7 Best Drill Bit Sharpeners in 2022

Whether you’re a handyman, a passionate DIY-er, or a professional, you undoubtedly use your drill (and your drill bits) on a regular basis. Over time and with lots of use, your drill bits will become dull and ineffective. You either have to throw them out and purchase new ones or put up with their sluggishness. This means it can take you longer to get the job done, your drill has to work harder, or the quality of your work suffers.

This is precisely why you need a drill bit sharpener. These tools take the guesswork out of sharpening your drill bits, giving them a new lease of life. Having sharp drill bits will save you both time and money in the long run.

There are a variety of drill bit sharpeners available on the market. If you’ve never used one before, the choice can be quite confusing. To save you hours of research, we’ve done the hard work for you and provided you with a rundown of the 7 best drill bit sharpeners available on the market today.

There’s a variety of different models to choose from. These include electric benchtop models, sharpener attachments for your bench grinder, and portable designs that attach and use the power of your drill. These are all easy to use and highly effective.

To give you even more information, we’ve included a comprehensive buying guide on the best drill bit sharpeners so that you’re aware of the different features you can choose from! This will help you to make a better buying decision.

View the Best Drill Bit Sharpener, Below.

• Drill Doctor DD750x-W Drill Bit Sharpener
• Tormek DBS-22 Drill Bit Sharpener
• CZS Portable Diamond Drill Bit Sharpening Tool
• Drill Doctor DD350X Drill Bit Sharpener
• General Tools 825 Drill Grinding Attachment
• Drill Doctor DD500X Drill Bit Sharpener
• TACKLIFE Multifunctional Bench Grinder for Drill Bits

1. Drill Doctor DD750x-W Drill Bit Sharpener

Best Drill Bit Sharpener For Professionals

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This titanium Drill Doctor 750x drill bit sharpener can sharpen a variety of different drill bits. This includes masonry, steel (high-speed), cobalt, and TiN-coated materials. The 750x is a professional and easy-to-use system for keeping all your regularly used drill bits perfectly sharp. This Drill Doctor 750X sharpener is designed to sharpen dull drill bits in less than a minute.

Why We Liked It: You'll find this Drill Doctor 750x drill bit sharpener easy and fast to use. It will quickly resharpen all your drill bits every time. It only weighs 6.6 pounds, so it's easy to move to where you need it. It also features a Push to Stop design on the drill point splitting port, which helps prevent the drill bit point from over-splitting.

2. Tormek DBS-22 Drill Bit Sharpener

Best Drill Bit Sharpening Jig

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This drill bit sharpening jig is designed to fit all Tormek sharpening systems. This includes the T-7, T-4, T-3, and the Supergrind 2000. The jig produces a four-facet grind that's superior to a split-point. It makes the sharpened bits self-centering and increases the life of your drill bits. Plus, it's one of the best drill bit sharpener attachments available on the market.

Why We Liked It: This drill bit sharpening tool can restore your worn or broken bits to a perfect shape. The four-facet point is far more durable and gives you more precision than a split-point. This means that your sharpened drill bit can last up to four times longer than a brand new one.

3. CZS Portable Diamond Drill Bit Sharpening Tool

Best Drill Bit Sharpener For Value

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This diamond sharpener is designed to sharpen iron drill bits. It's compact and portable, so you can always have it on hand to resharpen your drill bits. It's made from high-quality ABS plastic with a corundum grinding wheel.

Why We Liked It: This portable sharpener is a compact and easy-to-use tool. It's suitable for sharpening iron drill bits and fits most electric screwdriver drills. It provides an inexpensive way to sharpen your drill bits when you're on the job.

4. Drill Doctor DD350X Drill Bit Sharpener

Best Drill Bit Sharpener For Beginners

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This drill bit sharpener from Drill Doctor features an industrial-strength diamond wheel that won't change shape after a lot of use. The unit has V-block jaws to hold the drill bit firmly in place while sharpening.

Why We Liked It: This Drill Doctor drill bit sharpener is designed for hobbyists and homeowner builders. It's an easy-to-use tool and will sharpen your bits effectively so that you can get on with whatever drilling you need to do. Plus, the diamond wheel will even sharpen carbide bits.

5. General Tools 825 Drill Grinding Attachment

Best Drill Bit Sharpening Attachment

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This General Tools 825 drill bit sharpening attachment is suitable for most standard electric bench grinders and surface grinders. It features various angle adjustments and a pivoting neck so that you can sharpen both sides of the drill bit at once.

Why We Liked It: This simple sharpener attaches to your bench grinder. It helps you do a better job than is possible if you're sharpening freehand.

6. Drill Doctor DD500X Drill Bit Sharpener

Best Drill Bit Sharpener For DIYers

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The Drill Doctor 500X Drill Bit Sharpener will allow you to sharpen and split drill bits up 1/2 inch. It's designed for use by both DIYers and professionals. It includes a replaceable diamond sharpening wheel.

Why We Liked It: This Drill Doctor 500X drill bit sharpener makes sharpening your worn drill bits easy. It can handle almost all drill bits and allows you to create a split point. It includes jaw guides to eliminate jaw twisting, especially on small drill bits.

7. TACKLIFE Multifunctional Bench Grinder for Drill Bits

Best Multi-Purpose Drill Bit Sharpener

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Not only will this bench grinder sharpen many types of drill bits, but it will also sharpen knives, chisels, scissors, and axes. It includes two grinding wheels. The corundum wheel is suitable for knives, axes, and scissors, while the diamond grinding wheel is better suited to drill bits and chisels.

Why We Liked It: This bench grinder not only lets you sharpen your drill bit. It's also a multi-purpose tool that enables you to sharpen other tools such as chisels, knives, scissors, and axes. It has two grinding wheels to suit different applications.

Best Drill Bit Sharpener Buying Guide

A good drill bit sharpener will save you a lot of time and frustration. If your drill bits are blunt, then they’re no longer as effective as they used to be, and the quality of your work will suffer. It could take you twice as long to get the job done.

You might have been using a bench grinder to sharpen drill bits. This requires a certain amount of accuracy, and you could be wasting a lot of drill bits before you eventually get it right. A tool that’s designed specifically for sharpening drill bits will make the job much easier – plus, you’ll get more accurate results much quicker!

How Does a Drill Bit Sharpener Work?

Drill bit sharpeners are designed to hold the drill bit at the right angle to make for easy sharpening quickly. This takes the guesswork out of getting the angle right. With a sharpener, you insert the drill bit into a jig or a chuck. After placing it into the machine, you set the correct angle, depending on how much of the bit you want to remove. Turn on the tool, and the grinding wheel will grind away the exact amount of drill bit you selected.

With some machines, like those made by Drill Doctor, you turn the drill bit over and repeat the process. Keep in mind that some drill bit sharpeners work as an attachment to your bench grinder. You can still use your grinder, but the attachment takes the guesswork out of getting the right angle.

What Should You Look For When Choosing a Sharpener?

To get the best drill bit sharpener for your particular needs, you have to know what features to look for. Here are some general guidelines to consider before you choose the perfect tool for your needs.

Size and Weight

If you only have limited space in your workshop, you want to make sure that you get a sharpener that doesn’t take up too much room. You also don’t want a really heavy tool, especially if you’ll be taking it to a work site regularly. The size of drill bits that the sharpener can accommodate is also important. Look at the drill bits you use most often, and then choose an appropriate sharpener that will work with those bits.

Most drill bit sharpeners can handle smaller bits, but not all will accommodate larger drill bits. If you use larger drill bits often, you’ll want to make sure that the tool you choose can sharpen them because these are generally expensive to replace.

Additionally, small drill bits tend to dull much faster, so you need to make sure that the sharpener can handle these as well. There’s nothing worse than a dull drill bit when you’re trying to finish a project!

Durability

Another aspect you’ll want to look at is the tool’s durability. A machine with plastic housing isn’t going to be as durable as one that’s made from cast aluminum or silicon carbide. Check the sharpening wheel’s material too. A harder, more durable sharpening wheel will last far longer, and you won’t have to replace it too often.

Power Source

If you know you’ll only use your sharpener at home, then getting one that needs to be plugged into a power socket is absolutely fine. Electric-powered drill bit sharpeners typically come as benchtop models, while others are available as attachments for your bench grinder.

However, if you want a sharpener that’s more portable, you might want to consider a manual one that uses your power drill to drive it. This means that if you have no access to electricity and you’re faced with dull drill bits, you can still sharpen them and get the job done.

As you can see, selecting the correct power source is important. It will save you from leaving the job to purchase new drill bits or taking the worn ones back home to sharpen them.

The Grinding Wheel’s Material

Different drill sharpeners use different types of grinding wheels. The best one for you should reflect what your bits are generally made from, as not all grinding wheels are suitable for all bit types.

The Type of Drill Bits

Another aspect to consider is what type of drill bit the tool can file. Some drill bit sharpeners can handle all types of drill bits. This includes carbide bits, masonry bits, titanium bits, and cobalt drill bits. Have a look at what your most-used bits are made from, and make sure you select the best sharpener for your needs.

You’ll find that the best drill sharpener will use a diamond wheel. These wheels are heavy-duty and can easily handle tough carbide bits. Alternatively, if you use a lot of carbide bits, you can look for a bench grinder attachment. This means that you can make sure that your grinder uses a diamond wheel.

The Stability of the Sharpener

If you’re going to go for a benchtop sharpener, you want to ensure that it’s possible to secure the tool to the bench. You certainly don’t want it to be moving around when you’re trying to sharpen a bit. However, if you’re working with a manual sharpener that uses your drill as its power source, you’ll want to ensure it has a good grip that’s easy to hold onto.

How Easy is the Tool to Use?

Using a sharpener instead of manually sharpening your bits should make the job easier and give you a more accurate point. You want to ensure that the sharpener is easy to set up and use. It should require minimal effort from you to get a nice sharp point on your bit.

Does the Sharpener Require Maintenance?

Let’s face it – all tools require a certain amount of maintenance. But, if you constantly have to stop your sharpening to change the grinding wheel or make other adjustments, this will only waste your valuable time. When you select the best drill bit sharpener for your needs, make sure you determine what maintenance the sharpener requires and how often the grinding wheel needs to be replaced.

How Versatile is the Sharpening Tool?

Consider whether you just want to sharpen bits or if you want something that can also take care of knives, chisels, scissors, and other tools. If you only need to sharpen drill bits, then a dedicated bit sharpener is ideal. However, if you’re constantly sharpening other things, you might want to consider a multi-purpose tool. This will allow you to sharpen a variety of tools.

Another thing to consider is whether the sharpener has an adjustable angle. A good sharpener will let you adjust the sharpening angle to suit each individual drill bit. Drill point angles can vary from 118 to 135 degrees.

Drill bits for different types of material typically require different cutting edges. A drill bit designed for wood is likely to require a sharper angle than one primarily used to drill into metal. Therefore, to sharpen bits effectively, you need a sharpener that you can adjust to suit these different angles.

The Cost or Value for Money

Another thing to consider is the cost of the drill sharpener and whether you’re going to get the best value for money. To determine whether buying a benchtop sharpener will be worth it, you should ask yourself how often you’ll be using it. If you’re constantly sharpening your bits, then this could definitely be a good investment. It will save you money because you won’t have to replace your dull or broken bits constantly.

But, if you only need to sharpen the odd drill bit here and there, you might find that a portable sharpener is more worthwhile. These are much cheaper to purchase but will still allow you to sharpen drill bits when you have to.

Alternatively, if you already have a bench grinder but find that sharpening your bits is both cumbersome and doesn’t give you the best results, consider investing in a drill sharpener that attaches directly to your grinder.

What are Some Advantages of Purchasing a Drill Bit Sharpener?

There are a number of major advantages to investing in a sharpener.

It Saves You Money

Firstly, having a sharpener that you can use at any time will save you money. If you’re constantly using the same bits either at home or on the job, they will soon become dull and ineffective. This means they won’t work as quickly, or you’ll get uneven or misaligned holes. When this happens, you generally have to throw the bits away and buy new ones.

However, when you have a sharpener, you can easily hone the points on those dull bits and extend their life. This means you won’t constantly have to buy new ones. This is also better for the environment because you’re throwing away your dull bits.

It’s also more convenient to be able to sharpen your bits when you’re on the job. This saves you from having to put down your tools, drive to the hardware store and purchase new bits to replace the worn ones. This can waste time that you could otherwise be spending on completing your project.

You Get More Accurate Results With a Sharp Bit

A sharp drill bit will work faster and give you a more accurate result. A bit with a dull tip won’t dig in easily. This means that the tip is likely to slip, and you’ll end up with a hole in an incorrect spot. However, you can easily drill a perfect hole with a sharp drill bit.

Using a sharp bit is also better for your drill. It allows your drill to work more efficiently and doesn’t put unnecessary strain on it.

It’s Much Safer To Use Sharp Bits

Using sharp bits is also much safer. If your drill bit tips have become dull, you have to apply more pressure when drilling a hole. In this instance, if you’re using a thin bit, the extra pressure can easily cause it to snap and break. This could result in pieces flying right at you – they could lodge in your eye if you’re not wearing safety glasses.

Therefore, having sharp bits is far safer for you and the people working around you.

Useful Tips

Here are some tips to make sharpening your bits easier.

• You should clean the bit before sharpening it.
• Ensure that you wear gloves when you’re sharpening your bits. This will help you avoid any injuries to your fingers, especially from small splinters of shaved-off metal.
• Make sure that you store your sharpener in a dry environment. This will stop the tool from becoming rusty or corroded.
• After you’ve finished using the sharpener, give a quick wipe-over, including the grinding wheel. You should also unplug it from the power socket. A little bit of maintenance after each job will ensure the longevity of your tool.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it really worth sharpening your bits?

Drill bits become dull with use, and thus they become ineffective. Every bit is worth sharpening once it loses its sharp point. This is far better than just throwing them out and buying new ones, especially, if you use the same bits over and over again.

What’s the best angle for sharpening bits?

Most bits use either a 118-degree angle or a 135-degree angle. You will find that there are drill bits that might use a different angle, but these two are the most common ones.

Is it possible to sharpen Titanium bits?

It’s possible to hone the point on these, but it’s not recommended. This is because these bits come with a special coating that gives them their hardness. When you file these bits, the grinding wheel is likely to remove this coating. You can still use the bits, but they won’t be quite as tough.

Which drill bits are better – Titanium or Cobalt?

Titanium bits have a special coating that gives them extra durability. They are said to last six times longer than a high-speed bit. However, cobalt bits are designed to drill into hard metals such as titanium, hardened stainless steel, and cast iron. These are, however, not designed for general purpose drilling.

Which is better – Carbide or Cobalt?

Carbide bits can be used on hardened steel and work effectively enough. But these bits are also brittle and will break easily. Therefore, if you want to drill into hard metals, it’s better to use cobalt bits.

Conclusion

Whether you’re a home handyman or work on a job site, you undoubtedly use your drill a lot. And, you probably have a collection of drill bits that you use all the time. Unfortunately, these bits will become dull over time and lose their nice, sharp point. This means they become ineffective and certainly won’t work as well.

When this happens, you generally have no choice but to throw them out and go and buy new ones. However, with a drill bit sharpener, you can easily solve this problem and save your old bits from adding to the landfill problem.

We’ve saved you hours of research by giving you all the features, good and bad, of the top 7 best drill bit sharpeners. We’ve included benchtop models, portable hand-held designs, and jigs that you can attach to your own bench grinder.

We’ve also provided you with a very comprehensive buying guide, ensuring that you know exactly what to look for. You’ll be able to choose the model that’s ideal for your needs. We hope you find this guide useful and have saved some money by ensuring that you will hardly ever have to throw out your old bits!