How do you sharpen masonary drill bits?

[Michael]

Hello,

How do you sharpen carbide masonry drill bits? I have a bench grinder.

Thanks, Mike :)

[Roger]

I'd just buy a new one, unless you have a diamond wheel.. The bit insert is silicon carbide, the same as your grinder wheel, so it would likely tear up your wheel.

[F.H.]

If you know how to hand sharpen a drill you can do it if you buy the right wheel. Carborundum (fine grit green in color). Any local tool supply company would have them. The tips are low grade carbide. I am retired machine shop owner. Used to grind them by the dozens for my electrician friends. As Roger suggested it may be less trouble and cheaper to just buy a new one.

[Michael]

The bit I am trying to sharpen is 1 inch. Not a throw away bit. Any suggestions?

[Joe Bobst]

Like a previous post said, a green wheel on your grinder. Easy done. The grinding wheels cost just slighlty more than conventional but tend to wear down rather faster, so don't use it as a general purpose sharpening tool. HTH

Joe

[F.H.]

Correct. Let the wheel cut. With these drills if you get close it will work.

Frank

[Stormin Mormonn]

I sharpen carbide bits now and again with a bench grinder. Light pressure into the wheel, and try to duplicate the factory slopes and angles.

Carbide bits don't have a curved trailing edge, so you don't use the same wrist twist when making the cutting edge.

[TURTLE]

This is Turtle.

Stormy the fellow is sharpening a Masonry drill bit and not just a carbit bit. Regular Grinder wheel don't cut it. You have to have a special type wheel to cut the mansonry bit edges. The grinding wheel material has to be harder than the bit your sharpening.

TURTLE

[alt-hvac Moderated]

I've sharpened masonary bits with a regular grinding wheel.....

[TURTLE]

This is Turtle.

Yes , but you never get the fine cutting edge for the bit to stay sharp for anytime at all after being used. The cutting edge will be jagged and not a feather cutting edge.

TURTLE

[DanG]

Turtle you are right that you need a different wheel. Green wheels are the order of the day for masonry bits.

According to my dad, a retired tool and die maker, "the harder the steel, the softer the wheel."

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Keep the whole world singing. . . . DanG