Drill Bit Sharpener

You could sharpen the bits manually. However this is a difficult skill to learn, and even many experienced carpenters do not tackle it. It is a bit of a prestige thing if you can do it. For tips on how to, you can always browse the cnczone.com forums.

If you were to use that method, you would need a bench grinder. Then you have to hold the bit carefully at a proper angle and rotate it till you get the desired sharpness. The angle is the key. Some bench grinders actually have a built in guide. But it is still a difficult task for a newbie.

There is also a contraption called drill bit sharpening jig, that can be found in any hardware store and it is also intended to make sharpening on the bench grinder easier.

Fortunately for those who can’t master this skill there are now sharpeners on the market. The most popular one is the Drill Doctor drill bit sharpener. Check out the manufacturer website for the types, as well as a detailed video on how to use them. These machines range in price from $70 to over $200. But you can also get them cheaper if you search on eBay or the like. Just make sure that the model you chose accepts the size of bits you have.

There are also a number of other sharpeners by Bosh, Westfalia and other manufacturers. Be sure to read some reviews before you get them! Some other useful forums where you can get ideas are http://www.woodworkforums.com/ and http://www.doityourself.com/ .