No one has mentioned this, but it's pretty easy to resharpen a drill bit, or even "flatten the angle"!
With a little practice you can get the clearance angles pretty good - any machine data reference will show the correct clearance angles - just guess them as close as you can and you can reuse the bit.
It's a bit of a dying art; I was taught during my apprenticeship; saves a lot of drill bits being thrown away or having to go down to the hardware store every time you break a drill bit.
sam![]()
Yep I sharpen mine by hand and eye, about anything 1/4 and up. If you drill in steps it isn't near as critical if you get the angles and such right either. The main area I find I need to watch is making sure I have a relief back off of the cutting edge.
Don't throw those bits away, reuse them, it isn't the black magic you think it is
Sum
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