Sharpening drill bits

[maproy99]

Any stores that you can think of that will sharpen a metal drilling drill bit? I tried on my grinder but I cannot get it just right. Seems waste full to go keep buying new bits.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

I would say Drill Dr does a good job on most bits

 

[blamtro]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

I can say a drill doctor is worth its weight in gold. I have probably used ours over 100 times. There is nothing more frustrating then getting through a project with a dull bit, or a broken one! I haven't even had to replace the little grinding wheel it in.

VERY quick and easy to use mid-project.

 

[Triton II]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Make sure if you're using a grinder that you hold the bit so the blade edge being sharpened faces away from the direction of rotation of the grinding wheel. Practice using an old bit and take it slowly and methodically.

TII

 

[dingbat]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Tru-value / home Depot/ Lowes drill bits suck to begin with

 

[mscher]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Drill Doctor.

Sharpening by hand on a grinder, is a lost art and never was really accurate.

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Another vote for drill doctor. It's become a tool in my cross bed tool box.

 

[delirious]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

the trick is to grind so the cutting edge ends up HIGHER than the trailing edge of the bit. i have sharpened many bits and its an art...or a long tyme aquired skill, but i hear frm many the drill doctor is deff the way to go my .02

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Get a drill doctor.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Company i used to work for had a drill doctor in the shop.

I miss it!

 

[dolluper]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

I still use a 5 bone jig when I want a more precise sharpen.....mostly do it on the fly on the grinder......the 5 bucker works fantastic....perfect angle and sharp uses stone wheel on electric drill ...nice little jig

 

[Expidia]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Yes, the Drill Doctor is da Bomb! I have several sets of drills that I inherited from my Dad that are probably 75 years old. The grade of metal they used to make them with was great. Like others have said, the Chinese crap in the big box stores go dull after a few holes. Not even worth sharpening them.

When I use drills and they go dull I just toss them in a small box and on a rainy Sunday I go down into my workshop and sharpen away.

I have another drill sharpening jig I bought from Sears years ago. It was so confusing to use it that I went out and got the DD and never looked back

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

So which model drill doctor is the best one to get?

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Just get some one to show you how to sharpen a drill bit. Its not hard to do but it does take some practice. I think a drill sharpener is a waste of time and takes to long in the middle of a project.

 

[dolluper]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

+2 on learning

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

I know both ways, problem is if off a bit your hole is oversized. Is a good skill but have a drill dr. Takes less time in middle of project than doing freehand. At work they buy cheep bits and don't care if I use 2 or 3 but at home don't have that option. I keep mine at work because I have bought a good set of bits #, Letters> and fractional because they only have fractional many times I need # bits.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

So which model drill doctor is the best one to get?

750x if you use bits bigger than 1/2, otherwise the 500x is fine. I've had the older version of the 750 for around 10 years and it is still going strong.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Your grinding wheel will play a LARGE part in your ability to hand sharpen a bit. It must have a clean and true cutting face, and a sharp 90 deg. angle to the side surface if you need to thin the web.

There is no real magic to it. The easiest way is to make sure the cutting edge is parallel and on line with the face of the grinding wheel. Then just sweep down away from the cutting edge as you dress the bit. As long as both cutting edges are the same length, an at the same angle (59 deg for a standard bit, 118 deg included) the bit will cut fine.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Just get some one to show you how to sharpen a drill bit. Its not hard to do but it does take some practice. I think a drill sharpener is a waste of time and takes to long in the middle of a project.

Ever used one? You drop the bit in the chuck and sharpen the bit - whole process is under a minute. The only thing I waste time hand sharpening anymore is my bits over 3/4" - which don't fit in the DD

 

[minuteman62-64]

Re: Sharpening drill bits

Another vote for Drill Doctor. My only gripe is that I can't set up my smaller hex shaft mounted drills - the hex shaft gets in the way.