Drill Bits

[Chris Vangel]

How do you guys sharpen drill bits? I have been guilty of all the crimes, higher than needed speed, too big a bit, or wrong type.
I have been able to sharpen a few on the grinder by hand, but normally not. Of course by that time it"s usually already too late, especially with all the shiny coating they like to use these days, once it"s gone, is it junk?

Dad just has had regular bits that have performed for years and didn"t need the titanium polymer superbits with optional uranium tip and a goofy looking point.

I ask this because I was considering buying a Drill Doctor, any opinions on this tool?

Thanks,
Chris V.

 

[Midwest redneck]

I have heard that the drill doctor thing doesnt work, I have never used one.
I use a surface grinder to sharpen my bits, I hold the bit by hand and lightly press the drills cutting edge up to the wheel, both sides.
A belt sander works real good too. Off course free hand grinding of drill bits is tricky--but practice makes perfect.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Best thing that magic drills do is magically put your money in somebody else's pocket. Purchasing a good set of drills used to be as simple as a trip to a hardware but not anymore. Go to a machine tool place or some fastener houses sell good tooling. I use Champion brand but there are others, they cost money so be prepared. Sharpening drill bits bigger than about 1/8" is as simple as spending an afternoon at the bench grinder with some dull bits some steel and a stone dresser, smaller bits are trashed and replaced and I buy them by the 10 pack. When learning try to get one that looks like the pictures and drills like you want it, repeat it, this is how I learned and I am far from brilliant. Instructions must be on a few hundred places on the internet. I have seen too many drill Dr's buried in the clutter piled up in people shop benches or thrown underneath same to believe they amount to much. There are good bench mounted drill sharpening rigs but at the cost of half a pick up load of Drill Drs

 

[TimV]

Chris: lots of stuff in the archives on this, both pro and con. I've got an older mid-grade Drill Doctor, and it's saved my bacon on many occasions, most recently when I trashed the only #21 drill I had right in the middle of drilling and tapping a bunch of 10-32 holes. From 1/8" to 1/2" (or 3/4" if your DD will do it), I find a Drill Doctor faster and MUCH more repeatable than hand-sharpening. Yes, I can hand-sharpen, and I can also draw circles by hand, but I prefer to use a tool to do both of these chores! If the point is toasted, I rough-grind a new point on the bench grinder and finish it up on the DD. As far as bits, I've got everything from China cheapies up to top-of-the-line stuff, and while SOME of the cheapie bits are just fine, the problem is you don't know whether the steal-of-a-deal ones you just bought are good or bad. Most unbiased research I've seen shows that coatings are best at convincing someone a $0.25 bit is worth $2.00 because it has $0.02 of shiny metal on the end of it. In most cases, you're better off with a good set of plain name-brand bits than a coated set of no-names.

 

[Dusty MI]

I used to be fairly good at hand sharping. I'm always wonder about things that are heavily advertised like the Drill Doctor, but I bought one this summer, they work great. I wish I known that they had a model that would do both angles 118* and 130*. They will also do a split point. Some models will do up to 3/4".
They work well.

Dusty

 

[kez]

I found this on the net under the heading Teenut Classic -sharpening drill bit faq. Hope this helps. Al

http://www.desktopcnc.com/drill/sharpen.htm

 

[Anonymous-0]

Well I will admit that the DD does work. They are slow of you have a big chip to grind out. There is a reason though that a real drill grinder costs about $1000 and up. My advise to you would be to get a nice drill point angle gauge, sit at a belt sander, (the best) or a bench grinder and hold a new drill, about 3/8 or 1/2" up to it while it isn't running and learn to get the angles. I hold the cutting edge up and as I grind lift and sort of rotate it up a little. Exact angle isn't as important as having both sides the same angle and same length on the drill point gauge. You also need "relieg" which is having the trailing edge "below" the cutting edge so the drill can cut in. Try to see it in a new drill and go for that angle. After you get done grinding and are satisfied not put the drill in a vise with the cutting end up and the edge on the right parrell with the vise jaws. Now with a fine stone just remove the grinding marks from the edge. The smoother and nicer the edge the longer it will last and the better it will cut. By learning to sharpen drills this way if you are stuck you can do it with no point gauge, and no special grinder. And you will have saved the cost of the drill doctor. Practice on some drills in the 3/8 to 1/2 range until you "get it" then you can do smaller and larger. Be carefull to not overheat the edge. As has been said, "They make drills long so apprentices can learn to sharpen them".

 

[philcaseinWPA]

I have a DD. It seems to work fine for what I need. I wish I had the bigger one (3/4")but mine works good for what I use it for.
Phil

 

[Anonymous-0]

I own a drill Doctor and really like it. Owner of the pawn shop did not know what he had. Bought it for $20.00 cash and he threw in a half dozen drill bits. Doctor was hardly used. I use it for sharping bits and I know how to sharpen bit free hand.

 

[Chris Vangel]

"They make drills long so apprentices can learn to sharpen them".


That's a great thought right there. Perhaps I should just try to find some old ones at a yard sale or something and just start practicing.

This came up the other day when trying to drill out old exhaust manifold bolts. I went through tech school and worked with grandpa & dad, it is now my strong belief that every student, be it mechanics or machinist, should have a test that a bolt (or several) be broken off in an engine and they be graded on it's removal. Good experience to be gained for sure.

Chris.

 

[Chris Vangel]

Guys, thanks for all the responses, and they were quick too. This is alway a great place for info. I don't post to much, but I always read, it's just a great place in general. Thanks.

Chris.

 

[Hobo,NC]

Like this, My uncle came by one day with this on a trailer along with some other stuff he brought from a plant that sold out. It did not leave my property, I have a DD to its better than nuttin but not the cats meow like this one. I am like some of the rest to a point I can sharpen my bits on a bench grinder. If nothing else I can use a DD to git me back in the ball park then do my thang on a grinder. Don't know why but i can free hand a left hand bit better than a standard righty.