Sharpening drill bits

[Oaktree]

My father was a machinist, and could sharpen drills on a grinder in his sleep. I didn't inherit his talent.
Picked up a drill doctor secondhand, it does the job, but it definitely takes practice to get the knack. Guy I bought it from called it Dr. Kevorkian.

I will put my collection of dull drill bits up against anyones - both in terms of the number of bits and how dull they are. I guess I have a problem tossing them.

You're not alone, I've got a pretty good collection myself.

 

[Gem99ultra]

I'm sure I'm in the minority regarding satisfaction with my Drill Doctor. Being a drill bit hoarder, I had collect some 400 dull bits. I also purchased the best DD out there and enjoyed absolutely zero satisfaction in the results. Most of those 400 bits are still dull and unusable.

At best, I ended up with perhaps 1 in 10 bits that were properly sharpened. No doubt at all that my lack of skill in operating the DD was cause, but what can I say... The DD ads did not produce the magical results that I expected.

 

[scootr]

I'm sure I'm in the minority regarding satisfaction with my Drill Doctor. Being a drill bit hoarder, I had collect some 400 dull bits. I also purchased the best DD out there and enjoyed absolutely zero satisfaction in the results. Most of those 400 bits are still dull and unusable.

At best, I ended up with perhaps 1 in 10 bits that were properly sharpened. No doubt at all that my lack of skill in operating the DD was cause, but what can I say... The DD ads did not produce the magical results that I expected.

TBH you may be doing something wrong in the set up and operation. Maybe you could share some pictures of the results you are getting and we could help.

 

[HawkinsHollow]

I inherited an old black and decker drill bit sharpener from my dad. I have yet to try it. But I have been collecting quite a few dull bits so I better get to it. This thing is from a time when black and decker wasn't Chinese crap, it hardly has a piece of plastic on it.

 

[IXLR8]

When I first got the DD, I couldn't get a sharp bit out of it to save my life, found it frustrating to use. I found some YouTube videos that had some tips and tricks to using the DD and I found them helpful. Now I get pretty good results. Unfortunately I didn't save them to pass on. It takes a bit to set it up correctly and for sharpening one or two bits, I just use the grinder and get it close enough.

 

[woody]

I'm sure I'm in the minority regarding satisfaction with my Drill Doctor. Being a drill bit hoarder, I had collect some 400 dull bits. I also purchased the best DD out there and enjoyed absolutely zero satisfaction in the results. Most of those 400 bits are still dull and unusable.

At best, I ended up with perhaps 1 in 10 bits that were properly sharpened. No doubt at all that my lack of skill in operating the DD was cause, but what can I say... The DD ads did not produce the magical results that I expected.

if we were just a little closer I would volunteer to show you what I could, not saying my bits turn out like new but they do work when I'm done. Got to be something in the setup

 

[pmsmechanic]

I still sharpen all of my bits by eye and by hand. If a bit needs sharpening I want it done now and not have to pull out a machine and set it all up. I taught myself how to do it by resharpening drill bits untill they worked.

Now every once in a while one of the neighbours will bring a thoroughly trashed bit over for me to sharpen. Often I go to the chop saw first and remove the worst parts of the bit by cutting it off. Then I slowly start to grind it to the point where it will once again drill a hole. Regularly cooling in water while grinding is your friend.

 

[5030]

Get a good stone for your grinder and practice sharpening by hand. Grab a drill gauge to use for accurate 60 degree angles until you get it down. Sounds like you have lots of bits to practice on.

https://www.amazon.com/Gauges-Stainless-Sharpener-Measuring-Measure/dp/B07H7Y7HVH/ref=asc_df_B07H7Y7HVH?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80127027724202&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4583726553916720&psc=1

By learning to do it by hand you can sharpen a bit anywhere there is a grinder.

To a point and that point is, when they become too small, offhand grinding becomes impossible. I offhand sharpen and relieve the heels on all my twist drills, but below 1/8", the got tossed and replaced simply because it becomes too difficult to sharpen them.

 

[repete]

To a point and that point is, when they become too small, offhand grinding becomes impossible. I offhand sharpen and relieve the heels on all my twist drills, but below 1/8", the got tossed and replaced simply because it becomes too difficult to sharpen them.

Agreed. I just keep a stock of the small ones I go through. I have a container full of .201 bits for 1/4" threads.
As to trying to recover "destroyed" bits you are correct as well. Never try to burn/melt your way through the work. If it is not cutting, stop and sharper it at that moment before deformation of the tip occurs.

 

[5030]

I too get dull bits from folks around here for resharpening. Offhand sharpening is an acquired skill that takes time and patience to learn.