looks pretty good from here.

 

Hey Jon, have you tried any broken off bits? Will the machine do that? I have a few that I would like to sharpen and use in their shortened state.

Papa

 

X2:drinkup::drinkup::drinkup:

 

Why not just sharpen them on a bench grinder?

Cheers Andrew

 

Why not just sharpen them on a bench grinder?

Exactly, just the other day I taught a guy how to do it in less than 10-minutes. He went right home, and sharpened all his bits, even the broken one.

 

Man I'd love to have someone who really knows how to sharpen a bit on a bench grinder work with me. I've never really quite picked up the "knack" for doing it by hand. Most times it's hit or miss with me. I'm sure it's just a few small things that I'm not aware of that I'm doing wrong. I've watched several youtube videos of guys doing it, but like tig, I'm betting there's a few small things that aren't that easy to spot that make all the difference.


As far as broken bits on the Drill Doctor, yes it will sharpen them, well sort of. There are a few problems. Number one is it will take forever to grind them down with that little wheel. You'll also put a ton of wear on the wheel in the process. 2nd is that the way you set the bit would cause problems with broken bits. You'll end up with the bit out of "rotation" most likely, so even when you have ground it to a point again, you will still have to continue grinding to "reindex" the rotation of the grind. ( I had a guy misset a few bits and grind them almost 45 deg out of rotation one time. It was a real PITA to fix)

The simple solution is to take them to the bench grinder and rough them in quick. You don't need the angles to be super precise, only close enough to get you started and remove the bulk of the "waste". Then when you index the bit, you start out close to what you need and the DD will go from there.


One nice thing I found with the DD is that almost anyone can do bits once you show them how to use it correctly. I'd have my laborer work on bits if we had a partial day and finished up at my place doing "shop" tasks.

 

Man I'd love to have someone who really knows how to sharpen a bit on a bench grinder work with me. I've never really quite picked up the "knack" for doing it by hand. Most times it's hit or miss with me. I'm sure it's just a few small things that I'm not aware of that I'm doing wrong. I've watched several youtube videos of guys doing it, but like tig, I'm betting there's a few small things that aren't that easy to spot that make all the difference.

Next time you are around my way drop in and I'll show you the tricks

The stuff CEP posted tells most of it, I hold the drill with the cutting edge up; then just lift it up the wheel with a slight twist as I go, following the curve of the wheel. It's all about the angles and keeping it even.

Easiest to master on mid size drill bits, say 1/2 inch, real big drills like 2" are actually a bit harder, and below 1/8 gets hard, admitting I need glasses would help with the small ones.

Cheers Andrew

 

I sharpen from probably 1/4" & up by hand, but that drill doctor looks handy for the smaller ones.

Man I'd love to have someone who really knows how to sharpen a bit on a bench grinder work with me. I've never really quite picked up the "knack" for doing it by hand. Most times it's hit or miss with me. I'm sure it's just a few small things that I'm not aware of that I'm doing wrong. I've watched several youtube videos of guys doing it, but like tig, I'm betting there's a few small things that aren't that easy to spot that make all the difference.

Notice the pic in 28-10 that particular angle is where most folks go wrong.
The angle must be swept "back" not "forward"
Also, I'll usually heat up the bit to cherry & re-quench if they are going dull to quickly.
(something that I do to EVERY cheapo drill bit that I get before I even use them).
Also make sure to grind it evenly. on each side.

 

Also make sure to grind it evenly. on each side.

That's the trick right there!

 

Years ago I was given a Drill Doctor. I'm a very impatient guy, it took way to long to place the drill bit in the clamp. I could have 2 or 3 bits sharpened on the bench grinder by the time I got the bit in the clamp of the Drill Doctor! I was very impressed with the stone in the Drill Doctor, I thought about breaking the plastic case to get to the stone to see if I could use it to sharpen by hand, then thought I better not:nono:! Gave the Drill Doctor away.

 

@ CEP - Great data. On my list of things to "master." Do not like the Drill Doctor. Sketch, at best. Going old school to affect sharpening of my bits. Prob take me the finesse a la TIGn to 'get it' and become proficient. Google/Safety Glass time a la Hood Time.

Mahalo loa nui for the pictoral tutorial.

 

When I was a kid my dad taught me to freehand sharpen bits on a bench grinder. Some ginders I've seen even have a groove in the "table" to help you get that 118 degree point which is helpful on snapped bits, but the heel relief still has to be done by hand. I'd like to try a drill doctor, but never have.

 

I love the drill doctor, its great with sharpening bits...especialy the smaller ones, if I have any big bits or smaller broken ones ill rough them in on the grinding wheel and finish off in the drill doctor so you dont spend forever sharpening one bit..before the drill doctor I just used a grinding wheel and did pretty good, but the little extra time in the drill doctor is worth it..a six pack of beers and the stereo going with some good tunes and a few hours later..every drill bit is sharpened..lol

 

Love my DD! Even broken bits, I rough them in on the bench grinder than finish them off in the DD.

 

I sharpen all my drill bits on big bench grinder. Works for me, machine sharpening can sharpen bits in only one way, I can sharpen them in few different ways(for sheet metal, for thick metal, for countersinkink,...). machine is good for big 20mm and up drills and for small 2mm and under drill bits.

 

I have the original version of the drill doc, I think its perfect for those of us who have trouble sharpening on a grinder. I apprenticed as a Tool & Die maker, that's where I learned to grind drill bits on a grinder, well, sort of. My bit box was full of wrong angle bits, even though the relief was right. Couple of years ago the boss (another job) bought a DD which gave me the chance to learn how to use it on their drill bits, it was a really shallow learning curve. I think the unit works well, although I would say the finish isn't as good as a well hand-ground, hand finished bit. I think it's a good unit to have around, buy it on sale.

For broken bits, simply rough grind into shape at the big grinder, then into the DD and voila...yer dunn!!
I now focus on buying only high speed steel drill bits, rest assured that chinese drills are NEVER made of HSS, just lame-a** easy-break carbon steel, same as those chinese tap and die sets, now that's terrifying! Garage sales are a great place to pick up old used HSS bits, as well as tool auctions and the like. Nothing worse than having a cheapshyte bit break in your work or even worse break a tap in the hole, throw away your work and start again.

DD is a great tool for people like me who can't seem to get the hang of hand grinding drill bits.

 

Anyone that's mastered the drill sharpening art seen a video online that is good to learn from? Link?:drinkup::help:

 

I have a drill doc that I use, especially on left handed bits.

This video helped me hand grind on the bench grinder:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QbRPPxyw1hw&list=FLlAPn2WSO7gJltFd-SA1Qxw&index=3

-ian

 

The nice part about the drill doctor is that it does a really nice job sharpening split point drill bits. For a regular old twist drill a bench grinder works fine.

 

OK, OK, OK most of us agree sharpening a drill bit is easy on a bench grinder. But how about using a 7 or 9-inch angle grinder. How many have locked the trigger, placed one foot on the angle grinder and sharpened drill bits that way? :laugh:

 

Guilty as charged your honor, done this a few times in the field and no other choice

Cheers Andrew

 

I don't think a guy can learn from those pictures. But 5 to 10-minutes with someone who knows how standing over your shoulder and it is easy to learn then.
Just like doing these, I can't imagine anyone learning how to splice an eye from a book.

 

I hear you those ole Ironworkers I apprenticed with showed me how to do it in real time, yelling, screaming and all

 

Ok, the consensus is that I would need to rough shape them on the bench grinder first, then use the DD (if I get one). I'll try some broken ones and see how I do. Can't hurt to try.

Thanks,

Papa

 

I have one on the truck, used it about a dozen times, waste of money, I can sharpen them on a flap wheel quicker and better. Gonna give it to my Dad next time I go down and see him.

 

I bought the first one years ago and never was able to tune it in right for the relief angle. I bought the 750X, and it is very good. I have been able to tune bits up by hand, but I never got good at sharpening them. The 750X is pretty fool proof. I wouldn't be suprised if you could make an adapter to sharpen a tungsten on the little diamond wheel.

 

How was the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and so on bits?

 

I have no idea, he did those at home.

 

This is the new generation where size is totally irrelevant. The DD makes a mundane and often neglected chore of sharpening bits so easy anyone can do it. And, unlike the large sizers out there who like to brag about their expertise, the DD sharpens each and every bit EXACTLY the same, perfect everytime. While I can respect these old timers and those who actually learn from them and feel honored we still have some of them around with the expertise to use a bench grinder, lawn mower, chainsaw, whatever to sharpen drill bits, most of us just go shove it in the old pencil sharpener (DD) and be done with it. Just sayin. lol!

 

Well.....it can be as simple as if you just can't afford a DD. You make due with what you have. And knowledge is mostly free when asked for politely. Everyone's approach is different.
Dunno if I'd put that capitol into a DD. I don't really drill a lot, per say. If one has a shop full of monkey's that can barely keep there knuckles off the ground, then yeah, maybe an idiot-proof DD would be worth the $$.
:drinkup:

 

A previous post about the DD

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=177271

 

I got a drill doctor a while back for an Xmass gift, Biggest POS ever. I have 10X the luck sharpening bits by hand on the grinder than i ever do with the drill doctor

 

Well, you can watch my video and see how the current model works. It's fantastic.

 

How long ago was that? I have a blue older one that is worthless. The newwer model seems to do a breat job.

 

FWIW, I have a 750 and I have done 1/8" (maybe smaller - I can't recall) through 1/2" and can't ever recall getting anything less that a stellar result. I was doing some work in a scene shop once, and found a bit worn damn near flat and figured I'd give it a go, and the DD put a perfect edge back on it. Not instantly, but didn't take much more than 5 mins either.


Unlike others, I have found the instructions crystal clear, and by doing what they say, the thing works great.

- Tim