Here’s the pitch:
Used on resinous wood, a bit becomes coated with wood pitch. If allowed to build up, the pitch dulls the bit. To clean a bit, lay it on newspaper and spray it with oven cleaner. (Or to contain the fumes, you can put the bit inside a plastic bag and then spray.) Let the bit soak for about 20 minutes, and then wipe it clean with a rag.

Bit holder:
To keep drill bits from bumping against other tools or against each other, and thereby losing their cutting edge, don’t store them loose. You can either a buy bit holder for a few dollars at a hardware store or improvise your own with a compartment or niche for each bit. To make a simple holder, drill different size holes in a block of wood and label each hole with the size of the bit it will hold. If you always keep the bits in their proper places in the holder, they will stay sharp and be easy to find.

Put a cork on it:
Protect the business end of expensive bits such as brad-point, spade, and Forstner bits by screwing a piece of cork onto the end of each bit. The cork, which should have a diameter slightly larger than the bit, will protect the bit’s lead-in point and the cutting spurs.

Drill holder:
A I litre plastic bottle makes a handy holder for your drill. Cut off the bottom and the top of the bottle at a 45 degree angle, and attach it to the wall with wall anchors or screws. You can also make a power tool holder out of a 200 mm length of 100 mm diameter PVC pipe. Cut a notch into the top rim to accommodate the tool’s handle.

Another hang-up:
To hang your drill on a pegboard hook, insert a screw eye into the chuck and tighten it.