Drill Doctor

[cmyoung2]

Thanks for everyones input on the Drill doctor. I ended up with the DDSB, does both twist(up to 1/2) and spade bits(up to 1 1/2). I also got a 6" bench grinder, been wanting both for a long time. The Drill Doc works, is easy to use, think it will pay for itself in reclaming old bits. The grinder is a little harder to learn, but not bad. For me, it works better on the larger bits. Do have to pay attention to keeping everything centered. Again, thanks for everyones input, have a good new year.

 

[5030]

Thanks for everyones input on the Drill doctor. I ended up with the DDSB, does both twist(up to 1/2) and spade bits(up to 1 1/2). I also got a 6" bench grinder, been wanting both for a long time. The Drill Doc works, is easy to use, think it will pay for itself in reclaming old bits. The grinder is a little harder to learn, but not bad. For me, it works better on the larger bits. Do have to pay attention to keeping everything centered. Again, thanks for everyones input, have a good new year.

...once you master the art of offhand grinding, the drill doctor will collect dust because offhand grinding allows you to vary not only the cutting angle but the relief, which is very important on larger bits. As you get proficient, even the tiny bits are doable. I use a magnifyier headgear to sharpen the tiny ones and a grinding wheel mounted in Dremel laid on the bench.....

 

[grsthegreat]

Thanks for everyones input on the Drill doctor. I ended up with the DDSB, does both twist(up to 1/2) and spade bits(up to 1 1/2). I also got a 6" bench grinder, been wanting both for a long time. The Drill Doc works, is easy to use, think it will pay for itself in reclaming old bits. The grinder is a little harder to learn, but not bad. For me, it works better on the larger bits. Do have to pay attention to keeping everything centered. Again, thanks for everyones input, have a good new year.

Congrats... no matter what some people here say about the drill doctors, they work GREAT and are easy to keep an edge on your bits.

Some old farts sure hate progress HAHA....and that means something coming from this old fart

 

[digger2]

I have an older model DD and i think they are great.Just make sure you get a couple of spare diamond wheels to replace the original.They do wear out eventually.Personally,i think the bits cut better than when they were new alot of times.
And yes,i do know how to sharpen a bit by hand on a grinder,but I cant come anywhere close in accuracy to what the DD will do.

digger2

 

[crazyal]

I love hearing how machinists will not talk about something like the DD. Like somehow if you use one you're not a purist. Well I bet using my chainsaw over an ax to cut down trees and using my log splitter over a splitting maul also may be frowned at by some as "cheating". I bet they would say if you take the time to learn how to cut with an axe you'll be able to 'read' the tree better. I'm also sure that the same holds true for the maul with learning how to read knots. But they would be the minority.

Congrats on the sharpener and grinder. Hopefully your bench grinder doesn't get put on a shelf and collect dust like mine do. Between my 4 1/2" grinder and DD I just find the real estate on the workbench too valuable to give up to a bench grinder.

 

[grsthegreat]

I love hearing how machinists will not talk about something like the DD. Like somehow if you use one you're not a purist. Well I bet using my chainsaw over an ax to cut down trees and using my log splitter over a splitting maul also may be frowned at by some as "cheating". I bet they would say if you take the time to learn how to cut with an axe you'll be able to 'read' the tree better. I'm also sure that the same holds true for the maul with learning how to read knots. But they would be the minority.

Congrats on the sharpener and grinder. Hopefully your bench grinder doesn't get put on a shelf and collect dust like mine do. Between my 4 1/2" grinder and DD I just find the real estate on the workbench too valuable to give up to a bench grinder.

hehe...good one. my bench grinder is only used for the wire brush on the other side. i hardly ever use the grinder.

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

If there's a DD or equivalent that can do a great job on an 1/4" split point cobalt drill, let me know about it because I haven't found it. We even bought a $3000 plus drill sharpener and I was not impressed with it. Nothing compares to a good factory sharp Chicago Latrobe M42 Cobalt drill for most metals. (Some metals demand coatings).

If you are just fabbing plate steel and don't mind drilling a 1/32 over the drill's intended size, hand grinding is fine. DD is good for home and hobby use. The wheel or stone is half the battle. Diamond or Borazon works the best.

When you have a CNC mill that you are charging $100/ hour, using cheap drills that don't last doesn't make sense. Buy cobalt drills. For a CNC with controlled feed, coolant and rigidity, get them coated with TiCN or TiAlN. When you are costing $3/minute, it doesn't take long to do the math of sharpening a drill vs. replacing it on drills smaller than about .200" diameter. Chunk those in a can and give them to your hobby buddys to sharpen on their DD.

PS, I can even hand sharpen carbide gun drills (if I have an optical comparator). Shield Arc, on your picture of your $39 bench grinder, I believe you have your "tungsten only" label over the wrong wheel.

 

[Shield Arc]

Shield Arc, on your picture of your $39 bench grinder, I believe you have your "tungsten only" label over the wrong wheel.

Why would you think that?

 

[Kyle_in_Tex]

Why would you think that?

It looks from the picture that your "wide" wheel on the right is a bit green tinted for carbide. Hard to tell exactly from the picture.

 

[Shield Arc]

It looks from the picture that your "wide" wheel on the right is a bit green tinted for carbide.

Yes it is.