For projects that could be ruined by exposure to too much heat, choose a slow grinder. Check out our quality metalworking bandsaws, metal grinders, metal grinder wheels and metal belt sanders. We have a wide selection of metal cutting tools and tools designed to remove material from your project. Our huge selection allows you to complete your metalworking projects, or care for your tools, with the methods that best suit you. Lightly oil auger bits, and keep in a bit roll, or keep them screwed into a wood block for storage - your sharpening work is easily undone by careless handling.Busy Bee Tools sells metalworking equipment that professionals and serious hobbyists can rely on to get the job done. Practice is the only route to competence. If all has gone well the bit will cut cleanly and without excess effort. The lead screw of any bit needs to be intact to draw the tool into the wood, but worn threads may be improved by chasing the spiral with a jeweler's file. Any burrs can be removed with fine abrasive paper like 'wet and dry'. Gedge or Bull Nose bits of large diameter may sometimes be filed with a round chain saw file. The spurs will disappear before you file out the damage! Damaged bits like this are good for improving your technique prior to working on better items. You will probably not be able to fully rejuvenate the tool if it is really badly worn or abused, particularly if spurs are very chipped. File the tops of flat cutters, once again maintaining the same angle that the bit was manufactured with. File the inside of the spurs or wings, maintaining the same angle that the bit was made with. The tool won't cut properly, and may jam in a hole. This reduces the diameter, and prevents the cutters engaging with the wood. Special files were once made for bit sharpening, but I don't think they are to be had easily now.Ī very important point to remember is that you must not remove any metal from the outside of the bit. Diamond coated files can be good for removing bad damage, or correcting thick bevels. Fine needle files (Jeweler's files) are suitable, I find the flat/triangular files best for flat cutters/spurs, with the round/oval/half round rat tail type suited to curved cutters. However if bits are damaged (by hitting fixings, or by being dropped, perhaps) you will need to file bits to sharpen them. In careful regular use very little sharpening should be necessary. You can use a slim slipstone on a bit that is just a little dull at the edge flat, triangluar and round/tapered stones are available to suit different bit types. With this in mind you can contemplate gaining experience on a bit that you don't care about too much. The Gedge type acts more like a pair of gouges. The flat cutters can then chisel out chips that the spiral can clear from the hole. The spurs cut a circle, severing the grain in a ring. For example on a Jennings bit the spurs are pulled against the wood by the lead screw, making contact before the flat cutters. How should you sharpen these bits? First you need to understand how the cutters on the different designs engage with the wood. Because of this property it is favoured by wooden boat builders for the very long holes needed to bolt centre line timbers. Not seen that often, but the open spiral is supposed to be disinclined to get stuck in the hole. Note that the eye itself has no particular Scottish connection, it is the cutter that is Scotch type. Often found on 'T', 'bar', barrel or 'eye' augers that have a straight wooden handle, which are sometimes refered to as Scotch Eye augers. Needs careful sharpening to keep crisp corners where the wings turn up. Not the cleanest auger to start - can tear out the grain. The upwards facing side wings make this bit suitable for use in hard woods, and rough work. May have Jennings, Scotch or Bull Nose cutters, and then has their strengths and weaknesses. Spurs are vulnerable to damage if used roughly.Ī strong solid stem with only one spiral. Easy to sharpen with a round file.įlat cutting edges coupled with edge spurs make clean accurate holes. Versatile, can be used to enlarge an existing hole. Good for use in end grain, and at an angle to a surface because there are no spurs to catch and throw it off line. There are six basic types of older auger bit that you are likely to encounter (see bottom of page for some archaic patterns).

Sharpening auger bits