Drill bit sharpener needed

J. Neilson

J. Neilson

Joined
Feb 6, 2001
Messages
3,621
I'm going through too many bits lately and am getting tired of buying new ones constantly. I've never learned to sharpen bits by hand and the one sharpener (can't remember the brand) I have rots. Anyone know of a good machine or system for cobalt bits?
 
Drill Doctor units are commonly found on eBay. But be very careful on eBay about which model is being sold. I recently researched getting a Drill Doctor as a woodworking shop tool. The prices on eBay for them are usually pretty good. But you gotta figure in the cost of shipping too, which can negate much of the savings over local prices.

etp777, thanks for the link to Ace Hardware for the DD550PK (the "pk" in Drill Dr part numbers USUALLY indicates a kit). Their price isn't bad for that model. Your recommendation for getting a model 500 or better lines up with the conclusion I reached when I was looking into them as a shop tool.

Two points:
1. The aftermarket expense of the Drill Doctor is getting replacement diamond-coated sharpening wheels when they wear out. At about $20-$25 apiece, that can accumulate quickly into more than the initial $100-$150 price of the sharpening unit itself. The good news being that they seem to be widely available.
2. Be sure to read the FAQ page on the Drill Doctor website. It has a bunch of relavent information to consider before buying one of their units.

My own inclination is to get the model 750 kit to have as many bases covered as possible. YMMV.
 
I was just looking at the Drill Doctor site above. I noticed that if you want to resharpen to 135 degree split point(the type of point that seems to work best in knife steels), you have to go with the 500, or 750 model.
I would like to get one of those myself, but will have to wait for richer times.;)
 
If you get somebody who really knows how to show you hoe to sharpen a drill bit, you wont need a machine! It's hard to understand from books.

A good, industrial tool grinder for really precisely sharpening drill bits costs big dough. For that kind of money you can buy a lot of new bits...
 
IMHO, the Drill Doctor is hard to beat. Got one about 2 years ago and it has paid for itself many times over. (Model 500 I think)
I used to use a Lisle grinder. Worked great for very large bits but the smaller (1/4" and down) were a pita. It's under one of the workbenches with the other dead elephants now :)
 
When I was first learning to make knives, hand sharpening drill bits on an open faced rock grinder wheel was one of the first things on the agenda. It wasn't hard to learn but I got to watch an old pro in action and I suppose that made it alot easier to master the trick. If you're throwing away your dull bits what could it hurt to give it a try? If you can eyeball a knife grind on a belt grinder you should be able to learn to sharpen drill bits. The secret is in maintaining the angle on the face of the bit and making sure you take more off the trailing edge than the leading sharp edge for proper cutting relief. And go slow with very little pressure. Just touch it and look at it and keep repeating that till both sharp edges look the same. I wish I could give you a demo but being a one man show I wouldn't be able to sharpen the bit and take pics at the same time. It's really quite easy but a hands on demonstration would really cut your learning curve time down. Give it a try using your finest grit rock stone. I guess a belt grinder would work but I don't know what you have available. Keep in mind that the finer the stone, the faster the heat builds up in the bit. Keep some water handy for dipping the bit in occasionally. Good luck.
 
I have used a Drill Doctor for several years and would not want to be without it. Mine is the more expensive model. As someone once said, "Buy quality and only cry once."
I have sharpened numerous drills with it and have not yet had to replace the diamond wheel.
Some are good at sharpening drill bits by hand. I am not. But with the Drill Doctor I can get a perfectly sharp bit in a very short time.
 
I have one of the Drill Doctor units...I don't remember what model #. But it works like a champ on cobalt bits. I always set up before a project and sharpen all the bits I'll need and get new files and such and it really helpd me a lot to have fresh, sharp bits. I have sharpened some of them 15 or 20 times because I profile sword blades from bar stock by drilling small holes about the outside and then use a hacksaw to finish. About every 30 holes or so I resharpen the bit and it really keeps things moving, especially on the 5160 I use.

I'd recommend a Drill Doctor hands down if you have the $100. Read all the literature and view the video tape that comes with it to get the best use out of it.

Brian
 
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