Sharpen Your Drill Bits Efficiently With A Portable Find From Amazon

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A bench grinder is often suggested as the tool to use when you notice signs that your drill bits need sharpening. While this can certainly be an effective way to revive them, holding the drill bit so the tip is at the correct angle can be challenging for the inexperienced. The bench grinder also needs to be bolted down, which is not always convenient. As far as price goes, even budget models can cost $60 or more. The MDPSDS Electric Drill Bit Sharpener however, is an efficient and portable alternative, currently available from Amazon for $39.99.

The tool has a grinding wheel with a preset angle in the bottom. On the top are a set of different-sized holes. You simply place the drill bit through the appropriate hole, turn the machine on, and apply pressure. The rotating grinding wheel sharpens the drill bit in around 10 seconds. It's accurate and virtually effortless. There are 19 holes in all, ranging from ⅛ inch to ¹⁵⁄₃₂ inch (or metric equivalents). There are vents to prevent overheating, and it has a non-slip base. It weighs only 2.59 pounds, so it's easy to carry around, although the 6 feet of cord isn't particularly generous.

Customers give the MDPSDS Electric Drill Bit Sharpener an average of 4.3 stars. One buyer echoed the thoughts of many when they said, "Good quality sharpening tool for a good price." Most also found it easy to use. There aren't many complaints, but a couple of people said it didn't work, and this may highlight the main drawback of the tool: it is only for high-speed steel (HSS), hardened, or high-carbon steel drill bits (common in budget sets) that have a 130-degree tip.

118-degree tips are also common, so check what you have before ordering. There are some highly rated drill bits that offer increased durability because they're titanium coated. The MDPSDS tool will not sharpen these. Nor can it sharpen harder cobalt drill bits that are considered better for metals or masonry drill bits that have a wider carbide tip.

This doesn't make it a bad tool, and it will suit many DIYers and hobbyists who buy basic all-round drill bit sets with 130-degree points (or 135-degree points, the difference is negligible). However, you'll need to find an alternative for other types of drill bits. Amazon has a solution that sharpens many drill bits quickly, including those mentioned, but it is more than three times the price.