My safety glasses saved my eyes. Protect your most valuable asset: your vision. Please wear safety glasses!

If you do any operation long enough you will inevitably have an accident, it’s the law of probability.

I just finished fabricating my new steel work table, and there were hours and hours of drilling involved. I don’t even know how many cheap drill bits I used for this project, but I know at least seven shattered on me in the process.

One large bit shattered and a piece broke off and hit my safety glasses with such force that my head snapped back.

I would be blind right now in one eye if I hadn’t been wearing my Condor safety glasses.

I buy them from WW Grainger, they cost $1.80 a pair, or you can live a little and buy the scratch resistant models that I prefer for $2.10.

This drill bit shattered and a piece hit my safety glasses

Some of the drill bits that shattered during one project

I like the Condors, model #1FYX6, because they are totally clear without a black bar across the top, you have full vision. Many times I reach for a pair and realize I already have a pair on. They are that light and comfortable.

When you drill as many holes as I had to drill in this table, it’s nice to be able to horse through the holes with a powerful half inch drill without worrying about blinding yourself. I use a Hilti UH700 half inch drill, it’s a beast. Because I’m wearing proper eye protection I can utilize it’s full power with confidence.

Woodman's box 'o bits

I recycle all my old shattered drill bits, but the dull ones I just keep resharpening until here is no more life in them. I have a box of old drill bits that I constantly rummage through, to see if I can find a bit that I can make work just one more time. I don’t like to waste anything. It’s no surprise that these old bits have metal fatigue, because I work them until they break.

FYI: I’ve never used a Drill Doctor or any of the other drill bit sharpening systems for sale on the market. In the coming months I will post a video that shows how to quickly sharpen a dull twist bit with a hand held angle grinder that you probably already own. It’s a great system that I have been using for years.