Quick and dirty drill gage

[mklotz]

When sharpening drills it's handy to have a gage that allows you to see if you're getting both edges to the same angle. Typically, a gage like the stainless one shown is used but if you don't have one at hand, it's easy to make a usable substitute. Simply take a new drill with a good point and drill partway into a piece of stock, then cut away one half of the stock to form the gage.

[Paul Jones]

Marv,

You always show us some clever and useful tools. Here is another great example. Thanks for showing this one.

Paul

[Ed]

You could probably achieve the same result by clamping tight two close fitting pieces of metal together and drilling down the join line, if it tracked straight you would then have two of them and no need to mill or cut anything, but good idea anyway!

[Paul Alciatore]

Is that supposed to be a single gauge for many drill sizes or one for just one drill size? If it if for multiple drill sizes, how do you use it?

[hemmjo]

Is that supposed to be a single gauge for many drill sizes or one for just one drill size? If it if for multiple drill sizes, how do you use it?

You would place the bit against the side of the tool instead of in the center which would verify the angle, but not the equal length of each side. It is much more difficult to get the angle correct than it is the length, when sharpening by hand.

You still need to develop some skills to get the rake and assure equal length of the cutting edges.