Can Broken Carbide Buttons Be Replaced? Repair vs. Retire
The Bit Brief · Refurbishment & Repair
A chipped or missing carbide button changes the decision from routine sharpening to damage assessment. Depending on the bit, damage location and remaining steel, replacing individual buttons may be an option. It is not automatically safe—or economical—to repair every damaged tool.
Why a broken button matters
Each button helps deliver impact and resist wear in a specific area of the bit. A damaged insert can change loading on neighboring buttons and the bit body. Continuing to drill with damage may create additional failures. The concern is particularly important when defects affect the gauge row or several adjacent buttons.
First questions to ask
- Is the button chipped, fractured, loose, completely missing or worn below its intended profile?
- Is the surrounding steel sound enough to support a repair?
- Are adjacent buttons affected or beginning to crack?
- Is the gauge diameter still within the serviceable range?
- Has the bit body or shank suffered deformation or cracking?
- Will a completed repair meet the bit maker's applicable criteria?
Photos are helpful for triage but may not reveal subsurface defects. An inspection can determine whether a proposed repair is responsible.
Replacement is different from sharpening
Sharpening changes the profile of existing carbide. Button replacement involves assessing and restoring an eligible damaged insert location with a suitable replacement under a qualified process. It is more involved than simply grinding a flat button, and the full scope depends on the tool design and condition.
Sandvik's resharpening handbook gives specific limits for damaged buttons on different bit sizes and configurations. Those examples are manufacturer guidance, not universal approval to continue drilling on a broken tool. The bit OEM, service provider and operating safety program determine the applicable retirement threshold.
When retiring the bit may make more sense
Severe body cracking, excessive gauge loss, multiple critical failures or an unsafe remaining structure can make retirement the right choice. A repair quote also needs to account for time and expected remaining service life. The high purchase price of a replacement is not a justification for returning an unserviceable bit to work.
What to send for an assessment
Provide face, side and shank images; close-ups of the missing or damaged button; manufacturer markings; diameter; how many buttons are affected; and the date needed back. If a replacement decision is urgent, request the turnaround estimate before shipping or arranging pickup.
DG Carbide offers carbide button replacement for eligible drill bits as well as broader refurbishing assessments. To confirm the path, request a quote rather than assuming a particular repair is available.
Frequently asked questions
Can you repair a drill bit with several missing buttons?
It depends on the size, location of damage, body condition and OEM limits. Multiple critical defects may require retirement instead of repair.
Is one chipped button reason to throw away a whole bit?
Not always, but it is a reason to inspect the tool carefully. Sharpening and button replacement are not interchangeable remedies.
Continue researching
- Drill Bit Refurbishment vs. Replacement: How to Make the Right Call
- When to Sharpen Carbide Button Bits: The Wear Signs That Matter
- Gauge Wear and Anti-Taper on DTH Bits: Why the Outer Buttons Matter
See DG Carbide's related service or send your bit details for an assessment.
Before you buy another bit, ask DG Carbide.
Sharpening, refurbishment and eligible carbide button replacement from Saugerties, New York. Serving local contractors and accepting nationwide mail-in inquiries for compatible bits.
Technical decisions depend on the bit maker's limits, equipment conditions and inspection. Savings examples are illustrative and are not DG Carbide pricing or customer results.
Technical references: Sandvik rock-tool resharpening guidance. Follow the guidance for your specific bit and equipment.