Do "Drill Doctors" drill bit sharpeners work?

_RaT_ · Dec 30, 2003

Re: Do \"Drill Doctors\" drill bit sharpeners work?

It will sharpen the larger bits if they are not chipped fairly quick. Problem is, most of my larger bits chip at the edge instead of wear. If your really steady at the grinder, you can probably knock off some time. The Drill Doctor puts a mirror finish on sharpened bit and that takes a little time. The bits I sharpen with it are superior to most bits right out of the box.

bgott · Dec 30, 2003

Re: Do \"Drill Doctors\" drill bit sharpeners work?

I usually buy loose drill bits at flea markets and yard sales that have seen better days. I'm pretty good at freehand sharpening but I've been thinking about a Drill Doctor because I have a tendency to get a little aggressive with the profile on the smaller bits. $90 on a sharpener would be cheaper than a set of glasses! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

PineRidge · Dec 31, 2003

Re: Do \"Drill Doctors\" drill bit sharpeners work?

I believe mine is a 750 also. I only use it up to a 1/2 bit. The first bit that I sharpened made me a believer in the machine. I quickly went through all of my bits after that and ended up with a nice set of sharp drill bits. I think it's one of the few tools that actually does what it was designed to do, and does it well.

_RaT_ · Dec 31, 2003

Re: Do \"Drill Doctors\" drill bit sharpeners work?

I not only resharpened most of mine, but for those with a steeper or sharper angle I recut them to a lesser angle and put the back grind on them which helps keep the bit from walking. With the less aggresive cut, I don't break the tips off nearly as easy. The important thing with the drill doctor is to count the number of turns you make on the bit holder and make an even number. This helps to ensure more accurate sharpening since each of the two eges will receive the wheel 10 times. A 360 deg. rotation sharpens each cutting edge once. The finished product is a very sharp and highly polished cutting edge. Heat is kept to a minimum as well since the diamond wheel is not very aggresive and removes small amounts with each pass.

wroughtn_harv · Jan 1, 2004

Re: Do \"Drill Doctors\" drill bit sharpeners work?

Uhhhhh RaT, ( The finished product is a very sharp and highly polished )

That explains my problems with the Drill Doctor.

I don't do polish. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

One time polishing those Alcoas on Lucy and I made myself a promise never to buy a truck with them on it ever again. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

I was in a situation where I was using the heck out of quarter inch bits. At first I bought the jobber double ended ones. Then about that time Lowes and HD both started handling the do it yourselfer version of the Drill Doctor. I went to a regular hardware store and ordered the one that did up to three quarter inch bits in both the 135 degree and 118 degree cuts. It seems like it was almost two hundred dollars when it came in.

I was probably doing something wrong, patience is about the only virtue I don't have in spades. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif But that puppy wasn't only slow and tedious, it didn't give me the cutting edge I wanted. It's put away along with a lot of my not so often used tools like the wonderful and extremely handy Porter Cable hand held drum sander. A fine example of a tool that is worth every dime you pay for it even if you only use it once every year or so.

TonyC · Jan 2, 2005

Re: Do \"Drill Doctors\" drill bit sharpeners work?

Well it's been a year since you got your Drill DR, Doc Heb. I just got one for Christmas this year but haven't tried it yet. Any update on your opinion of this tool????

Boondox · Jan 2, 2005

Re: Do \"Drill Doctors\" drill bit sharpeners work?

( They work just fine, and if I got one as a gift I'd be pleased as punch. But basically use five different sized bits...and I can replace those five bits several times for the cost of the Drill Doctor. So for me, it's not cost effective unless somebody else bought it.

Pete )

Well, I got one for Christmas and am happy to report it works just fine...and a lot faster than I thought it would. Pete

beenthere · Jan 2, 2005

Re: Do \"Drill Doctors\" drill bit sharpeners work?

I've had one for a couple years or more, and find it to work very well. I keep my bits in much better shape now, and find that getting a good angle that is sharp is better than my 'pretty-good' hand grind jobs in the past.
I also found that I was not careful enough in the beginning to get a good set-up on the bit and had some disasters at first. Almost gave up on the Drill Doctor. I went back and re-read the instructions, and didn't think I changed anything, but whatever I did, I had better results. Now I go through the box of dull bits every 4-6 months, and touch them up for the next time they are needed.
I find the convenience of having several sharp bits of the right size makes up for any cost of the sharpener. I am happy with it, and like to see the results of drilling steel with a sharp bit. I like the back relief that helps to center the bit in the dimple of the set point.

I find that bits under 1/8" are so tough to align in the holder that I just buy those and keep some extras around.

Ken_CT · Jan 2, 2005

Re: Do \"Drill Doctors\" drill bit sharpeners work?

I have had one for a couple of years now and it does a very good job. One thing no one has mentioned is it does not sharpen the flutes of the drill. If you're drilling deeper holes in wood the flutes dull as well as the tip. This normally isn't a big deal, but it is something to consider if you're doing precision work or need accurate deep holes, as in pen making. You can still get a number of sharpenings before it makes much of a difference.

DmansPadge · Jan 2, 2005

Re: Do \"Drill Doctors\" drill bit sharpeners work?

We have one at work and although is sharpens the bits just fine... I have found that once the initial tip of the drill bit is gone they just don't cut as well. I guess the bit when it is new has a really hardened tip on it and once that's gone the bit doesn't cut the mustard. Once you sharpen a bit one time you don't get much use out of it before it needs to be done again. Just my experience with it.