Brad Point Drill

The absolute best source for sharpening this tool is Leonard Lee's book, The Complete Guide to Sharpening, Chapter 15. (This is a must-have for any sharpener's library.)

Other notes:

• Ensure both shoulders are the same height.
• Ensure both spurs are the same height.
• Ensure brad point extends beyond the spurs.
• DO NOT change
  1. the center point of the drill bit, or
  2. the diameter of the drill bit.

  A handmade wooden object can't be mass-produced. Unknown Old Woodworker

• Grind the minimum off the bit.

Notes & Comments

Information regarding Grindstones

Probably best to stay with the drill bit's geometry as supplied by the manufacturer, though furniture maker Michael Fortune does advocate changing it. His recommendations are referenced in the Videos & Presentations, below.

Sharpness Scale

Example icon

Sharpness scales (as shown in the grey icon to the left) are used to indicate the recommended sharpness for the blades noted above. You can click on any of the icons showing the sharpness scale and be redirected to the page describing this more. Lower numbers are duller; higher numbers sharper.

These are general recommendations; you will need to use your own judgment, based on the knive’s intended purpose.

More Information

Books & Papers

• The Complete Guide to Sharpening, by Leonard Lee
• TM 9-867 Maintenance and Care of Hand Tools, from the U.S. War Department

Videos & Presentations

• Sharpen Your Own Hybrid Drill Bits - Furniture maker Michael Fortune demonstrates his homegrown method for sharpening a brad point bit (he calls them hybrid twist drill bits; this is a web page with an embedded FineWoodworking video).

  This is an interesting video, but one needs to be very careful when using such hand sharpening approaches and ensure that the rules noted above are not violated.

Web Sites

• Nick Engler's Workshop Companion page on Sharpening Drill Bits.