Regrinding and recoating of carbide and high speed steel tools is a common process at present. Although the cost of regrinding or recoating a tool is a fraction of the cost of making a new tool, it can extend the life of the tool. Re - grinding process is a typical treatment of special or expensive tools. Tools that can be reground or recoated include drill bits, milling cutters, hobs, and forming tools.

The coating must be reground after the tool has worn away. When the coated tool is reground, all the worn parts on the tool must be removed. Wear resistance can be improved for tools that require only a regrinding of the front face (such as broach, gear hob, gear shaper, etc.) or tools that require only a regrinding of the back face (such as drill bits and reamers, etc.) if the coating on the other face adjacent to the cutting edge (such as the bit's spiral chip groove) is not damaged. The service life of the coated tool can reach 50% or more of the service life of the original new coated tool, which is still higher than the service life of the uncoated tool.