Unless your drill bits got manufactured from some super-strong exotic alloys, they'll go blunt someday and you'll either have to toss them or sharpen them back into shape.

Since you're here, you've probably decided to do the right thing and go ahead with getting yourself a drill bit sharpener. The thing is, there's plenty of them and you need to know what to look out for.

This review helps you by providing all these information and additionally presenting you with a list of the best drill bit sharpeners in the market.

Editor's Rating:  (4.3 / 5)

• Cutting angle: 115-140 degrees
• Cutting diameter: 3/32 - 3/4 inches
• Size: 13.8 x 5.8 x 11.8 inches
• Weight: 3 lbs

Drill Doctor's 750X is the top of the line model for the drill bit sharpener range. It includes everything you need, plus a precision and high-quality that professionals appreciate. It has also been on the market for many years now, and there are often newer versions.

The Doctor drill bit sharpener comes with an instructional DVD and it's advisable to read watch this video first, so you can understand how to properly use the tool and how to get the best results possible.

Using the included chuck, you can use the Drill Doctor to sharpen a huge range of drill bit sizes, which is anywhere from 3/32 to 3/4 inches.

Using the Drill Doctor is easy once you've decided to focus. You can easily select the sharpening angle for the bit, as well as select how much material you want to get removed using a simple dial.

The Drill Doctor 750X is easily the best drill bit sharpener, except when price comparisons come into play because it's not cheap.

Editor's Rating:  (4.3 / 5)

• Cutting angle: 41 - 88 degrees
• Cutting diameter: 1/8 - 3/4 inches
• Size: 4.9 x 4.9 x 7.4 inches
• Weight: 2 lbs

This is not a complete drill bit sharpener on its own, but rather, it's an attachment which helps you to use your bench or surface grinder to sharpen your drill bits, and this assumes you also have a grinder beforehand.

Its basic usage concept is quite simple. You insert your drill bit into this attachment and fix the attachment itself in front of your grinder. Then properly place the clamp in front of your grinder, then adjust its angles and you're ready to start sharpening.

This grinder clamp attachment works with 1/8 to 3/4-inch bits and it's designed for use with OSHA-, ANSI-, and UL-approved surface grinders or electric benches. It's also completely made from metal, so you're sure it'll last very long.

In the included instruction manual, which is also available online, you get guided through detailed drawings and instructions on how to properly set up your bits using the included angle chart to produce the best-sharpened drill bits.

Editor's Rating:  (4.3 / 5)

• Cutting angle: 90 - 150 degrees
• Cutting diameter: 1/8 to 7/8 inches
• Size: 14 x 7 x 3 inches
• Weight: N/A

Tormek is a well-known brand when it comes to grinding equipment. Producing grinding machines for all professions and tools, Tormek also makes high-quality jigs and other attachments, including this DBS-22.

The first thing to understand here is that it's only compatible with Tormek grinders, and as one of the best-rated drill bit sharpeners, its features are really worth its high price.

You get a 4-facet point on your drill bit, which offers you clean, straight holes without walking when there is no pilot hole. The design also makes it easy to create 2 asymmetrical cutting edges. Simply grind one side, flip the jig over, and grind the other.

Tormek's DBS-22 is also very versatile. If you know how to use it, then you can easily custom grind any bit for a particular material or clearance.

Although it's not an automated sharpener, this jig is still an amazingly precise tool for sharpening your bits. You just need to read the instructions and build up a little skill with it and you'll amaze yourself.

Editor's Rating:  (4.3 / 5)

• Cutting angle: 118 - 135 degrees
• Cutting diameter: 3/32 to 1/2 inch
• Size: 14 x 12.8 x 7.5 inches
• Weight: 4 lbs

The Drill Doctor 500X comes engineered for flexibility and versatile use in sharpening many bit sizes. These range from 3/32 to 1/2 inch and includes different bit types like carbide, high-speed steel, masonry, tin-coated bits and many more.

Designed around a diamond sharpening wheel of industrial strength, you can rest assured that it'll last you for over 200 sharpening sessions, and if you should need to change it, the change process is also very easy.

The box comes with a user guide, the pre-installed 180-grit diamond wheel, a 1/2-inch chuck and a wrench for changing the sharpening wheel.

Although this is a very good bit sharpener, its downside is having fewer features and flexibility than Drill Doctor's top-of-the-line model, the 750X, but if you're on a budget and it serves your needs well, then, why not save some money?

Editor's Rating: (4 / 5)

• Cutting angle: 41 to 88 degrees
• Cutting diameter: 1/8 to 3/4 inch
• Size: 8.7 x 5.3 x 2 inches
• Weight: 1.4 lbs

If you need a cheap and good drill bit sharpener, then here's something for you to take a closer look at. Weighing just 1.4 lbs, its made from metal and designed for precise bit sharpening.

All you need to do is to install it near your surface or bench grinder, follow the instructions, and you've got yourself an affordable and fun tool to restore your drill bits with.

You can use it to sharpen drill bits from 1/8 to 3/4 inch diameters, and you can do it quickly and accurately, once you've mastered the tool.

It comes with a good user manual which has all the information you need to get skilled with this grinder attachment. It includes tips and warnings, a listing of all its parts, and a step by step operating guide to get the best out of the system.

Editor's Rating: (3.9 / 5)

• Cutting angle: 41 to 88 degrees
• Cutting diameter: 1/8 to 3/4 inch
• Size: 8 x 5 x 1.3 inches
• Weight: 1.35 lbs

Grizzly's G1081 has the same specs as Woodstock's D4144. It's made using metal, it's about 8 inches tall and it weighs just about the same.

With the Grizzly G1081, you'll also need to already have a grinder in order to for it to work. You install it near your grinder and then use the settings to place your bit against the grinding wheel to get the sharpness you need.

There is an included user manual, but you'll need to focus well to understand the setup and usage. Once you get the hang of it though, you'll find it's a very simple and straightforward method to sharpen your drill bits and save some money.

On one hand, this attachment might not pass as a compact drill bit sharpener, since you need to set it up near your grinder, but on the other hand, it's cheaper to buy up-front and there's no maintenance cost associated directly with it.

Editor's Rating: (3.8 / 5)

• Cutting angle: N/A
• Cutting diameter: 1/8-5/8
• Size: 10.6 x 7.6 x 5.3 inches
• Weight: 4.4 lbs

Neiko is a Chinese maker of affordable tools and lots of other products for the home and garage. This drill bit sharpener from Neiko features a unique design which sets it apart from the rest on this list.

The idea is simple, just stick your drill bit into a fitting hole in the top and the rotating grinding stone inside will sharpen it for you. There are two heads to choose from, with the heads having many holes with labels that show their diameters.

A simple knob on top allows you to adjust the height of the stone, so you can set it exactly to what you want. Each of the heads also comes with its own grinding wheel and an electric motor, while the entire package includes a 6-foot power cable and an AC power adapter.

On the other hand, such a system as this has its issues, because unlike the automatic sharpeners from Drill Doctor, for instance, you'll need some skills to properly sharpen your bits with this Neiko machine.

This sharpener also sharpens at one standard angle only, so you can't select a sharpening angle as you would with a  professional drill bit sharpener.

A drill bit sharpener is a very specialized tool with a specialized job. This demands a closer understanding of its different features, so you can make the right choice and get a bit sharpener that's perfect for your needs. Following are these features to consider.

#1. Size

There are 2 sizes to consider when you're talking about a drill bit sharpener. The first size refers to the sharpener itself, about how big or small it is, and whether you have enough space for it. Most drill bit sharpeners are usually compact anyway.

The other size refers to the size of the bits the sharpener can handle. This most especially refers to how large the bit holder and the grinding stone are.

You should know that drill bit sharpeners are designed for particular drill sizes, so anything beyond that size will not work. What you need to do, first, is to know the size range of your drill bits, and then begin the search for a sharpener for that size range.

#2. Material

A second consideration is whether the bit sharpener is for your drill bit's particular material. This is because while most sharpeners on the market will sharpen most drill bit materials, some drill bits with special finishes or alloy materials could pose a problem.

So, making sure that your bits are standard is the key here, else you'll have to find a specialized sharpener for your drill bits. Most conventional sharpeners can handle tin-coated bits, masonry bits, steel bits, tin-, cobalt- and titanium-coated bits anyway.

#3. Versatility

A bit sharpener's versatility here refers to how many different kinds of bits it can sharpen. Some sharpeners can work automatically but they'll be limited to only a certain type of bits, while other sharpeners can sharpen more bit types.

Most tools will easily sharpen twist drill bits, but if you need to sharpen a spade bit, then you'll need a more versatile sharpener. A more versatile tool is definitely more valuable in every situation, but you should also consider its extra cost.

#4. Ease of Use

Specialized drill bit sharpeners can have your bit sharp and ready in just a few seconds while sharpening it manually with a Jig and a bench grinder will produce varied results depending on your skills.

It's left for you here to know how patient you are and how much time you can spend to set up and finish the sharpening session. If you don't have the time, automated sharpeners can be your friend.

#5. Grinding Stone

Your grinding stone's quality will help you to know how long it'll last, while its grit determines how sharp, or abrasive, it is. You need a stone with a grit over of 100 or more, and if you can, get diamond grinding wheels because they're simply the best.

#6. Brand & Warranty

Buying a product from a well-known brand is always a smart thing to do. With drill bit sharpeners, well-known brands include Drill Doctor, but there are also other reputable brands, both with standard and specialized bit sharpeners.

For warranties, more is always better, so while considering which sharpeners to buy, the one with a longer warranty always gets an extra vote.

Conclusion

If you had any doubt about your blunt old drill bits before, you should have made up your mind by now to do something worthwhile and sharpen them by yourself, instead of just throwing them away and getting new ones.

Sharpening your drill bits by yourself not only saves you money, it's also an interesting experience that brings you closer to the world of tool making.

As we reach the end of this drill bit sharpeners review, remember that the final choice between a full drill bit sharpening solution and an attachment, or between precision and a budget sharpener, is yours to make.