What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner?

   / What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner? #11  
I buy American made champion cobalt or silver deming if 1/2 or larger to
3/4 larger mag drill annular bits with cutting fluid works good.Framer
 
   / What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner? #12  
Why not start with some inexpensive drill bits and a good sharpener or learn the freehand method. When you feel competent then start replacing the most used bits with ones of very good quality. That way you don't end up ruining good bits practicing on them.:D
 
   / What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner? #13  
Why not start with some inexpensive drill bits and a good sharpener or learn the freehand method. When you feel competent then start replacing the most used bits with ones of very good quality. That way you don't end up ruining good bits practicing on them.:D

This is good advice I've seen before on this topic. I have and can not live without my drill doctor, goes up to 3/4 inch bits.

I buy my drill bits at Sears, I like the Craftsman. Not super expensive but tough and cut good and hold a good edge.

As stated previously, find which sizes you use the most and then buy those sizes in top quality, why purchase a big dollar large set if you don't have to?

Again, I like my craftman, they've held up well for me.

Joel
 
   / What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner? #14  
As long as you know what a sharp bit should look like (there are 2 angles to grind to and a point in the center to look at) you can grind your own to sharpen them and use water to keep cooling the tips as you sharpen. I like to use my belt sander and a cup of water, but that's just because I use my belt sander for everything and never use my grinder. I personally don't like the drill doctor. I guess I just didn't play with it enough to get a feel for how to use it. It's just quicker for me to do it by hand on the belt sander.

The three things I say to remember are:

1. Buy good drill bits, you get what you pay for
2. Use a cutting and drilling oil when you drill
3. Get a chart of the correct speed RPM to run your drill bits for each size and material. Nothing will kill a good drill bit faster than incorrect RPM's.


-Justin
 
   / What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner? #15  
I am a Drill Doctor fan. I have the 750 now and it works better than the smaller one I have. I have tried freehand without much success. The bit will look good but only cut with one flute. One thing to do to make your bits last longer is DON'T drill through rust. Grind the rust away before you drill.
Bill
 
   / What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner? #16  
I get High Speed Steel (HSS) bits. They have HSS stamped on the shank. If it doesn't say HSS on the shank, then I won't buy it.
 
   / What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner? #17  
You should try some good cobalt bits sometime. They are a step up from HSS and great for hardened steel and exotic metals like stainless steel.
 
   / What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner? #18  
Okay,
Can you do it freehand with the bit in visegrips?

For small bits I would recommend keeping a small chuck on hand
and just mount them in the chuck to sharpen them by hand.

I can sharpen by hand bits down to about 1/4 inch.
Smaller than that and my brother usually breaks them before they are dull.

Pooh Bear
 
   / What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner? #19  
One more vote for Drill Doctor. I have sharpened bits by hand for years. It's a good feeling to sharpen one, then use it and see those long spirals coming out of the hole;). But it takes a while to learn how to do well and the Drill Doctor will do it well on smaller bits than can be sharpened by hand. Like Pooh_Bear said, below 1/4" is difficult by hand. Get the DD that goes up to 3/4", it only costs a little more, worth it IMHO.

As far as quality bits, I saw these bits Bad Dog Tools - Drill Bits demonstrated at a trade show one time. They were drilling glass, tile, files, stainless, concrete, etc. I wanted some, but didn't have the money at the time. They are kinda pricey but seem like they would be worth it. Maybe I should order a set...;) (trying to talk myself into it) Maybe I will catch them at another show, I think they sell a little cheaper (show special!!) at the trade shows.

And use a cutting oil, designed for drilling or tapping threads. I don't have a clue what the difference is between that and motor oil, but it seems to me it works better for drilling than motor oil. I had some onetime that was almost like a gel and didn't run off like thinner oil. Don't remember the brand and haven't found any since. But I did notice while on the Bad Dog site they have "Dog Drool", which sounds like the same (or similar) stuff.
jp
 
   / What to Buy? DRILL BITS Sharpner? #20  
I dont know the Drill Doctor or any other bit sharpening device.

Suppose they are doing what they say, nevertheless i would recommend something else.

If you have to invest in tooling why not buy something more universal that allows you to sharpen bits also??

I have this 3" belt grinder and that thing rocks for sharpening bits but also for many many other things.

That way a dedicated sharpening device all of a sudden becomes an expensive gadget.

Besides, i dont believe in "universal" solutions and i still like to know the tecnique behind an aparatus. Makes troubleshooting more easy. :D


On drill bits it really is ''you get what you pay for'' but I would add "it is worth paying for it'' I can count the hours lost with cheapo drills.

:)
 

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