7 Ways to Make Carbide Button Drill Bits Last Longer
The Bit Brief · Maintenance & Wear
A worn button bit is not necessarily a failed bit. Some wear is unavoidable, but operators and purchasing teams can influence how soon expensive tooling leaves service. These seven practices focus on preserving a usable carbide profile and catching problems before they become costly.
1. Inspect buttons before performance collapses
Do not wait for a dramatic fall in penetration. Establish inspection points at planned tool changes and compare button wear against the OEM's thresholds. Sandvik recommends regrinding before any wear flat reaches about 50% of button diameter, and earlier if adverse wear or cracking appears. Your manufacturer or site procedure may call for shorter intervals.
2. Watch the gauge, not just the face
Gauge buttons help determine hole diameter. Uneven gauge wear and anti-taper can create clearance and loading problems. A drill bit with a tidy-looking center may still be unsuitable if the outer profile is badly worn.
3. Use the right bit and parameters for the formation
Rock abrasiveness, fracture patterns, air or fluid flushing and drilling parameters influence wear. Buying an expensive bit with the wrong geometry does not solve a formation mismatch. Evaluate changes in geology, rotation, impact and feed settings with your equipment and bit suppliers.
4. Keep flushing passages functional
Blocked or deformed passages can interfere with removal of cuttings. During inspection, look for obstructions and body erosion around the flushing system. Only trained personnel should perform restorative work in line with OEM instructions.
5. Identify abnormal button damage early
Chipped, crushed, loose or missing buttons may signal loading, handling or maintenance problems. Do not simply regrind the rest and continue. Damage can require a different repair decision, including possible carbide button replacement on an eligible bit.
6. Keep an individual bit history
A labeled bit ID and a simple log of footage, drilling conditions, wear and refurbishment dates are more useful than a box of anonymous used bits. Tracking the same bit across cycles helps you learn when regrinding pays and when retirement is justified.
7. Build maintenance into the off-season
Where work is seasonal, inventory tools after the fall workload and arrange inspection before spring mobilization. This reduces the temptation to reuse an uninspected bit simply because the next crew needs it immediately.
What not to do
Do not repeatedly grind away carbide beyond the remaining service limits. Do not assume every button profile uses the same grinding cup or process. Do not use unqualified dry grinding practices: cemented-carbide dust can pose occupational risks, and maintenance should follow trained, controlled procedures. Most importantly, do not put a structurally unsound bit back in service just to postpone a purchase.
DG Carbide serves customers from Saugerties, New York and reviews eligible shipped-in carbide button bits nationwide. Send the make, model, size and photos to discuss sharpening or a refurbishment assessment.
Frequently asked questions
How often should carbide button bits be sharpened?
There is no universal hour or footage interval. Set inspection intervals based on the bit maker’s guidance, rock conditions and observed button wear.
Can sharpening be repeated indefinitely?
No. The remaining carbide profile, gauge and bit-body condition set practical limits. Retire tooling that no longer meets service criteria.
Continue researching
- How Much Can Carbide Bit Sharpening Save Per Year? A Contractor’s Formula
- 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.