Darex M5 Drill Bit Sharpener - Craigslist pick up

[mkmick]

This Darex M5 Drill Bit Sharpener was on the local Craigslist. The guy used it as a bench grinder. It's in decent shape but will certainly require some attention and looks to be missing some parts.

I think it's vintage because it's Made in the USA and parts are expensive. Not sure where to start with it but I have been using the wire wheel.

What do you guys figure?


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[454ragtop]

Unless you come across another one, maybe a non working one, I don't think it would be cost effective to bring back as a drill sharpener. Just missing too many parts. Could probably buy another complete working unit for what it would cost for the parts. You're missing the sharpening fixture, the point splitting fixture, and at least 1 chuck that I see with a quick look. Probably why the last guy was using it as a pedestal grinder.

 

[mkmick]

Unless you come across another one, maybe a non working one, I don't think it would be cost effective to bring back as a drill sharpener. Just missing too many parts. Could probably buy another complete working unit for what it would cost for the parts. You're missing the sharpening fixture, the point splitting fixture, and at least 1 chuck that I see with a quick look. Probably why the last guy was using it as a pedestal grinder.

Yo Ragtop,

I'll keep my eyes out for a broken one but they seem rare. I've seen what the complete working units cost... Not in the cards right now.

There is a guy in my neighborhood who may need the Collet thing that I have on top of the grinder. I sent him an e-mail - if he gets back to me and I decide to sell it, what would you consider a fair price?

 

[2oolhound]

You need to recover all your costs of the set up you got if you sell that. It is a holder for the collets that lock your drills in place. I think you should have a large and small one but you only have the one. You will need it if you ever hope to sharpen drills with it.

 

[mkmick]

The collet measures 1 1/4" on the wide end and 1/4" on the chuck end. It could use a cleaning with the wire wheel.

Does the process require both the large and the small collets to sharpen drill bits?

It came with an extra alundum Norton grinding wheel in good condition.

 

[Roberts210]

They are fantastic drill bit sharpeners if all the parts are there, and if complete are very pricey. You might keep it awhile and scour Ebay for parts or for someone parting out one.

 

[Cahark]

Great grinder. If you had all the parts, completely worth it. I use one daily at work.


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[mustangdude]

Hi I'm new to the forum, but I am also looking for the drill chucks for a Darex m5 drill grinder. If anyone has them I would be interest in purchasing them.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

Kind of an old thread to revive but I will anyway just for consolidation. I picked up a Darex M5 at a swap meet in Coburg a week or so ago. I almost walked by but couldn't pass for $40. This one took minimal clean up and repair. I had to make the straps to hold the collet in place on the grinding fixture but just used heavy zip tie plastic for them. The grinding fixture was a little sloppy on it's post but it was a simple adjustment of the conical bearings to tighten it up. Manual was an easy download and I got a decent grind on the first attempt and really good grinds after a few practice bits. I blew out the collets with cleaner and air but need to take them apart and really polish and lube them up better. They open easier than they close, probably from spring assist.

No stand with it but I mounted it to piece of plywood and cut and attached a block to hold the collet. Easy to set up on any desk or bench this way and stows away when not in use. I really like my new found ability to get accurate web thinning and split points. This will get used a lot for a while until I catch up on my dull drill pile. A very useful piece of shop equipment. A couple pics as found and now ready for full duty. Ed.

 

[paulsomlo]

Kind of an old thread to revive but I will anyway just for consolidation. I picked up a Darex M5 at a swap meet in Coburg a week or so ago. I almost walked by but couldn't pass for $40.

$40? I don't want to get graphic, but let's just say you are a no good, awful, horrible person - way to go, rock crusher!

 

[marinusdees]

Kind of an old thread to revive but I will anyway just for consolidation. I picked up a Darex M5 at a swap meet in Coburg a week or so ago. I almost walked by but couldn't pass for $40. This one took minimal clean up and repair. I had to make the straps to hold the collet in place on the grinding fixture but just used heavy zip tie plastic for them. The grinding fixture was a little sloppy on it's post but it was a simple adjustment of the conical bearings to tighten it up. Manual was an easy download and I got a decent grind on the first attempt and really good grinds after a few practice bits. I blew out the collets with cleaner and air but need to take them apart and really polish and lube them up better. They open easier than they close, probably from spring assist.

No stand with it but I mounted it to piece of plywood and cut and attached a block to hold the collet. Easy to set up on any desk or bench this way and stows away when not in use. I really like my new found ability to get accurate web thinning and split points. This will get used a lot for a while until I catch up on my dull drill pile. A very useful piece of shop equipment. A couple pics as found and now ready for full duty. Ed.

I bought some of those straps, I think from ebay or Amazon a couple of years ago. They weren't expensive, as I recall. I bought them as spares, haven't needed them yet. It is a perfect sharpener for an amateur.

 

[RoninB4]

Nice buy at twice the price. The Darex is one of the only drill sharpening rigs I favor in machine shop. There are other makes but nowhere near as commonly found. Congratulations.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

$40? I don't want to get graphic, but let's just say you are a no good, awful, horrible person - way to go, rock crusher!

Ah shucks. I do feel a bit guilty...not for buying it which I had to do. $40 was the asking price. I feel bad for telling the seller I liked it a lot better at $30 and he said he would split the difference with me. For that I really do feel guilty.

I bought some of those straps, I think from ebay or Amazon a couple of years ago. They weren't expensive, as I recall. I bought them as spares, haven't needed them yet. It is a perfect sharpener for an amateur.

I see a seller on e-bay is 3d printing those straps and selling them at a reasonable price. I am going to give the zip tie a chance though and expect it may last a good long time. If they do fail again I may go that route next time. I do have plenty of zip ties though. I read teflon strips work well also but I didn't have any stock handy to try.

Nice buy at twice the price. The Darex is one of the only drill sharpening rigs I favor in machine shop. There are other makes but nowhere near as commonly found. Congratulations.

Thanks Ronin. I have a Sterling too and I it does really well on the bigger MT drills, mostly over 1". With the larger collet the M5 goes up to about 1-1/8" so some overlap but in a good way.

 

[Oregon rock crusher]

I went ahead and pulled the collets apart for a clean and lube. The factory diagram shows a pair of flats on the nose section to hold it but none of my collets have that feature so I had to drill a pair of blocks to hold it without causing damage. They were pretty on pretty tight. You can clean everything up without removing the jaws or springs. Grinding dust does get all the way back to the threads.

With the nose removed you just take off the knurled handwheel on the tail with the single set screw and the whole thing can slide out the front with a bit of twisting. That pesky thrust washer sits at the rear but may get hung up on the key that stays with the collet body. I Lubed them with CRC 3-36 like the instructions say but it is very light lube. They do twist tight easier now. I may look into a rubber disc to slip over a mounted bit to keep some grit out. Ed.