How to Sharpen a Brad Point Drill Bit

When it comes to doing little projects around the house, the drill is always in the mix. Whether you are putting together a piece of furniture you bought from a discount store, or hanging some much needed shelves over the bar area, a sharp drill bit is a must. Here's how to sharpen a Brad Point drill bit.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Brad point drill bit
• Metal grinder
• Soft stone
• Protective eye-wear

1. Turn your drill grinder on and let it get up to speed. (This should only take a few seconds.)

2. Place the pilot of the drill bit (this means the pointed edge) against the side of the drill grinder.) You don't want to place the tip smack against the drill grinder as that will dull the blade. Instead, you want to roll the side of the pilot against the edge of the grinder. Think of the way you sharpen a pencil. The shavers move around the graphite tip to remove wood.

3. Touch up the knife edges of the Brad Point drill bit. The knife edges refer to the circular outside of the drill bit that surrounds the pilot. These usually don't need much sharpening on a Brad Point drill bit. Just gently press the edges against the drill grinder to give them a quick sharpening.

4. Complete your sharpening of the Brad Point drill bit by swiping the pilot and outer edges with a few strokes of soft stone. (Think of soft stone as sand paper for metal.) This will remove any residual sharp, jagged edges you may have on your drill bit.

Tips & Warnings

• A Brad Point drill bit should only be used for cutting wood.
• Always wear eye protection when using a drill grinder. Sparks are certainly going to fly when the two pieces of metal collide.