Does anyone know how, or know where I can get my 3/8" SDS drill bits sharpened?

thanks,
Chris
520-548-6652

It seems like you could just use a file? I don't know, it seems like you might change the diameter of the hole if you file it too much.

The file will work on construction sites we use files to sharpen our bits to make them last longer.

Chris, I swiped a glass grinder that my wife had for stained glass. It has a small silica carbide wheel that works great. I've been able to get about 10 times as many holes out of a bit as would otherwise be possible. The resharpened bits don't last as long as brand new ones, but then you just resharpen them. It's good to try to maintain the original angles on the bits. I doubt that a file will be that effective on carbide tipped bits. Any hobby glass store should have the grinders for about $40. Also, if you have a regular grinder, you may be able to get a silica carbide wheel for it.

I haven't tried this and it's for modifying bits for drilling rivets, but in Rock & Ice #86, page 44, they have a how-to on modifying bits with a grinder. Maybe the same principle doesn't apply but I'm just throwing it out there. Anyone know if you can do the same thing to re-sharpen SDS bits?

Thanks for all the replies. I am going to buy a drill Doctor 350. I found it on line for $49 and I am hearing that it will sharpen in a jiffy. I also heard that using SDS bits that after a couple of sharpeing the hole drilled gets too small and it becomes impossible to drive in a wedge anchor. Perhaps a five piece rawl might still fit.

And before you go get a sharpener, make sure that you don't have a bunch of the newer SDS bits where they have multiple angles/notches on the bit tip.

The drill manufacturers claim it improves performance, but the notched tips are actually designed to prevent resharpening and thus increase sales.

I don't think using a drill doctor is a good idea... the SDS bits use a different profile on the tip than do the bits the drill doctor is designed to sharpen. I've used a bench grinder before with good results.

You can buy new 3/8" x 6" SDS-plus Rockhard hammer drill bits from KK Industries for $4.54 each.

It may be better to buy new bits than to pay $50 for a sharpening device and get less-than-perfect results.

If resharpened bits get somewhat worn in diameter it is still possible to use the bit by churning the bit slightly in the hole to get a 3/8" hole. It doesn't take much practice to get the feel of what you need to do in various types of rock (harder rock needs less churning). It's easy to tell when driving the bolt if the hole is the right size as you shouldn't have beat the hell out of the bolt to drive it, nor should it go sliding in with one or two hammer blows. I have found Rawl 5 piece bolts hard to drive at times, even with brand new bits.

Could just work in the construction business and pilfer them from your jobs' operating budget.

Possibly consider using a medium and fine diamond file. These can be purchased online at www.tognar.com which is a ski tuning equipment supplier.

Most SDS bits are carbide tipped. The best results I have achieved in sharpening SDS bits is with a set of diamond files. Diamond files are great for the money and have many uses.

As stated in a previous post it is very important to remove the minimum amount of material when you sharpen an SDS bit as it is super easy to mess up the gauge/taper.

In light of the fact that new bits can be found as cheap as $5.00 it makes sense to trash a used bit. Rawl/Powers Five Piece Bolts will be the first to not fit an out of gauge hole with Redhead Torque Out Bolts being the most likely to fit. Any Hilti Bolt will be a very tight fit likewise.