Black and Decker does not make a drill bit sharpener anymore. The only way to get one today is secondhand, through a garage sale, a marketplace listing, or a relative’s toolbox. Here is what the black and decker drill bit sharpener actually did, what owners report after using one, and what actually replaces it now.
The company built several versions of this sharpener across past decades, sold under model numbers like 7980, 4300, and 263. Each one used a small grinding wheel and a bit guide to reset the cutting edge on twist bits. None of them are listed on Black and Decker’s current site.
That absence is not an accident. Black and Decker’s own support material now points owners toward a bench grinder for touching up bits, not a dedicated sharpening machine. For the wider picture across knives and tools, our broader sharpening equipment coverage rounds up everything else we cover.
How the Old Black and Decker Sharpener Worked
The sharpener used a small motor spinning a grinding wheel behind a plastic housing. A bit guide, sometimes called a locator, held the drill bit at a fixed angle against that wheel. If you want to check what angle actually suits your bits today, our free tool for working out bit point angles does the math without the guesswork.
It only handled ordinary twist bits in common sizes, not masonry bits or spade bits. That kept the machine simple and cheap to build. It also meant one sharpener covered most of what a homeowner’s drill index actually contained.
Owner reports repeatedly describe a real learning curve. Early attempts often ruin a bit or two before the technique clicks. Once you find the right angle and twist count, the results hold up fine for everyday drilling.
Is the Black and Decker Drill Bit Sharpener Still Made?
No. Black and Decker has not sold a drill bit sharpener in years, and none of its models appear anywhere in the current product lineup. Searches of the company’s own site turn up drill bit sets and screwdriver bits, never a sharpening machine.
Black and Decker’s support team confirms the shift in a public help article. It tells owners that its own Bullet brand bits can be sharpened but not in a device like the Drill Doctor, and that the job has to be done by hand on a bench grinder instead. That is the company steering people away from an automated sharpener entirely, including its own past design.
So if a listing calls itself a new black and decker drill bit sharpener, treat that as a warning sign. What you will actually find are decades old units on resale sites, sold as is with no warranty and no factory support.
What Owners Say About Using One Today
Owners who still run a working unit report two recurring problems. Grinding dust builds up inside the housing over time, which can bind the mechanism if it is never cleaned out. Several owners fix this by rigging a shop vac hose near the grinding wheel.
The bigger issue is missing parts. Many used units show up without the bit locator, and owners describe a sharpener without it as useless. Replacement parts are scarce enough that some hobbyists machine their own copies rather than keep hunting.
Owners who do have a complete, working unit tend to speak well of it. One long time user called his a good functioning shop asset once the dust problem was solved. That is a fair summary: fine if complete and maintained, a gamble if bought blind.
What Replaces It Now
If you need a sharpener that actually works out of the box, look at machines built and supported today. For a deeper side by side of the whole current market, see our overview of every drill bit sharpener we recommend. If your budget is tight, the budget Harbor Freight option we cover separately is worth a look too.
| Model | Type | Best for | Price band | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drill Doctor 500X | Electric, dedicated machine | Minimal guesswork sharpening | Check current price | |
| General Tools grinding attachment | Manual, bench grinder attachment | Shops with an existing grinder | Check current price | Price |
Drill Doctor 500X
Best Overall Replacement
Electric drill bit sharpener | dedicated machine | check current price
This is a purpose built sharpening machine, not an attachment you bolt onto something else. You set the bit in a guided chuck, and the machine grinds a consistent point without the freehand guesswork the black and decker drill bit sharpener demanded.
It is the machine to buy if you sharpen bits often enough that a learning curve is not appealing. It costs more than a simple attachment, and it is built mainly for twist bits, not masonry or specialty grinds. See the deep dive we did on Drill Doctor models if you want the full lineup breakdown.
Pros
- Guided setup removes most of the guesswork
- Built and sold new, with parts and support available
- Handles the common twist bit sizes most drills use
Cons
- Costs more than a basic grinder attachment
- Not designed for masonry or specialty bit grinds
General Tools Drill Grinding Attachment
Best Budget
Manual attachment | mounts to a bench grinder | check current price
This is the closest modern equivalent to what the old sharpener tried to do: a simple jig that controls the angle while you do the grinding. It clamps onto a bench grinder you already own instead of housing its own motor.
It suits a shop that already has a grinder and just wants a repeatable angle guide. It still asks for some hand feel, closer to the old sharpener than to a fully automated machine.
Pros
- Lower cost than a dedicated sharpening machine
- Works with a grinder most shops already own
- Simple mechanical design with little to fail
Cons
- Requires an existing bench grinder
- Still has a hand feel learning curve
Mistakes to Avoid When Buying One Used
Do not buy a unit without seeing the bit locator in the listing photos. That part decides whether the whole sharpener still works. If the seller cannot confirm it is included, assume it is missing.
Do not expect factory fresh edges from any bit you sharpen by hand or on an old machine. Black and Decker’s own support material admits the geometry will not match new. If you would rather sharpen by hand for free, our separate guide to the manual bench grinder method walks through the technique.
Do not skip cleaning if you do land a working unit. Grinding dust is the main reason these machines eventually seize. A shop vac hose taped near the wheel solves most of it.
The bottom line: the black and decker drill bit sharpener is a discontinued homeowner tool, not a live product line. If you own a complete unit, keep it clean and it will keep sharpening ordinary twist bits fine. If you are buying new, the Drill Doctor 500X is the simpler, better supported choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this sharpener still sold new?
No. Black and Decker stopped selling it years ago, and none of its models appear in the current lineup. Every listing you find today is a used or vintage unit.
What models did Black and Decker make?
Known models include the 7980, the 4300, and the 263. They vary in size and housing style, but all use the same basic wheel and guide design.
Is a used one worth buying?
Only if the bit locator is present and the motor runs. Without the locator, owners describe the tool as useless, and replacement parts are hard to find.
What is the best replacement available now?
The Drill Doctor 500X is the simplest option if you want a dedicated machine. A bench grinder attachment like the General Tools model works too, if you already own a grinder.
Can current Black and Decker drill bits be sharpened at all?
Yes, but only by hand on a bench grinder, according to the company’s own support material. It warns that a hand sharpened edge will not match a factory fresh bit.
Sources
- Black and Decker Support: Can the Bullet drill bits be sharpened, official support article. https://support.blackanddecker.com/hc/en-us/articles/360012691878-Can-the-Bullet-drill-bits-be-sharpened