Drill bit doctor

[Musicinabottle]

I was considering getting one of the drill bit doctor, drill bit sharpeners. Are they worth a ****? Which model would you recommend?

 

[McFarmer]

I've got the one that sharpens spade bits, I use it a lot for that. I don't sharpen twist bits that often.

 

[WildwoodChuck]

I have the low end one and I really like it. I use a lot of HSS #7 and #29 bits and I have success with it. I also have sharpened 1/8" to 1/2" by 64th with it and they work pretty well.

99% of my holes are #29 first then I go up to #7 if they are bigger than 1/4"

Last week I drilled and tapped 100 1/4"-20 holes (#29 then #7) and drilled and tapped 112 5/16"-18 (centered with 21/64", drilled with #29, #7 then F) I sharpened both of the F's, maybe 8 out of the 12 #7 and all 12 of the #29's at least twice.

I would love to have the one that sharpened bigger bits because I thrash 5/8" and 3/4" bits.

 

[apollo11]

I scored one at an estate sale and I like it.
It took some learning to get it right though.

 

[plinker]

I have the one that does up to 3/4" bits, works well. Also bought the left hand chuck.
It does have a small learning curve though. play with it and watch the video.

 

[oldwino]

I have the 750 and really like it. There is a bit of a “learning curve” so some practice is needed. I can’t sharpen 1/8” and under worth a **** but these are fairly cheap if I screw up badly enough

 

[txvwnut]

Get one, once you get passed the learning curve they are worth having.

 

[taumac]

I got 500x currently and it works great once you figure out how to set it up. Once you figure that out it’s real easy to use.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Buy Drill Hog drill bits (eBay). Lifetime warranty !

 

[slip knot]

I guess I haven't got mine figured out. it grinds the bits really pretty but they don't drill worth a ****. I think I could do better by hand but the 3/8 and under crowd are getting too hard to see now.

 

[larry_g]

https://www.darex.com/v-390-drill-sharpener.html

Might as well go with the big brother. This is what the drill Dr tries to emulate, and is made by the same co., at least it was.

I've had the earlier DD and have used it for years with success. But you asked for the best, which the link above is not, but a step or 7 above the consumer grade.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[apollo11]

for 1500.00 I'd buy new bits first

 

[bob15]

I've had a DD for close to 20 years (got it when they first came out). Zero complaints and like it enough that I would buy it again. Mine is the 750.

 

[SS5150]

I have a low end model (I think its XP?) bought at HD several years ago. Took a couple tries to get it right but now I love it. I'd like to upgrade to a model that can do larger bits and left hand bits now.

 

[pepi]

Good product, easy to use, so easy if I have a bit not cutting. I'll stop and put an edge on it. Owning one for 10 years, buy and extra wheel. So after you learn how things work you can replace it, and get really good sharp repeatable grinds.

The key is to know that there is a depth setting for the bit, amount of cut.
Making sure the bit is gripped in the flutes, and pulled to that stop.
Make the passes even... 2 turns not 3 and so on


Greg

 

[EOC_Jason]

I got a 750X at an estate sale. Love the thing, as others have said there is a little learning curve but it's not rocket science. It does your normal twist bits (any angle) and masonry bits.

No longer must I fight with dull drill bits, it really does put a good sharp edge on them and it's pretty much full proof if you do the steps right.

For really jacked drill bits that I acquire I will grind them by hand on my bench grinder to get close, then finish it up on the DD to get the angle correct and tip sharp.

They have a separate model for spade bits I think...

 

[Provincial]

One tip is that if you have to grind off much from the bit, either first grind it by hand like EOC Jason does, or reset the bit in the holder before you do the final grind. The angles change as you grind the bit shorter, so the reset puts everything back in place for the tool to work as designed.

 

[Loscaldazar]

I got the 750 and I like it.

The common theme I found in most reviews was that many people hated it when they first used it, and after they figured out it worked, it was great. I screwed up the first bit I tried in it too, and after a bit more work was able to get it fixed nice and sharp and it's still going. It was a $20 bit, so already paid back a large part of the purchase price ($100).

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Buy Drill Hog drill bits (eBay). Lifetime warranty !

That's awesome! Let me just stop what I'm doing package up a drill bit run to the post office to ship it out (most likely paying shipping both ways). Wait two to three weeks for the drill bit to come back and then continue on the project. I love my Drill Doctor, had it for over ten years. I get nice sharp bits every time. I keep reading all this **** about how they don't work and the angles are always off. Well those people have not taken the time to learn how to use the tool. large drill bits I do sharpen by hand but anything between 1/8" to 1/2" I get more constant results with the DD.

 

[Eric29]

I love mine. I inherited about 200 dull bits and sharpened some sets. They work great now.