We’re sure that no one would want to replace their drill bits every now and then once they become dull. It would mean a great sum of money which is not really ideal, especially if most of your projects involve the drilling process. This is why sharpening drill bits is an important skill to learn. However, it can be extremely challenging for some individuals who are just starting to learn things about drills and bits. Thankfully, different drill bit sharpeners are available to reduce the guesswork and make things more straightforward.
In the same way that we are traditionally and manually sharpening bits in various ways, drill bit sharpeners also come in different forms. They can be a piece of attachment where it would guide you as you sharpen bits using other equipment (e.g. bench grinder, belt sander, or drill) or an electric sharpener with a grinding stone inside the machine. But the question is, do they all work the same? Well, no.
With this, it is very important to have keen eyes towards your choices and scrutinize each of their attributes. Before diving in, make sure to take note of the important entails that you need to consider. The sharpener’s type or form is the biggest thing that needs to be addressed. As said, they usually come in two forms: electric and attachment.
Apparently, attachment types are more affordable. Using them, however, would commonly entail a steep learning curve and effort as you would still manually control and position the bit to the angle that needs to be sharpened. For example, General Tools 825 is a sturdy attachment that offers unwavering balance and control for the process. However, the outcome of the bit’s sharpness would depend on how you would perform the sharpening process.
On the other hand, electric sharpeners are more undemanding, though there are still some tweaks and adjustments needed to do before the sharpening process. The Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X is a good example of this type of drill bit sharpener. While it is really a challenge to prepare the bit and do the adjustments needed, the actual process won’t even take more than 3 minutes.
Followed by these things, it is also a must to check for the bit compatibility of the sharpener as some of them can only cater to limited size of bits. The cost, durability, and brand, of course, are also big factors that should contribute to your decision.
That being said, it might be pretty challenging to find the ‘best’ among the vast options on the market. Nevertheless, it can also be fun! Let us help you out and join us as we explore the unique designs and different innovative forms of today’s drill bit sharpeners.
We picked the 5 best ones available on Amazon and after a series of personal tests and comparisons to each item below, we assure you that you’ll find the best one by the end of this exciting, informative read!
Best Drill Bit Sharpeners Comparison & Rating
Drill Bit Sharpeners | Features |
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1. Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X Drill Bit Sharpener
Brand | Drill Doctor |
Weight | 3.87 pounds |
Bit Range | 3/32-inch to ¾-inch |
Electric | Yes |
Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X is an all-in-one set that you need to sharpen a variety of drill bits: high-speed steel, masonry, cobalt, and tin-coated drill bits.
It really looks intimidating at first but using Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X is really a breeze. Just insert the bit into the chuck and close it. After that, put the chuck into the alignment port by simply pushing down a button found at the top of the port which controls a clamp. It will secure the chuck as you perform the sharpening procedure.
Moreover, you have the option to adjust the sharpening angle from 115° to 140°. Once the chuck and the bit are positioned, you just need to adjust the bit position using the knob at the back of the clamp.
The clockwise rotation of the knob is for light sharpening adjustment, while the counterclockwise rotation will give you more force in cutting or sharpening the blades of the bit.
Right after securing the bit by tightening the chuck knob, your bit is ready to be sharpened. No big efforts needed. Just light pressure in each turn and you’ll hear the machine working on your bits.
In a matter of 2 to 3 minutes, you can sharpen drill bits easily with or without a split point. In each sharpening process, you’ll get a bit that can drill into metals without any struggle! The fastest and the most reliable drill bit sharpener out there!
2. GOODSMANN Electric Drill Bit Sharpener
Brand | GOODSMANN |
Weight | 2.36 pounds |
Bit Range | 1/8" to 25/64" |
Electric | Yes |
This GOODSMANN electric sharpener accepts bits with diameters from 1/8" to 25/64" (3 to 10 mm). Using this is pretty much more straightforward compared to the Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X. It features a set of multiple holes that can cater to different bit sizes. They are also labeled properly for easier identification of sizes.
To start the sharpening procedure, you just need to lower the sharpening stone by rotating the knob on top in a counterclockwise motion until you reach the maximum position. Then, just insert the bit into the hole that fits it snuggly, turn the machine on, and turn the knob clockwise until the grinding sound begins.
Once it is running, all you need to do is to sharpen the sides of the bit one at a time. Just turn the bit lightly left and right for a few numbers and check if it already meets your preference. Do the same process to the other side of the bit blade by turning it 180 degrees. If you think you need to repeat the process again, do it. After all, it is pretty simple and no tricky adjustments are needed. Most of all, it will just take you 9 to 10 minutes to sharpen the bit! Winner!
3. General Tools 825 Drill Grinding Attachment
Brand | General Tools |
Weight | 0.32 ounces |
Bit Range | 1/8" to 3/4" |
Electric | Not Applicable |
Before you buy this General Tools 825, it is important to know that this is just an attachment and you need a bench grinder that will generally do the sharpening process for you. Hence, the thing that this attachment is selling is control and precision on the end of the users.
In order to set it up, you need to first fix it to a piece of wood that will serve as its base. The main base of the attachment is specifically designed to allow the body to be pushed forward and backward to easily withdraw the bit once you are done sharpening.
The attachment has a cradle where you can put the bit after loosing the binding screw. It also comes with a metal rest at the tip part of the body that will support the bit during the sharpening process. Just adjust the rest until it is set behind the cutting edge of the bit.
Moreover, it features a rear bracket that will further add to the support of the bit position and a screw that makes the adjustment and advancement of the bit very easy. It also has embossed labels for the angle degrees so determining what you need is easy.
Once you’ve made your adjustments, you now have a reliable sharpening attachment that you can use with your grinding wheels.
It offers great control by moving the attachment left to right or vice versa. The head of the attachment is very firm. No wobbling at all. Just smooth movements from left to right that will allow a great sharpening experience.
Generally, the screw-turning and adjustments are really challenging. That is true. Getting the precision you need has a learning curve but once you master this attachment, everything will be a piece of cake.
4. Bosch S41 Drill Bit Sharpener
Brand | Bosch |
Weight | 1.32 pounds |
Bit Range | 2.5 to 10 mm |
Electric | No |
Bosch S41 works through the aid of a drill. It accepts bits from 2.5 to 10 mm and offers a 118-degree sharpening angle.
The setup is pretty simple compared to Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X and General Tools 825. It comes with a drive element that you will install into the chuck of the drill and after that, you can now attach the drill to the sharpener itself. Just use the clamping screw that will secure the connection between the drill and the sharpener.
It runs efficiently by setting the speed of the drill between 2000 to 3000 RPM. Once it is running, the sharpening process is pretty much like using the GOODSMANN electric sharpener. Just put the bit into the hole that is appropriate for its diameter. Sharpening the bit should be done one cutting edge at a time using light pressure. Fast and easy.
5. CZS Portable Drill Bit Sharpener
Brand | CZS |
Weight | 9.6 ounces |
Bit Range | 2.0 to 12.5 mm |
Electric | No |
Just like General Tools 825, this CZS portable drill sharpener basically needs another tool in order to work. However, compared to the latter that uses a bench grinder, this one relies on a screwdriver drill.
The use and overall use and setup of this sharpener are very straightforward. You just need to fit connect its 6.35 mm standard hexagonal handle to the drill and set your bits to one of the three drill guides available: 2.0 to 5.0 mm, 5.0 to 8.0 mm, and 8.0 to 12.5 mm. The sizes for the bits are indicated on the bottom part of the body and are all embossed for longevity.
Once all set, you can now start sharpening by gradually pushing the bit toward the running grinding stone. Apparently, it will take a longer time to sharpen bits using this sharpener. There is also a learning curve to get the cuts you are looking for. Nonetheless, with patience and proper angle, you’ll be able to sharpen your bits at an affordable price.
Best Drill Bit Sharpeners - Buyer's Guide
The type of drill bit sharpener comes in a variety. They could be in a form of attachment, models that rely on other tools in order to function, and electric tools. Apparently, they vary in prices, with the smallest sharpeners like the CZS Portable Drill Bit Sharpener being the cheapest option and the electric models being the most expensive. Nonetheless, the price of the type of model shouldn’t be the sole basis of your decision. Each type of drill bit sharpeners offers a specific set of capabilities and limitations so you might want to check on them.
The performance of the drill bit sharpeners depends on their types.
Small sharpeners like the CZS Portable Drill Bit Sharpener will consume more time in order to achieve the sharpness you need. Due to the small size of the sharpener and its grinding wheel, you can’t expect that it could handle heavy-duty bits. If you want something more powerful than that, a bigger attachment like the GOODSMANN Electric Drill Bit Sharpener is more capable of the work. It can allow higher RPM and can cater to tougher types of bits and different sizes.
On the other hand, the electric drill sharpeners are utterly powerful and can deliver the work faster. One good example is the Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X that can sharpen bits within a few minutes. There is some learning curve to deal with but the power of its grinding system is efficient. It can remove a great amount of metal on bits with just a few turns. It is also fashioned with a great number of ergonomics to ensure your sharpening process would be done right so you can be sure that the bit would be able to drill materials effectively in the future.
Another is the attachment for sharpeners like the General Tools 825. Preparing it would take some time but the control it could offer to you is unbeatable. Since it is just an attachment, the sharpening process relies on your knowledge and that is a good thing. It means as long as you know the appropriate angles to sharpen the bit, you’ll be able to beat the performance of electric sharpeners.
Using drill bit sharpeners would always present you with a learning curve, though they vary in degree. Smaller models like the GOODSMANN Electric Drill Bit Sharpener, Bosch S41, and CZS Portable Drill Bit Sharpener are very straightforward and can be used by any type of user. However, getting the results you need might take longer. Conversely, the Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X is more intricate. Lots of preparations before you could sharpen the bit but the process itself is very fast. Attachments, on the other hand, like General Tools 825 are more suited for individuals who have prior knowledge about the manual sharpening process.
If you seldom use drill bits, a small sharpener that can only cater to a small range of drill bits would just be fine. However, if drilling is a great part of your job, investing in a big and powerful drill bit sharpener is a must. In this case, the Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X is the best to have. Compared to other models, it won’t just allow a faster and more efficient sharpening process, but it is also capable to deal with different bit sizes.
Best Drill Bit Sharpeners - FAQs
The use of the drill bit sharpener depends on the type or model. Electric sharpeners and those that use other tools to rotate the grinding wheels would let you put the bits into specific holes that fit the size of the bit. The Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X is one of them. With just a few turns of the bit, you can get the sharpness you need.
Yes, it is worth buying a drill sharpener. Replacing bits once they get dull can cost a lot. This is a problem if you have to deal with drilling projects at all times. With this, drill bit sharpeners are a cost-effective option if you want to have sharp bits at all times.
Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X is an all-in-one set that you need to sharpen a variety of drill bits: high-speed steel, masonry, cobalt, and tin-coated drill bits. It is one of the best drill bit sharpeners due to its capability to sharpen bits in minutes.
Yes, you can sharpen cobalt drill bits using drill bit sharpeners. Big models like Drill Doctor DD750X-W 750X can handle such type of bit but cobalt can also be sharpened using a bench grinder. In this case, an attachment like the General Tools 825 is more suitable to use.
