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Sharp drill bits are fun to use. They work so well. Dull bits are dangerous. They can break. One broke for me once and went through my thumbnail a...
The bit on the left is a little dull. Notice the glint of light on the cutting edge between the two flutes. Compare that with the crisp edge on the ...
People who know what they are doing can sharpen bits by hand. In theory, hold the bit with the shank angled off to the left at about 59 degrees. As ...
This sharpening guide can accept drill bits with several different profiles. My bits have a 59 degree profile on the cutting edge. Set the tool to 5...
The tool has a small tip and the edges of the bit's flutes rest against it. You may have to raise or lower the tip so it fits against the flute edges...
As a starting point make the overhang (space between the yellow lines) equal to the radius of the bit (space between the green lines). See the next s...
Notice the angle of the red line. If there is too much overhang in the previous step, the red line will approximate the cutting edge at the tip of th...
The ideal is to have the shortest cutting edge possible. This would be a cutting edge that runs between the low points in the valleys of the fluting....
When you have the overhang set, turn down the screw that clamps the bit in the tool's trough.
Set the sharpening guide for the length of the bit you want to sharpen. Keep the end of the bit in the moveable trough, not hanging in the air. Loos...
The end of the bit should be squarely aligned with the grinding wheel. I use a radial arm saw for my grinding. The tip of the bit should be even wit...
You want the bit to kiss the grinding wheel while sharpening it. If the bit is too close to the grinding wheel; sharpening will be difficult, the bit...
Swing the tip of the bit to the right. Start the motor.
Swing the rear of the sharpening guide to the right (red arrow) so the tip of the bit moves into the wheel. The yellow shower of sparks is added in a ...
Continue swinging the guide until the tip of the bit is beyond the cutting wheel. You need to rotate the bit one-half turn and repeat the process in ...
This is how your bit should appear. Notice there are no longer any worn, rounded cutting edges casting glints of light. Everything is sharp and cris...
A sharpening guide like this one works well for bits 1/8 inch and above. It does not work with smaller bits than 1/8 inch. Make a special wooden blo...
This is the edge of the block. The angle between the red lines is 59 degrees.
Notice the "V" in the top surface of the block. It runs the length of the block and makes a place for the small bits to be cradled. The angle betwee...
Place a bit into the "V" groove on the back face of the block. Place the block into a vise so the end of the bit rests on top of and against the jaws...
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Posted:
Apr 10, 2009
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