How to Sharpen a Spade Bit

Summary:

Spade bits made of tool steel or high-speed steel (HSS) can be sharpened using a metal file, bench grinder, or drill bit sharpening machine.

Ways to sharpen a spade bit:

• Metal file: This method is best for precise manual sharpening. Focus on sharpening the lips, center point, and spurs while maintaining the original angle.
• Bench grinder: This is ideal for quick sharpening, although it may not be suitable for bits with spurs. Use caution to avoid overheating or damaging the bit.
• Drill sharpening machine: A fast and automatic option for sharpening multiple bits efficiently.

Additional tips:

• Always maintain the original bevel angle for consistency.
• Beware of excessive heat buildup when using power tools.
• Don't forget to sharpen the center point for accurate drilling.
• Replace bits if they are too worn or damaged.

By using these methods, you can extend the life of your spade bits and save money.

There are several methods for sharpening a spade drill bit. It mostly depends on the type of sharpening tool you use. Proper spade bit sharpening also depends on whether the spade bit has spurs or not and what spade bits are made of.

So, Before you know different methods to sharpen a spade bit, you need to know what spade bits are made of.

What Are Spade Bits Made Of?

Spade bits are made of tool steel, which is a type of steel. Tool steel has a high carbon content and is hard and strong enough to cut hardwood and other materials. Some wood drill bits are designed with high-speed steel (HSS), although HSS is not as hard as tool steel.

Tool steel material is more expensive than HSS and other drill bit materials. It is capable of drilling all types of wood, including chipboard and fiberboard, plastic-laminated wood, acrylic, and plasterboard.

To protect your spade bit from corrosion, store them in a dry place. This will help to store the drill bit set for a long time.

You can use a bench grinder, a belt sander, or a drill bit sharpener to sharpen drill bits.

Tool steel can be sharpened with metal files, which is much cheaper than buying a bench grinder.

Can You Sharpen a Spade bit?

Yes, you can sharpen a spade bit, and that's why we have written this article and collected different methods to sharpen a spade bit.

Here, We've tried to save your hard-earned money by reducing the expense you have to make by buying a new spade bit set. Also, we’ve tried to minimize the effort and hard work that you put into sharpening a spade bit.

How to Sharpen Spade Bits by Hand?

There are several methods to sharpen a spade bit, such as using a metal file, a bench grinder, or a drill sharpening machine.

All these are also known as spade bit sharpening tools.

Next, you will see how you can sharpen a spade bit using all three methods.

Method 1 – Using a Metal File to Sharpen a Spade bit

You can use a metal file to sharpen spade drill bits. Let’s know, How

How to Sharpen a Spade Bit With a File?

Spade bits are made of tool steel that can be sharpened with a metal file. A metal file is nothing but a drill bit sharpening tool. If your drill bit is made of HSS, you will need a diamond file. If your drill bit has spurs, you will need a file that fits between the center point and the spur of the spade bit.

Here we will use a metal file to sharpen spade bits by hand in three easy steps.

Step 1 – Sharpen the Lips

Place your file flat against one of the lips of the spade bit with the beveled or angled edge. Sharpen the file while keeping the same angle. Make only 3-4 strokes with the file. Turn your bit 180 degrees and do the same with the other lip.

Avoid changing the angles when sharpening because it can lead to damage to your spade bits.

You can use a rectangular cross-section metal file to sharpen the lips of your spade bit without touching the spur or center point.

Step 2 - Sharpen the Center Point

Your spade bit should have a beveled edge on one side of the triangular center point. Sharpen the cutting edge of the center point by making the angle of your file to the angle of the bevel. Repeat the process on the other side of the spade bit.

Step 3 - Sharpen the Spurs

Those who have a spade bit with spur should follow this step. And those who have spurless spade bit can skip this step.

To sharpen the spurs, start filing the inside edges by matching the angle of your file to the angle of the bevel once again. Do not sharpen the spurs of the spade bit excessively, as they can get stuck in the workpiece while drilling.

You have successfully sharpened the spade bit using a metal file.

Read More:  How to sharpen auger bits

Method 2 – Using a Bench Grinder to Sharpen a Spade bit

A bench grinder is a good choice for a spade bit sharpening tool. If you have a spade bit with spurs, it can be difficult to sharpen a spade bit using a bench grinder because bench grinder wheels tend to be larger than the lip of the spade bit. So, utilizing a bench grinder may also result in grinding the spur.

Step 1 – Sharpen Lips and Remove Spurs

To grind off the spurs and sharpen lips, place the metal plate in front of the grinding wheel. Adjust the bevel on the side of the spade bit you're sharpening. Start grinding the spurs until the drill bit lips come in contact with the wheel.

Step 2 – Sharpen the Center Point

To sharpen the center point of the spade bit, move the center point to the wheel and touch it 2 to 3 times. Remember that grinding the center point for a long time can damage it, so be as careful as possible.

You have successfully sharpened the spade bit using a bench grinder.

Method 3 – Using a Drill Sharpening Machine to Sharpen a Spade bit

Some automatic drill bit sharpening machines can also be used to sharpen a spade bit.

Although drill bit sharpening machines are more expensive than metal files, they can be the fastest and easiest way to sharpen your spade drill bits. The drill bit sharpening machine comes with a user guide and manual to help you with the sharpening process. All you have to do is place the spade in a specific chamber, turn on the machine and let the machine do the rest.

If you want to sharpen a large number of drill bits, this method can reduce your effort and save time.

So that's how you can sharpen your spade bit.

Additional tips to sharpen your spade bit

Following are some tips while sharpening your spade bit:

• Retain the original Angle: when sharpening spade bits, ensure to maintain the original bevel angle of the cutting edges of the bits. This makes sure that the cutting performance is consistent and it also prevents the bit from becoming too weak or too blunt.

• Use a file guide: always use a file guide to sharpen your spade bits, this helps in maintaining the right angle while sharpening the flutes.

• Evaluating heat buildup: always check if the tool is generating heat or not while using a grinder or any other power tool. It can cause damage to the bit and the material. Allow some time to cool down a bit before starting to work again. 

• Do not avoid the center point: the center point of a bit helps guide the bit into the wood. This ensures accuracy and also prevents the bit from wandering during the process. 

• Replace the bit: Be sure to replace the bit if required, as damaged bits will not work precisely and can cause damage to the workpiece.

Conclusion

The above article is the answer to the question of how to sharpen a spade bit. Today, we have learned three important ways of sharpening spade bits. In short, you can use

• Metal file for sharpening a spade drill bit.

• Bench grinder for sharpening spade bits without spurs.

• A drill sharpening machine is used to sharpen a large number of drill bits.