How to judge the service life of a drill bit

Figuring out how long a drill bit will last takes some experience and really looking closely at it. There is no exact number for how long it'll work because it depends on a bunch of things, including:

The hardness, toughness, and how abrasive the material you are drilling is: Drilling stuff that is harder, tougher, or wears things down more will make the drill bit wear out faster.
How fast you are drilling and how much you are feeding the bit: Going too fast or pushing the bit in too much creates more heat and pressure, which speeds up wear.
Using coolant: If you use the right coolant, it can really lower the temperature and make the drill bit last longer.
How stable your drill press is: If the drill press is not steady, it can vibrate, which makes the drill bit chip and wear out quicker.
What the drill bit is made of and if it has a coating: Different materials (like high-speed steel, cobalt high-speed steel, carbide) and coatings (like titanium nitride, titanium carbonitride, aluminum titanium nitride) make drill bits wear out at different rates.
How deep and how many holes you are drilling: The deeper and the more holes you drill, the faster the drill bit will wear down.
How skilled the person using the drill is: Using the drill correctly can stop unnecessary wear and tear.

Here are some key signs that tell you if a drill bit needs to be replaced or sharpened:

1.  It's Not Working as Well:

Drilling is noticeably slower: It takes much longer than usual to drill through a hole.
You have to push harder to make it go in: The drill bit isn't "biting" into the material anymore, and you need to press down with force.
It makes a high-pitched or screeching noise when drilling: This usually means there is too much friction.
The chips are not coming out right: The shavings are thin, not formed properly, or they get stuck wrapped around the drill bit.
The holes aren't accurate: The holes you drill are too big, not round, or the inside of the hole is rough.

2.  Looking at the Drill Bit:

The cutting edge is dull: A sharp cutting edge will reflect light, but a dull one will have a rounded edge.
There are chips or breaks in the edge: Small pieces have broken off the cutting edge, which really messes up how it cuts.
The flank wear is bad: The angled surface behind the cutting edge is worn down too much, so the cutting edge does not have support.
There is a crater on the face (crater wear): There is a dip near the cutting edge on the top surface, caused by the chips rubbing against the drill bit.
The outer edges are worn (margin wear): The outside diameter of the drill bit is worn down, making the holes you drill too small.
There is a built-up edge (BUE): Pieces of the material you are drilling have welded themselves to the cutting edge, making it less efficient and the surface rough.
The color has changed: If the drill bit got too hot, it might turn blue or black, which means it might not be as hard anymore.

3.  The Shape of the Chips:

Good chips: They should be curled, shiny, and come out in one continuous piece.
Worn drill chips: They are tiny, like powder, irregular shapes, or they are too long and get tangled up.

4.  It's Getting Too Hot:

The drill bit gets unusually hot while you are drilling: This shows there is too much friction, and the drill bit is probably dull.

5.  It's Vibrating Too Much:

The drill vibrates strangely while you are drilling: This could be because the drill bit is worn unevenly or has a chip.

How to Tell When to Replace or Sharpen:

Look at how it's working and how it looks: If the drilling is slow, you need to push harder, and you see that the cutting edge is dull or broken, then the drill bit likely needs to be replaced or sharpened.
Compare it to a new one: Regularly compare the drill bit you are using to a new one of the same type to see the shape and sharpness of the cutting edge.
Experience helps: Over time, people who use drills a lot get a better feel for when a drill bit is worn out.
Take care of them: Checking and sharpening drill bits regularly can stop you from having to replace them when they're really bad and can make them last longer overall.

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