How to sharpen your drill bits // Paul Brodie's Shop
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00:00 Introduction
00:50 Cutting off the drill
01:50 Sharpening overview
03:35 Sharpening theory
06:31 Sharpening the wheel
10:55 Dressing the wheel
13:18 Sharpening technique
17:30 Detailed sharpening how-to
19:48 cutting the web
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You just showed me how to correctly sharpen drill bits! Never realized that there is a technique to properly get the drill square and sharp! Thanks so much for explaining this! I've struggled with this a long time, can't wait to try my hand at this now.
Thanks for watching and commenting. Appreciate it!
Immensely useful. You’re downloading the most superb essence of your intelligence and experience, so generous, so useful, so very much appreciated. Thank you so much. Cheers, Will
Thank you Will. I'm happy that our videos are proving to be useful. Appreciate your comments!
Great Video! The only drill sharping video necessary.
Thank you Pete!
This was one of many skills I was taught in Jr. High shop class in the 70s. It seemed easy then but now when I try to free hand a drill its a challenge. Its great to see someone with skills!
Allen, you have to keep practicing! Helps to have very good eyesight too. Thanks for watching..
This is the best drill sharpening video I’ve seen. Thank you, Mitch & Paul! Wishing you both well!!
Right?
Excellent. I have struggled with this for years. I bought drill sharpener electric things and they never worked or I was using them wrong. This is the most comprehensive, clear, concise explanation I have ever seen. I have bought numerous bits just because the old ones were dull. Thank you!
Thanks Bill. Glad you found value in our video...
Thanks for reminding people to stand to the side when starting up a new wheel. That's a safety issue that many people over look. Great video
Thanks Dave.
It’s always a bad day when they pass right by you and you realize you never could have moved in time.
I love how patient you are in your explanations you’re a great teacher keep doing what you do you’re amazing
I taught Framebuilding 101 at the University for almost 10 years. That experience really helped in the videos.
Yes your are right, I love how patient he is when explaining the process. I’m working on how to do that my self. He is a great example of a humble craftsman. 🤜🏽
@@NestDesigns210 Thank you so much 😉
Great to see that you are out of the hospital and back home again Paul! You and Mitch together have produced one of the best, most informative and entertaining KZhead channels on bike and workshop subjects. Best wishes.
Thank you Ronald! 😉
Ronald thank you for the update with Paul’s health. I’ve been checking the comments virtually daily. I’m curious, is there another area to look at for updates on Paul’s health?
@@davidsnyder2000 Try the about tab on his you tube chanel. There you can find links to Paul’s othet sites
Thanks so much for this. I’ll have to watch this several times but I finally feel up to trying to sharpen 40+ years of blunt drills.
Andrew, you are welcome. Just take your time and have a bit of patience!
@@paulbrodie it all looks possible and lacking in mystery now. I’ll be giving it a go soon.
Right on!
Best video I've seen on the subject. Clearly tons of experience. Solid filming and great detailed useful explanation. Wish KZhead had more content like this! Thank you!!
Thanks Alex. Yes, I have been making things in my shop for many, many years now! ...
You know it's right when you see swarf coming from both sides of the drill as it goes in. :)
Good to see you are replying to comments Paul, you will be back educating & entertaining us when you are ready, of that I am sure. Beaming lots of positive energy from the UK.🤞
Thank you Lodge, appreciate your support 😉
Took me back over 40 years to being an apprentice in the machine shop and being shown how to sharpen drill bits. And truing the wheels. Thanks for the memory Paul.
Thank you. I'm glad I had that experience in machine shop when I was young.
I have been looking at buying a drill sharpener….scraped that idea and instead will buy a diamond grinding wheel dresser and use your technique! Thank you 🙏
Thanks for watching and commenting!
Good morning and hope you are doing better. I also sharpen drills by hand. You know when you're good at it when you're fellow mechanics ask you to sharpen theirs. Now retired, I have my neighbors asking to sharpen theirs. There is something meditative in the process and enjoyable. Blessings 🙏
The best drill sharpening video in the world, I did my fitting machining apprenticeship 30 years ago in Sydney and I was lucky enough to have an instructor who was very much like Paul. Made me a better man and good tradesman :)
Thanks for sharing. Very nice comments, Murray.
Sorcery, absolute sorcery. I will watch this one easily a dozen times. Awesome Paul ,thank you.
Technique, not sorcery! Thanks Glen.
It is amazing how clear your explanations are and how well your video makes the study clear and simple. Thank you so much for sharing.
Thank you Randolph. Glad you liked our videos. Mitch and I keep trying to do better! 😉
Finally somebody on KZhead that actually knows how to sharpen a drill bit. This guy is spot on the angle really doesn't matter what is important is to make sure that the leading edge is higher than the trailing edge and it will cut
Thanks for watching! 😉
This is the best drill bit sharpening video I’ve seen, many videos I’ve watched do not show you close ups of the angles, thank you for uploading this video it’s now in my saved list.
Thank you Frank. Appreciate your comments!
I have binged watched every episode now twice. Nope, couldn’t find Mitch. Reading your responses gives me hope that things are going well and getting better. We are waiting for your triumphant return as I need a little inspiration to get back in my shop.
Not to give anything away, but the is a very small possibility you may be seeing a little more of Mitch in the days to come! Thanks for liking our videos. Mitch and I appreciate viewers like you 😉
👍 , , , my grandfather was a machinist , , , started out during world war two , , , became a machine shop teacher here in Sault Ste Marie , Ontario in Canada at the Sault College , , , i took machine shop all through high school and at the college , , , i really like watching your channel and the things you show and teach , reminds me all the stuff i learned and the the things my grandfather showed me. 👍
Thank you both, that is the best "how to sharpen a drill bit " that I have come across. I have always known the basics but you have clearly and simply upgraded my skillset. I have subscribed. Thanks again
Thanks Roy.. I'm glad you found the video to be helpful...
Extremely informative video! Thanks! Greetings from Ukraine!
Hello Ukraine! Thanks for liking our video...
The best explanation ever, thank you!
Thank you very much!
Best wishes Paul from England, Be Lucky.
Thank you Lodge. I will try to be as lucky as I can 😉
@@paulbrodie 🤞❤️
Making the world a better place. Excellent work, thank you.
Thanks Bradley!
Hi Paul. You are perfectly teaching, thank you so much...!
Prashant, thank you very much!
that was amazing....it was like a one to one personal tutorial...
Thank you. You are very kind!
It took me a lot of time to learn how to sharpen a bit by hand. I got tired of buying drill bits. I finally used new bits to learn the angle, then put them in a drill press to test them. Learn on big bits first and that will help you. I finally mastered the process.
Congrats! Knowing how to sharpen a drill bit is a great skill to have...
holly crap Mr. Brodie, these bits get me so frustrated ,tks for the tip.....!!!
Thanks Dell.
I don't normally watch drill sharpening video's but this time I did. What you showed is pretty much exactly what I was taught in the mid 1970's, including using two nuts to get 120 degree angle which is often 'close enough'. It's pretty much forgotten about nowadays so good to see it mentioned (I've never used a drill guide either and I don't have the rests on bench grinder) I will add two things though, the first you've probably seen, someone who 'knows how to dress the wheel' then using diamond wrong and losing the actual diamond from the holder and the second is using a slip stone (India stone) to remove the edge when drilling brass (to get zero rake but still have clearance angle) Conventional grind often 'pulls' the drill into brass.
Sounds like we have the same sharpening style. I thought about adding brass and plexiglas drill sharpening techniques but then the video would be even longer... I am a little amazed that my Diamond on a Stick has lasted me 40+ years. Thanks for commenting.
Great stuff as usual. It’s very rewarding to hand sharpen a bit and have it cut easily with even swarf. Miss you guys. Hope all is well!
Thanks. Mitch and I will be back after I finish my healing process.
When I was 18 and went to work in my first machine shop, the owner asked if I could sharpen tool bits. Of course I said "Sure". He took out a drill bit, ground the end flat and said "Sharpen it". I did. Been doing it by hand ever since. Great video Paul!
Thanks. Another good story!
thank you for taking the time to really explainthr bit . good job sir i understand everything you explained.
Thank you Stosh!
This is the best drill sharpening video I’ve seen
Well that is a very nice comment. Thank you very much!
I very much appreciated this. Thank you.
Thanks John. We appreciate you watching and commenting....
Thank you that was more informative than I ever could’ve imagined. I now know that I can fix my grinding wheel from being uneven, thank you.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you Paul When I first saw you video I’m thinking why do I need to watch a video about sharpening drills , yes I did learn something and hers a tip if you have a friend in the drilling industry grab a used drill end and they are fantastic for dressing you stones as the buttons are diamond tipped G Luk Paddy from Australia 🇦🇺 🇮🇪
Thanks for the tip :)
Decades of professionalism right here! All free, technically correct, machinest advice. Very grateful for what you've shared so thank you! I now know EXACTLY what needs to be done.
Thank you... for watching and for commenting :)
Thank you Paul.. really appreciate you taking the time to pass on your knowhow and experience. Priceless. Cheers from Wisconsin
Jason, thank you kindly.
I'm very sorry to hear that keep your chin up we need you back in the shop 👍
Thanks Peter! 😉
My high school shop teacher taught me how to sharpen drills by hand just like you and that was over 50 years ago. Well done Paul!
Thank you. I guess some things don't change.
Loving the 'Peter Counter'...who knew his name was Peter? Everybody loves a bit of alliteration!!! Hope you are feeling better soon Paul!!!
Thank you Jeff.
Man, you know when the guy at the machine shop has a clean white linen shirt he REALLY knows his stuff.
Thank you Ben. Yes, I wore my best shirt that day...
The world is on pause, waiting for You. We are expecting You to come back stronger, better and with a good fit. 💜
Thank you Jim. I will do my best. Paul 😉
Another very good instructional, anyone can read a book telling you what the correct words are, but a simple explanation and a good result are often the best teachers. Thanks guys.
Thank you.
Your sharpened drill sounds nice as it goes thru the piece of aluminum. Thank you for sharing.
Miss seeing your videos……your still in my prayers Paul❤️🙏😐
Thank you David. I appreciate your support very much 😉
Excellent instructions! I just now ordered a diamond wheel dresser from Amazon. $19.00. Thank you very much. Best drill bit sharpening demonstration and instructions out there. Instant LIKE and SUBSCRIBE! Greetings from Alaska.
Fantastic! Thank you very much... Greetings to Alaska :)
The best video explaining on how to do something with some much detail. I love it. Thank you, I have learn a lot
Thank you very much :)
this is the best visual lesson for drill sharpening!!! thank you!
Thank you 😉
Awesome Paul, thanks for putting up this video. Your explanations were great, easy to understand 👍
Hope you get feeling better man. Take it easy and heal up 🤙🏻 miss seeing the videos but praying for a quick recovery for you.
Working on it for sure!
Hope you are healing up. I can’t say that I’ve never been into bicycles, I’ve never really been into the type of motorcycles that you build. (Not that I don’t like them) However, I find the way you work on this stuff extremely inspirational. I’ve taken a lot of tricks and tips from your videos. I build and ride pre 1970 Harleys and need any advantage i can get haha. Anyway, I hope you can keep up the great work Paul!
Thanks for liking our videos.What we're trying to show is the "process" of creation, which then can be applied to what ever you want to make, hopefully 😉
Here-here!😄👍 I hope so too🙏
LOL! You guys did the Peter counter!!!!😅 Get well soon Mr. Paul, take your time to heal. And thank you and Mitch for the nicests videos on YT! Good vibes from a fellow motorcycle builder from Brazil.
Yes, the Peter counter! Best wishes to Brazil.
@@paulbrodie Thank You Sir!!! Your work has been a major inspiration to me. Hope you get better soon!
@@akemisaita8824 Thank you Akemi 😉
This is the best drill sharpening that I have seen , many thanks
Thank you Hossein. Appreciate your comment!
Mr Brodie.Your years of experience shine through.This video was an absolute pleasure to watch and understand.Keep up the amazing work..Thank you,from Ireland.
Well that's a very nice comment. Thank you very much!
good video !!that's the way I was leaned to do sharpening drills 50 years ago , by my stepfather who was a professional tool maker, now my viewwing is not very good , can't sharpen smaller drills than 1/8 " on one shot...but manage after redoing from flat and cheking after each step , still have the diamond sharpener ( only good tool for dressing the weels )
John, thanks for watching and commenting!
How are you Paul? Thank you, I know that making this video has been a little difficult for you! I really hope you're recovering well! And I'm sorry... maybe during the video you'll talking about this but as soon as the video popped up I was anxious to write some words hoping you are doing well! Thanks again Paul you are a great person. 😊
Thank you Werner :)
excellent info! national treasure
Thank you very much!
Hi Paul, Thanks so much for your entertaining and educational channel. We all hope you can overcome your injuries soon. Early in my Electrical Trade apprenticeship 50 years ago I was taught exactly what you have shown in this video. I have sharpened all my own drills and everyone else's ever since and is a great skill to have under your belt. Greetings from Australia.
Thank you Australia!
i can just listen to you all day you made me feel so relaxed. the world needs more people like you. thank you very much Paul. your a legend with the gift of the gab. i am now subscribed and will watch all your other videos at my earliest convenience.
One thing that wasn't discussed in this video is head on bit geometry. When you look at a twist drill bit head on the chisel point ( that's the bit in the middle the web) will have an angle in relation to the cutting lip angle. There's two cutting lips one on each flute and they both have to be parallel to one and another. Go look at a bit. If it's sharpened right those cutting lips are parallel. When they're not even they're not parallel. That's not good. You need to keep grinding until they are parallel. Otherwise you'll drill oversized holes. The bigger of the two flutes will swing wide. Throwing two chips is a sign you have an evenly ground bit. If they're not even one lip will cut and one won't. A large part of learning how to sharpen twist drills is studying the geometry. Which in practical terms means really looking at a drill bit and seeing why it cuts. If you make the bits you sharpen look right they'll work right. Paul covered heel relief but he didn't cover parallel edges. A twist drill are chisels in the round. That's how they work.
That's true. However, when you keep track of cutting lip length and angle - because of it being a twist drill - you will be pretty darn close. You develop the feel and chip formation can be checked visibly. Going one step further, you can put a micrometer on the mill table and check the height of each individual flute. An experienced machinist will keep a tolerance of 0,05 mm, but this will of course grow the more you sharpen the same drill.
@@valkman761 if you can hand grind a drill to within two thousandths of an inch ( approx 0.05mm) you are a god😂
When hand sharpening achieving perfection is all but impossible , we can get close but if you want it perfect use a tool and cutter or D bit grinder , i prefer 4 facet sharpening on anything over 10mm 0r 3/8 inch and anything under is either hand sharpened or replaced . I have yet to find anyone on KZhead that shows how to sharpen a number 80 drill !
@@ianbertenshaw4350 Sharpening is not the same as grinding a drill bit sharp from blank as Paul here does. You can dress the edge and here's where the 0,05mm comes into play.
"chisels in the round" ... I'll remember that.
Thanks for this great instructional video on drill sharpening Paul, a very detailed explanation and you went over the tech side of it very clearly. I found what you were saying to be very easy to follow with plenty of close up views. It's easy to wreck a good drill, (and I've wrecked quite a few) if you don't take care and know what you are doing. I saved this video for future reference. First thing tho', I'm gonna check out my grinding wheel - Thanks Paul.
John, thanks for watching and liking our video......
Really clear, informative and detailed explanation of the subject. I've recently discovered your channel and as a long time mountain biker and a woodworker I absolutely love it! Especially your chilled method of teaching, I know a pro when I see one. I picked up a few good techniques here, usually I put a sort of micro bevel then the rake angle on my bits which works ok but I can't wait to try out your more fluid motion. Thank you Paul!
Dear Paul, can only guess what you have to do now with your new situation... If it is how I think, I wish you the best to get through this. Also the break is fully understandable. Have had so much inspiration from your unremittingly activity here for my own technical skill development and enthusiasm to realize my own ideas similar to what you are showing all the time. Get well soon! Best, Martin
Thank you Martin. I believe we might be working on a new video fairly soon! 😉
There is no quitting! Wife and I love your videos and of course you! Please get well!
@@warrenlovell3919 Thank you Warren 😉
Excellent! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
And thank you for watching!
Hahaha! Thanks for adding the 🦚 'Peter Counter' Mitch! 😂 And thank you Paul for sharing your sharpening know-how! Great video! Hope you feel better soon.
Thank you.
I’m sorry to hear you was in the hospital hope you are doing ok wishing you all the best from Texas
Thanks Christopher. We put out a video yesterday... Hope you like it 😉
Although I don't understand English, with the help of Google translator, which is not very good, but with the images of your movements and also the good placement of the cameras, I understood the explanation perfectly. Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, greetings and see you soon. 🫂🫂👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👍🏿
Nice one Paul, the diamond tipped dresser is great, taken from dressing tool and cutter or surface grinding wheels. Your just like myself, softer material to cut more acute angle harder more obtuse, I always just eyeball a good drill for the general angle. In terms of thining the web, we always done it as the drill length gets smaller as the web thickness increases for drill strength, so as you grind the drill down the top land increases, hence thining the web. A great tip for checking each cutting edge of the drill is at the right height is to screw a piece of soft metal against a wall, then a V piece of wood or metal at right angles to. This allows you to place your drill into the v block and rotate and scratch on the soft metal when both cutting faces scratch and follow the same lines as you rotate, then voila each cutting face is cutting at the same height Thanks again
Steven, thanks for watching and commenting 😉
Hi Paul & Mitch, Great demo and explanation on the drill bit sharpening. My college machine shop teacher didn't explain it anywhere near that well! Thanks again!
Thank you Tom.
Another amazingly well filmed and documented teaching video, thank you, Gentlemen. Missing seeing you guys on KZhead, hope you are recovering well Paul.
Thank you Shane! It was not easy showing how to sharpen a simple drill bit. I am slowly getting better, and we hope to resume filming possibly in a few months time 😉
@@paulbrodie 🌺🌼🍄❤️❤️🌸🌹🌷
I was a machinist at an aerospace company when I was tasked with sharpening drills for about 6 months. Drilling titanium and stainless needs a good sharp drill! We had so many drills we had to send them out to get sorted. During that time I developed "The Eye". I still use a drill gauge though to check flute length and angle so that the hole will be sure to drill on size. Pedestal grinders in a shop with many machinists, mechanics, and passersby meant the wheels always had rounded corners. That made thinning the web after hand sharpening a problem. By mounting a thin cutoff blade on the opposite end of the grinder, I was able to make a nice sharp "split-point" with a wheel that wouldn't get rounded corners.
That sounds like a good solution. Thanks for commenting.
Great explanation, thanks. Nice bikes in the background.
Cuts just like a drill bit! 😳👍😆
Then you must have done a good job! 🙂
When I was a young lad I could sharpen drills as small as 1/8th inch by hand. Now that I'm in my 60's anything smaller than 3/8ths goes in the Drill Doctor box. I have always used a guide when sharpening, felt that would be more consistent than hands alone. I never thought to use the single point dresser. I've always associated those with precision machines like surfacers and valve grinders.
Hey Paul, I learned to hand sharpen bits in high school, a skill that is still with me to this day. A story to go with that skill: I was supervising the construction of an observatory. The crew assembling the steel frame for the dome was drilling bolt holes to secure the dome. They told me they had to stop for the day because all their 1/2” bits were to dull to continue. I asked if they had a hand grinder, they did. I clamped the grinder to a beam and quickly sharpened 6 bits. They where stunned that it A- could be done at all, and B- could be done using a hand grinder, C- that as a project manager I knew how to do something they didn’t … Cheers.
Charles, great story! Thanks for watching and commenting :)
Thanks sir, I fixed my dull bits and now they are better than new.
Excellent!
Very good video explaining how to do it thanks for your time
Thank you Ron 😉
Suffering from a bit of separation anxiety from an absence of your videos and when I check to see what's up I find out about your bad news. I can't offer any wonderfully wise words of comfort other than to say that I'm truly very sorry and that I hope that it all works out well for you and that you will return to full and robust health. I'm sure that your KZhead family are all rooting for you and wishing all the very best for you.
Thank you. Yes, I am working on regaining my health, but it is going to take some time. Really do appreciate all the support and good wishes 😉
##0o
When I have to drill say 1/2" holes by hand, I have found impact drill bits work amazing on steel, and no worry about the drill ripping your arm off when it catches near the end. It just doesn't catch using impact drill. Goes like butter, except when I had to drill through an area adjacent where I welded. That was no longer mild steel and it really dulled my drill bit. I have sharpened my own before on a grinder but your explanation was clear with the how and the why so I learned something and will do a better job with my impact bit - hopefully the geometry is similar. Many thanks!!!
Thanks for watching.
Brilliant, thanks so much for the in-depth explanation and techniques.
Thank you Allan...
Paul, give Mitch a raise, that was outstanding camera work.
Yes, I thought so too!
Thanks Paul and Mitch love the attention to detail and what you share with us. Go well.
Combining your expert knowledge with a flawless video makes a fabulous teaching tool. Paul, you are an exceptional teacher. Thank you, and keep up these amazing tutorials.
The best but video and very cool to see old school simple tips with simple rules to follow. People always trying to use a device to sharpen bits but it's not a tool..... it's understanding what needs to happen while sharpening. Thank you so very much...... now I just need to practice my knowledge just learned.
Thanks for watching. Yes, you do need to practice the sharpening technique so that it becomes almost second nature.. Good luck!
Best drill sharpening video I've seen. Now I think I can actually do this! Thanks!!
Glad I could help! Thanks for watching.
ii dont need to sharpen drill bits. I'm watching to get functional storage insprations. Nonetheless, i did learn a thing or 2 about sharpening so thankyou, sir. You have my sub 👍🏼 "Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. "
Thanks Matt. I like your philosophy of life!
Thanks Paul, Ive been sharpening freehand for a while , but badly! Now I can see what I need to do to make a better job, Im thrilled👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks Andrew. Sharpening is a learned technique so have a little patience too :)
I’m guilty of using drill bits down to nubs. 🙂 Thankyou for this one 👍🏻
Thank you Joe 🙂
I have a rest with a angled groove. I think it's for bit sharpening. Thanks for sharing this
Thank you.
That was such a good explanation. Thanks Paul, it explained parts I’ve struggled over, so I’ll be watching again, and giving it a go. I have too many blunt drills and this video will help (has helped) a lot. Thanks again. Les in UK
Thank you Les.
Hello Paul, how’re you doing? Everything good or on a good way with your recovery? Wish you all the best and I stay tuned for your next videos! 👍🍀🌞
Outstanding Paul, well worth the wait...thank you, another brilliant technical video, your a legend
Timing is amazing. As this was being posted I was picking up two big Kennedy chests from an estate sale. Just about every drawer has drill bits mixed in with the Starrett and miscellany, and some are filled with them. I have no way of knowing where he was throwing his dull bits, or keeping the best ones, but at least now I have a path to confidence. Thanks, Paul!
Perfect! Thanks for watching.
Good work 👍
Thanks Much.
Hello sir, you explained the manual sharpening of the drill very well, pointing to common mistakes. Beautiful presentation (!). I was even going to show Internet users the correct sharpening, but you beat me to it 😀. I even learned how to sharpen a chipped cutter tooth myself. First, it performs flattening to the appropriate length. I usually use a grinding stone or angle grinder for this. Then I make a bevel of each tooth, measuring with a caliper. Of course, you can't get precision to the thousandth of a meter with this method, but it's sufficient for your own use. When sharpening the drill, I also make horizontal movements so as not to damage the surface of the ring, which is actually a grinding wheel. It makes the job difficult, but I don't have to smooth it out often with a special abrasive stone. I have not seen such a precisely presented reportage on KZhead so far (!). Congratulations and best regards 😀.