Does anyone make a good drill bit sharpener?

[RoninB4]

Not that it really matters, but mine is a General 825 I believe. Probably no real difference from the one I posted though.

-Do not underestimate your contribution in this post Roger. It might matter to others shopping for a lower priced option than a DD or an industrial sharpener that's way out of the budget for the average home owner. Having a brand and model number helps the search. I don't recall but several of the clones were made from stamped and/or cast steel components and should be considered better quality than more fragile and less well made zinc die-cast versions. What's the General 825 made from? If it's well made then I'd feel no shame in owning/using one. Thank you for posting what my failing memory could not recall.

 

[Old Man Roger]

-Do not underestimate your contribution in this post Roger. It might matter to others shopping for a lower priced option than a DD or an industrial sharpener that's way out of the budget for the average home owner. Having a brand and model number helps the search. I don't recall but several of the clones were made from stamped and/or cast steel components and should be considered better quality than more fragile and less well made zinc die-cast versions. What's the General 825 made from? If it's well made then I'd feel no shame in owning/using one. Thank you for posting what my failing memory could not recall.

I'm not sure how to tell the difference between cast iron and zinc die cast, but the general 825 is made in the USA and seems to be cast iron and machined steel. It's a pretty solid little jig.

 

[ford33]

Drill doctor works well. For smaller drills I throw them away when dull and buy a couple or three brand name drill sets when on sale at home depot.

 

[RoninB4]

I'm not sure how to tell the difference between cast iron and zinc die cast, but the general 825 is made in the USA and seems to be cast iron and machined steel. It's a pretty solid little jig.

-Zince die-cast isn't magnetic, just like the body of carburetors (used for a different reason). Also used for mass production and often called "pot metal" because of the widely varying mixtures, some fairly good but most applications it's just cheap and poorly made. If it feels fairly solid then it likely is fairly solid and a keeper. I still keep an eye out for a nice used one even though I have the Gorton. Thanks for posting.

 

[Old Man Roger]

Aahhh! Pot metal is a term I know..lol Had no idea the real name was zinc die cast.

 

[Rickster55]

Be curious as to what 2 junkie ones you have?

I've got a drill doctor and find it's perfectly....adequate. The size of bit they can do is limited, but I think they have models that can do up to 1/2" or so

I've tried sharpening by hand with a grinder. I'm **** at it.

The one I have is probably one of the original Drill Doctors. It was my father's. Probably dates back to the '70's. I'm definitely willing to buy a new one but not if it works like the one I have. The 750 sounds like it has mass improvements.

 

[ricleh]

Darex XT3000A. Does a beautiful job.

 

[Skyking1992]

My Dad used to have a machine shop. When I was probably 12, he gave me a box of drills and said sharpen one, then take it over to the drill press and drill some holes in some steel. Do it again and again until you get it right. I can still sharpen a drill pretty easily on a grinder. Of course, there are some differences for aluminum and sheet metal and a few others.

 

[metalmagpie]

Drill Doctors work until they wear out, which is far too soon. I prefer the Darex M series. However, you do have to maintain the chucks or they will sieze up. If you are considering a Darex M5 first examine the chucks. For all intents and purposes those chucks are irreplaceable. But those grinders work great. I can sharpen drills from 1/8" to 1-1/8" very accurately. My grinder is fitted with CBN wheels.

You can't sharpen a center drill on a Black Diamond. Had one, sold it.

There are also pro drill grinders that co$t accordingly.

metalmagpie

 

[kelpaso1]

Darex XT3000A. Does a beautiful job.

$6000 ??? You can buy 10 life times of new bits for that price. I've had my $200 Drill Doctor for ten years now and havent worn it out yet and still sharpens just fine. When the grinding wheel eventually wears out its 40-50$ to replace.