A method for manufacturing drill bit inserts in which the inserts are finished in a centrifugal disc finishing machine. The centrifugal disc finishing machine comprises a configured surface rotating relative to a stationary receptacle, and the inserts may be finished with a mass of materials comprising at least one of a group of media, parts, detergent, and solution. Also, a method of increasing drill bit insert performance comprising accelerating a plurality of inserts in a high-energy finishing machine, wherein the acceleration results in a generally toroidal interaction between the inserts and at least one of the group comprising media, parts, detergent, and solution.