Will anyone here sharpen my drills?

[Mohawk Dave]

I'm good at best. But I have a box of used drills that I want great. Some 118, some 135, split points, and everything in between, fore and aft.

Anyone on here have a Darex or just plain and simple kick *** at sharpening drills that would be interested in making a few bucks. I could mail them to you with a return package and postage paid. Name your price.

I'm on the west coast, but I could ship anywhere. A lot of drills will fit in a flat rate box.

And I've checked with local shops...they are not jumping at the chance to do this.

 

[ATC]

Have you thought about buying a Drill Doctor?


http://www.drilldoctor.com/

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Have you thought about buying a Drill Doctor?


http://www.drilldoctor.com/

yea...rather have a Darex. I've used both. But don't have access to the Darex anymore. Not only that...but I've got some big drills that need done.

 

[lilredex]

Try this "old school" method, I use a 1 X 30" belt sander.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have found my drill doctor real hit or miss. Some bits it sharpens great, others it doesn't do ****. Is it just me or can you only sharpen a bit a few times and then it doesn't respond or hold an edge like the metal is different?

 

[Lightfoot]

I have found my drill doctor real hit or miss. Some bits it sharpens great, others it doesn't do ****.

my experience too. Followed the instructions to a tee, and watched the video multiple times. Hit and miss at best.
Sold mine last year at a yard sale.

 

[IndyGarage]

I have found my drill doctor real hit or miss. Some bits it sharpens great, others it doesn't do ****. Is it just me or can you only sharpen a bit a few times and then it doesn't respond or hold an edge like the metal is different?

The trick is getting the bit set in the chuck exactly right. Once you figure it out, it's almost a no brainer to get a perfect bit.

BTW Drill doctor is made by the same company as Darex, I think.

 

[cookefab]

yea...rather have a Darex. I've used both. But don't have access to the Darex anymore. Not only that...but I've got some big drills that need done.

FWIW, Darex owns the Drill Doctor name...machines w/ the Drill Doctor name are marketed toward DIY's...Darex branded units are usually more pricey, and marketed toward commercial use...

 

[notch4u]

The machine shop i worked all they all could do it by hand on a diamond bench grinder.

 

[PECVD2]

The trick is getting the bit set in the chuck exactly right. Once you figure it out, it's almost a no brainer to get a perfect bit.

BTW Drill doctor is made by the same company as Darex, I think.

^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^

I thought mine was a gimmick tool at first then figured it out. I use it often.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I have found my drill doctor real hit or miss. Some bits it sharpens great, others it doesn't do ****. Is it just me or can you only sharpen a bit a few times and then it doesn't respond or hold an edge like the metal is different?

I just did over 100 bits on my Drill Doctor this weekend.

All came out perfect and cut like buttah.

You may need a new sharpening wheel.

Alignment is critcal, then sharpen and then split if necessary.
I don;t find it difficult to do at all once versed in how the system works.
There is finesse' involved tho.

And yea, we all have $2,000 Darex's just layin' about the garage and shop.
Sure.

And as mentioned above , the Drill Doctor IS made by a divison of Darex.

 

[Steinmetz]

I just did over 100 bits on my Drill Doctor this weekend.

All came out perfect and cut like buttah.

You may need a new sharpening wheel.

Alignment is critcal, then sharpenen and then split if necessary.
I don;t find it difficult to do at all once versed in how the system works.
There is finesse' involved tho.

And yea, we all have $2k Darex's just layin' about the garage.
Sure.

And as mentioned above , the Drill Doctor IS made by a divison of Darex.

I recently sharpened a lot of high-quality twist drills I acquired using the Drill Doctor. I find it to produce such a repeatable drill point that I rarely use a drill point gage to check them anymore (I've never found one that came out not ground perfectly). It is an excellent tool.

 

[sberry]

I have found a couple bits you just couldnt do in one, something about the twist, flute,,, who knows, just tossed them and agree if a guy is diligent with the DD they are sharp. Perfect angles.

 

[RCStocker]

I have a an industrial sharpener that will do bits up to 1-1/2 inch. I am out in Redlands. I will not be up to doing it for a months or so. I just got out of the hospital again. If you can hold off that long I will sharpen them for free. I have a drill doctor but yet to use it. I was taught how to sharpen them by hand and can get them to cut at any angle doing them by hand. Over 5/8" is hard to do by hand. I was a tool and die maker in my early former life before I became a farmer and architect. LOL I will send you a private PM with my e address.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I have a an industrial sharpener that will do bits up to 1-1/2 inch. I am out in Redlands. I will not be up to doing it for a months or so. I just got out of the hospital again. If you can hold off that long I will sharpen them for free. I have a drill doctor but yet to use it. I was taught how to sharpen them by hand and can get them to cut at any angle doing them by hand. Over 5/8" is hard to do by hand. I was a tool and die maker in my early former life before I became a farmer and architect. LOL I will send you a private PM with my e address.

AWESOME! RCStocker...I'll PM you right now. I'm about 7 minutes from you. And just so you know, I'll pay or trade or bring you something cool. Thank you sir!

 

[Mohawk Dave]

And yea, we all have $2,000 Darex's just layin' about the garage and shop.
Sure.

And as mentioned above , the Drill Doctor IS made by a divison of Darex.

Well, there's a blanket statement. Have you seen some of the garages and equipment on here? I KNOW some of these guys have Darexs at their home or shop-just couldn't hunt down the threads last night.

Also, just because the Drill Doctor IS made by a division of Darex, does not mean it IS a Darex. Besides, a Drill Doctor can't do my 59/64" bit anyway..so that point is moot. I've got a handfull of bits bigger than 3/4" that need done.

Carry on.

 

[jjjrmx5]

I knew that you knew that I knew what you knew Mohawk Dave.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

I knew that you knew that I knew what you knew.

Pure Awesomeness!

 

[bobcatdan]

The trick is getting the bit set in the chuck exactly right. Once you figure it out, it's almost a no brainer to get a perfect bit.

BTW Drill doctor is made by the same company as Darex, I think.

I will have to watch it very carefully next time I use it. I have a pile of old bits that need sharping. I don't doubt the drill doctor works. When I first got, I sharpen a complete 29 piece set that was dull from new and all of those cut great after.

 

[sberry]

Anytime you want to sharpen 500 or so give me a call,, ha

 

[jeffmoss26]

As I told jjjmrx, they throw out all the dull/broken bits under 1/2 inch at my work :O

 

[Leadberry]

Back in high school we had a Drill Doctor, but the old-fashioned instructor insisted we learned how to sharpen drill bits by hand on a bench grinder. I personally always got better results with the grinder. It's pretty easy once you get the technique down.

 

[Mohawk Dave]

Back in high school we had a Drill Doctor, but the old-fashioned instructor insisted we learned how to sharpen drill bits by hand on a bench grinder. I personally always got better results with the grinder. It's pretty easy once you get the technique down.

I agree with all you guys about sharpening by hand. But just to reiterate, I'm good, maybe pretty good, but I'm still not as good as say, a brand new Guhring or similar. When I've used a Darex, they came out that good.

I think that I maybe just more concerned with the larger size quality bits I have. An industrial sharpener works some magic on them bad dogs.

 

[justanengineer]

And yea, we all have $2,000 Darex's just layin' about the garage and shop.
Sure.

In the more industrialized areas of the country (specifically NE and midwest), Darex's can be had on Craigs regularly for $2-300. Hit an auction or shop closing sale and they go even lower. I had one until I moved that I bought in 2008 for $80, and the only problem I ever had was it took up shop space and wasnt used 99% of the time, which is the logic I used to convince myself to sell it summer 2010 for $150. After the last thread on Drill Doctors a few weeks ago I decided I wanted another Darex and have been looking - saw one at an auction up in Chicago three(?) weeks ago sell for $40 but it was really rough and missing the collets.

By comparison, a Drill Doctor IS a gimmick IMHO.

 

[jjjrmx5]

By comparison, a Drill Doctor IS a gimmick IMHO.

To degree it is. In reality, it is not.

New Darex $1,500 to $2,000.

New drill doctor $150 to $200.

But not even the the top $$$ shops even keep a Darex on hand.

I work for a multi BILLION dollar multi-national company where purchasing feels it's cheaper to just keep buying new USA Dormer drill bits all day long in bulk and pitch when dull than buy a machine and hire a guy to sharpen them .

Ironic, isn't it?

As I told jjjmrx, they throw out all the dull/broken bits under 1/2 inch at my work :O

They will be thrown out no longer on my watch.

Ha.

Ur re-sharpened drill bits go out to you today Mssr. Moss BTW.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Excellent! I have lots more for you

 

[Danglerb]

Never a dull moment on GJ.

 

[jeffmoss26]

So many twists and turns. I think we are headed to the right point, though. We might have a split in opinion...

 

[Todd.Brock]

So Jeff, are you keeping all the 1/2" and smaller bits from your company now?

 

[lametec]

I can sharpen a drill by hand, but I can't come close to the finish of one I sharpen on my Lisle 91000.

By the time I grind, measure, grind some more, measure again, grind some more again, it's just as quick to get out the 91000 and not have to worry about measuring. I measured the first few I did, and they were all spot on, so I don't bother any more now.

 

[justanengineer]

To degree it is. In reality, it is not.

New Darex $1,500 to $2,000.

New drill doctor $150 to $200.

But not even the the top $$$ shops even keep a Darex on hand.

I work for a multi BILLION dollar multi-national company where purchasing feels it's cheaper to just keep buying new USA Dormer drill bits all day long in bulk and pitch when dull than buy a machine and hire a guy to sharpen them .

Ironic, isn't it?

When I made the comparison, I was referring to the Darex's ability to easily sharpen accurately and repeatedly. It may be unfair to compare the two considering new machine prices, but good used ones arent rare by any means, so I'd say used Darex vs new DD cost is pretty comparable and at resale the Darex's value is much greater. Theyre cheap bc the professional Darex machines have been around forever, they still make thousands every year, and most every professional shop I deal with either has one or a clone.

I too work for a large corporation, and the plant attached to our office has a half dozen folks working full time in our sharpening crib loading cnc sharpeners and changing inserts (some cutters have several dozen) full time for our large and unique tooling. With the exception of our toolroom which does its own sharpening, we still chuck drills below a certain diameter (1/2" IIRC) rather than sharpen as theyre simply too cheap to waste production resources sharpening. Simple math, nothing ironic about it.

 

[strutaeng]

I've had the idea of learning how to sharpen on a bench grinder simply because I know it is lost art. There's a guy on YouTube that shows you the technique...

...I have about a dozen "cheap" drills that need resharpening.

Now that I think about it, I will try this evening when I get home; it will sure beat watching reality TV, LOL.