Sharpening Drill Bits

[Jeff Lary]

Been out in the workshop this morning sharpening Drill Bits for a friend.I have been using a General model 825 it works pretty good.Also done the smaller ones by hand the gadget doesnt seem to work well in sizs less than 1/4 so i do them by hand.He also had a few Spade bits also did these by hand i really like to do this sort of thing.Does anyone else have this kind of drill sharpening attachment and how does it work for you?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I got a drill bit sharpener about 5 years ago for xmas from my sister-n-law. I did not think it would work but boy was I wrong. I love it. Will sharpen up to 1/2" bits and it quick and easy. It has saved me a ton.

Sears: Online department store featuring appliances, tools, fitness equipment and more

Chris

 

[Jeff Lary]

Drill Doctor by any chance?

 

[JohninCT]

I have one like the General 825 that I inherited from my Dad. Haven't used it in many years. I've got a Drill Doctor now. Love it. It makes sharpening drill bits easy and quick.

 

[glc24]

His link shows that it is a Drill Doctor.

Personally,I got used to using the belt sander at work, mostly for large bits. Been doing it for quite a few years so it's a piece of cake for me. Split points are a bit harder to do,but still come out pretty decent.:thumbsup:

Greg

 

[JoelD]

I use drill doctor
Gift from mom
I really like it

Joel

 

[wdchyd]

One of the great things of Drill Doctor is all your friends that don't think the sharpener works and gives all their old drills......Yipeeeee.....:thumbsup:

 

[Shield Arc]

I was given a Drill Doctor years ago. I gave it away, took too long to get the bit in the holder. I'm just use to doing it by hand.

 

[Rio_Grande]

I used to sharpen my own but after years of not making my living in a shop,,,, Sad to say I have lost the ability to sharpen like I used to. I can stll do little ones but the biggins mess me up.

 

[chipsndust]

I can't seem to get the Drill Doctor to work on the smaller bits. It works great on 1/4" and up.

Probably operator error, just need to stay at it. My index is full of stubby bits < 1/4" :')

 

[Shield Arc]

I can't seem to get the Drill Doctor to work on the smaller bits. It works great on 1/4" and up.

Probably operator error, just need to stay at it. My index is full of stubby bits < 1/4" :')

That is the problem I had. It was all I could do not to throw it across the shop!:laughing:
I can sharpen a bit faster by hand than the time it took to load a drill bit in the Drill Doctor.

 

[kenmac]

I can sharpen a bit faster by hand than the time it took to load a drill bit in the Drill Doctor.

I agree. I was given a drill dr several yrs ago as a present. Used it maybe 2 x

 

[Mace Canute]

A Drill Doctor is one of those tools that I think you either *click* into using it right away or you never do. I've heard some guys who are quite handy literally curse them and some praise them. I like mine! It works well for me and gives me a good sharp bit. The odd time I "flubbotch" it up and have to start over but that's my fault, not the tool. I "know" how to hand sharpen a drill, but my body refuses to go along with what my brain tells it to do and I end up with some real peculiar grinds!

 

[crazyal]

Every so often I either mess one up or it slips and it doesn't sharpen correctly but I would never be without a Drill Doctor again. I do want to pick up the coarse wheel for doing broken bits.

 

[LD1]

I rarley sharpen a bit.

The place I used to work ( and dad still works there) throws a TON of bits away. They buy the plated ones. Anytime a bit gets taken out of the bin, it doesnt get put back, even if it only drilled through 1 peice of sheet metal.

But thats how that factories maintenance operates. If they have a machine down, and need a drillbit, if they grab a used bit and have to walk back to get another, that 5min cost WAY more than the price of the bit. So only new bits are in there and used ones get tossed. So yeah, I got pleanty. And they dont bother sharpening either because they dont last once the plating is gone.

On some of the larger bits that I dont get as often, I will sharpen and re-use them. But anything under 1/2", when it's done its done and I toss it.

 

[rankrank1]

I re-sharpen HSS drill bits only. I do not buy the coated ones for the simple reason that the coated bits can not be re-sharpened and last anytime at all because the coating is gone.

I do them by hand on a bench grinder and utilize 2 hex nuts super-glued together for a 120 degree visual reference comparison guide when grinding/sharpening the bits. This low cost poor man's comparison guide allows me to get close enough to the factory's 117 degree O.E. angle. If a bit is badly mangled then one should only grind a little bit at a time and let cool so as to not remove the temper from the bit. If you see blue colored areas on your freshly sharpened edge then you ground too much too fast and got it too hot - the edge will not last.

 

[PILOON]

Am lucky to own a set of Dormer bits and for shure keep them sharp.
I do so using the hand held method. I can do down to about 1/8".
A dremmel tool is also handy to touch up the small bits but sometimes gets to be hit or miss.

 

[wdchyd]

Wow, I can't believe how many of you guys just chuck out bits.....I'd love to empty your waste baskets.....maybe cuz you don't pay for them..??..:confused2:

I've hand sharpened for years but the Drill Doctor is faster and better than looking for a new one sometimes......and I use drill bits everyday for some pretty tough materials......

 

[jimgerken]

In my experience, the diamond wheel of the Drill dr. will make an edge far superior to a new bit if you take the time to do it. That said, it is more difficult as the bit size gets smaller. I guess below 1/16" I would not even bother trying to sharpen. But 1/8" and up work great.
Thanks to whoever pointed out that Drill Dr. has a coarse wheel for repair jobs, I need that too.

 

[wdchyd]

Here's a way to do up to 2.5" dia........Big Drills....Uggg Uggg Uggg... the Tim the Toolman Taylor Way......