;-)

Thanks

 

[brightspark]

Hi;

I am fed up with picking blunt drills from my tool box and today I managed to blunt a new ish 8mm drill bit that was bloody expensive (alright £8).

I'm sure I remember my Grandad and my metalwork teacher sharpening drill bits on the side on a bench grinder??

What's the best way to sharpen drills? I don't have a bench grind but do have an Angle Grinder and a Drill of course ;-)

Thanks

just invest in a cheap small bench grinder then . an angle grinders not much use then get practicing on a few knackered drills

 

[Welderpaul]

Buy a reasonable bench grinder and google how to do it. There's loads of diagrams.
Fair few posts on here too.

 

[711jrp]

Or have a search on YouTube some good informative videos can be found.

 

[Rig Pig]

Don't use the side of a grinding wheel it's very dangerous! (The wheel can shatter) Sharpen the drill on the face of the wheel in a smooth upward rocking motion.

 

[Fazerruss]

Just have a good look at a new sharp drill for the cutting angles then try to replicate it on a knackered bit. Then try drilling a hole with it. If it gets hot and doesn't cut it's wrong so try and try again till it does.
By the time there is only half inch of flutes left you'll have mastered it!

 

[Hitch]

There is plenty of expensive jigs available....none of which I ever use.
Just do it by eye. As above, look to see what it should look like, and keep practicing until you get it right.
A bench grinder is all you need...but don't use them on the side of the wheel.

The biggest thing to remember is not to over heat the bit as you grind it.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Start with the biggest ones, once you get your eye in go to the smaller ones.

 

[brightspark]

Don't use the side of a grinding wheel it's very dangerous! (The wheel can shatter) Sharpen the drill on the face of the wheel in a smooth upward rocking motion.

that is verry true but if u use the reliance drill grinding jigs or there copy ones they sharpen on the side https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=r...p%3A%2F%2Fhomews.co.uk%2Fpage354.html;700;676

 

[Hitch]

But ones 3/4 times wider than the grinding wheel can be a bit harder..... about 10-12 is ideal practice size I reckon

 

[JonnyAlpha]

Thanks everyone as ever always helpfull, looks like a cheapo Bench Grinder is on the shopping list :-)

Just found this video, its USA and says that all general drill bits are 115 Degrees, is this the same in the UK?

 

[Rig Pig]

that is verry true but if u use the reliance drill grinding jigs or there copy ones they sharpen on the side https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=reliance twist drill grinding jig&tbm=isch&imgil=NvHlcXbASXjtOM%3A%3Bhttps%3A%2F%2Fencrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com%2Fimages%3Fq%3Dtbn%3AANd9GcTc1GlmGLYurIurL_ZZiDT5Qa30qtksLYZXT0xiAEMCrcEnlMYR%3B700%3B676%3BZmUTA8K_GN2uBM%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fhomews.co.uk%252Fpage354.html&source=iu&usg=__lp0DYvo_Arhcp_0wKP1dnIq9BIk=&sa=X&ei=ECV1U_OsBKGs0QWvtoGIBA&ved=0CDoQ9QEwAg&biw=1024&bih=677#facrc=_&imgrc=NvHlcXbASXjtOM%3A;ZmUTA8K_GN2uBM;http%3A%2F%2Fhomews.co.uk%2FLrgDrillSharp02.jpg;http%3A%2F%2Fhomews.co.uk%2Fpage354.html;700;676

Oh that must make it safe then!

I strongly recommend NOT finding out the hard way what an exploding grinding wheel can do for you!!

 

[W.olly]

It will be twice as hard with a angle grinder kida and as said can be dodgy although i have done it for small drills, NOT easy, for £20 or so its well worth a bench grinder an dmaybe the cheap drill shapeneres if you cant get the knack.

Practice makes perfect so they say, not that my wifes agrees after every friday night

 

[brightspark]

Oh that must make it safe then!

I strongly recommend NOT finding out the hard way what an exploding grinding wheel can do for you!!

here they have been used for years and still sold . ive used mine for 40 years now obviously u have never used one

 

[W.olly]

here they have been used for years and still sold . ive used mine for 40 years now obviously u have never used one

Thats the one i used, not bad for £10.

 

[Rig Pig]

Yes, I love the way the wheel guard has been removed as well, it's one of those things that you will get away with 99 times out of 100, just a shame that the last one will bite you!

 

[W.olly]

Yes, I love the way the wheel guard has been removed as well, it's one of those things that you will get away with 99 times out of 100, just a shame that the last one will bite you!

Much like crossing the road, use common sense.

 

[brightspark]

Yes, I love the way the wheel guard has been removed as well, it's one of those things that you will get away with 99 times out of 100, just a shame that the last one will bite you!

well the one i have has the guards fitted and i can still use it safely if u want a picture of it

 

[Shedendman]

While we're on the subject,whats the best stone to use for HSS and or TC

 

[brightspark]

carborundum stones for general sharpening and silicon carbide green stones for sharpening tungston carbide