When you sharpen a drill bit, its angle is highly important. Because the drill bit angle depends on the material to be drilled. Your drill bit angle should be 118 degrees for the softwood and for the stainless steel, it will be 135 degrees. Not only that, you should use 60 degrees for the PVC also. So it is important to be aware of the drill bit angle for the sharpening to the right angle.
How to Measure Drill Bit Angle?
When you sharpen the drill bit, its angle should be measured correctly. Because the material removal rate depends on the drill bit angle. When the drill bit is dull or wandered, you should resharpen it properly. You can use a drill bit angle gauge.
If you need to measure drill bit angle frequently, a fixed drillbit sharpening gauge is efficient. You can use an adjustable gauge to measure the wide range of drill bit point angles.
You should measure the drill bit angle 3 times during the sharpening process.
- Before you start the sharpening process – To understand the variations and wandering of the drill bit.
- During the sharpening process – To makesure, it is sharpening well
- Finally – You can make sure the drill bit has properly sharpened using the gauge.
Drill Bit Angle for Metal
The metal drill bits should have a below drill bit angle every time. When you sharpen metal drill bits make sure to maintain these angle sizes.
Material | Drill Bit Point Angle |
Mild Steel | 118° |
High Tensile Steel | 130°- 135° |
Stainless Steel | 130°- 135° |
Tough Steel | 135 – 140 |
Sheet Steel | 130°- 135° |
Aluminum | 118° |
Brass, Bronze | 118° |
Cast Iron | 118° |
Drill Bit Angle for Wood
The wood drill bit point angle typically ranges from 118 degrees to 135 degrees. The most common angle for wood drill bits is 118 degrees, while larger bits may have a point angle of 135 degrees.
The angle of the drill bit affects how well it can cut through wood and how long it will last before needing to be sharpened. A steeper angle can provide faster and more aggressive cutting. For the softwood, we should use 118 degrees of the drill bit with a deep flute.
For the hardwood, we can use a 135-degree drill bit. It helps to slow penetration into the wood without too much heat.
A shallower angle may provide a slower cut, but it can also lead to a longer lifespan for the bit. Ultimately, the choice of angle will depend on the type of wood being drilled and the desired result.
Drill Bit Angle For Concrete, Stone, and Bricks
Concrete, stone and bricks are harder materials. When you need to drill them, you should use a masonry drill bit.
A masonry drill bit point angle should be between 100 degrees and 115 degrees. For the wider drill bits, the point angle should be higher than the small drill bits.
In order to withstand the hammering action, the drill bit point angle should be wider. Else drill bit tip will damage easily.
When you use a tile drill bit its point angle should be between 50 degrees and 65 degrees. These tools can withstand friction rather than hammering action. Hence lower angle is always better than a wide angle.
Drill Bit Angle Chart

Conclusion
A drill bit angle is very useful while it is resharpening. A proper drill bit angle can cut and remove materials easily. A steep drill bit angle has an aggressive cutting speed and a wider angle has a slower cutting speed. When you resharpen the drill bit, you should maintain the drill bit angle properly.
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