Drill Bit Sharpening - Shared Economy

[gregaz]

As you can tell, I am fairly new to GJ. That is - I have been reading for years, but only recently joined. One of my objectives is slowly taking my tools, and upgrading. One of the easiest places to do this is drill bits. Much has been written about how abundant and inexpensive old US made drill bits are, and I have been able to find a ton at various garage sales.

The natural next step is either learning how to sharpen them using the grinder OR buying a Drill Doctor. This is where the following thought originated -

There should be a way to share-buy a Drill Doctor! I mean, a casual driller (such as myself) probably drills about once a month. I'd like to have sharp bits, but buying a Drill Doctor for this little of a use just doesn't make any sense.

I am not looking for any confirmation here. And I know that one buys a Drill Doctor because he WANTS it vs. NEEDS it, but still - do you see my dilemma? In fact, many of these type of "need once in a lifetime" tools could be community owned!

 

[rlitman]

So just take your dull bits to a sharpening service.

 

[rsanter]

Find a member near you with one
Buy beer
Invite yourself over to their place on the basis of ‘I have beer’
Then.....oh hey, you have a drill doctor, can I borrow it?

Ob

 

[exmaxima1]

Look for a used Drill Doctor. I picked up a Model 500 Tradesman, brand new/unused, for $15 at an estate sale last weekend. Nice machines.

Note that DD claims the diamond wheel is good for about 200 cycles, so you don't want a heavily used one unless you factor in the cost of a new wheel.

 

[Stadger]

No, thanks.

 

[gregaz]

Find a member near you with one
Buy beer
Invite yourself over to their place on the basis of ‘I have beer’
Then.....oh hey, you have a drill doctor, can I borrow it?

Ob

I like the way you think!

 

[zendriver]

I'm sure I'm not alone, to say that probably 90% of my tools, set unused most of the time, but when I need them them, I have them.

I just spent big bucks for a used oxy/aceteline torch setup, for one, job but will likely need in the future. Not having one when I need it *****.

Same with a bit sharpener.

I use my DD maybe once or twice a year, but when I need it it's gold.

You can get the bottom line DD for $50 a fair price IMO.

You can learn to sharpen by hand but then your need a bench grinder, whic you might not use much as well.

Being DIY and not having proper tools just *****, IMO

Personally I hate borrowing or lending tools. I get a spare job if I needed.

 

[Packard V8]

For a beginner the old Craftsman/General device bolted next to a bench grinder will git 'er done.

They're a $2 item at most estate/garage/yard sales.

jack vines

 

[rusty_ratchet]

For a beginner the old Craftsman/General device bolted next to a bench grinder will git 'er done.

They're a $2 item at most estate/garage/yard sales.

jack vines

I have both the DD and this. For larger bits I prefer the Crafsman+bench grinder setup. The Craftsman jig can typically be found for a few dollars and works great!

 

[gregaz]

I get that sharing tools (or anything else, for that matter) is not for everyone. My great-grandfather supposedly told my dad that he’d sooner loan out his wife, before he loans out his tools, BUT:

For those who would - What if there was an app where you listed unique tools and someone who just wanted to sharpen bits, compress a spring, adjust the valves, etc hit you up and paid some money or even a beer? Plus you get to meet like - minded people.

Shared economy is gaining popularity everywhere else ...

 

[PureLeaf]

I've heard of the app you're looking for. Its called "Grindr"


In all seriousness. From what I've seen of Drill Doctors in person and online, they're not robust enough to survive many owners, being used daily, passed around etc. Are the grinding stones even serviceable in them? Not even sure.

The better and more robust option is a bench grinder, and they're heavy, and not ideal to be moved around. Buy your own ( I personally own 2 and both cost under 150 each) its not a big deal. Then you have one for all sorts of projects, and you don't have to share it.

Have a look on here at old style Baldor and Craftsman grinders that you can possibly pick up cheap craigslist. You can even use an app to do that.

 

[ChevyEFI]

I haven't "justified" a DD for myself either, similar reasoning.

If I really want to talk myself into something, I will make a spreadsheet of (savings observed if I have it vs. buying new bits, for example.). My future engine swap makes a lot of sense on paper lol.

If I really get down to it, I don't go through enough bits to justify the DD and it costs me basically nothing to hold onto dulls until I buy one.

 

[gregaz]

I've heard of the app you're looking for. Its called "Grindr"

Have a look on here at old style Baldor and Craftsman grinders that you can possibly pick up cheap craigslist. You can even use an app to do that.

OMG, dude!!!! Can’t stop laughing about the app!!!

And c’mon - I’ve been on GJ for a month - I own TWO Baldors and a block CM.

 

[PureLeaf]

OMG, dude!!!! Can’t stop laughing about the app!!!

And c’mon - I’ve been on GJ for a month - I own TWO Baldors and a block CM.

So you have 3 grinders and you want to share a drill bit sharpener? Seems like your initial question is a mute point. You've got the tools.

Leave the share economy to the turds who won't buy their own tools.

 

[Fretters]

And c’mon - I’ve been on GJ for a month - I own TWO Baldors and a block CM.

Learn to sharpen by hand would be my advice. As long as you have a decent eye for detail and can use a ruler, it's no hard task. Use the tools you have for their purposes.

 

[dr_clyde]

I sharpen my smaller drills by hand on the bench grinder. Anything with flutes wider than the wheel get taken to by buddy's shop, he's got a Sterling drill grinder and a Black Diamond drill sharpener. I'm always looking for one of those at a reasonable price, but even used on ebay they're $1K+

FWIW, I can't stand the drill doctor. I've found them to be flimsy, cheap pieces of junk. If you ever use a real drill grinder you'll see how bad they are. I much prefer a nice wheel on a bench grinder.

Just grab some old bits and get a drill sharpening gage, and you'll be proficient on a bench grinder in an hour or two.

 

[cmandp]

I've used my Dad's Drill doctor 500. I find it can work well but only if you fiddle around with it and it usually takes a couple tries to get used to using it again. I like it for small drill bits that are hard to grind by hand and it makes splitting points easy.

Anything larger than say 1/4" its faster and easier to do by hand on the bench grinder. So I would take your dull or broken bits and learn to grind them by hand, you'll end up with usable bits again, eventually.

If doing machine work on the mill or lathe I like to use new quality drill bits that have been ground by the manufacturer, if possible. I know that they will drill a round and straight hole that way (well as round and straight as a drilled hole can be)

 

[gregaz]

Learn to sharpen by hand would be my advice. As long as you have a decent eye for detail and can use a ruler, it's no hard task. Use the tools you have for their purposes.

After the good advice here - that is the plan. I’ve watched several YouTube videos on how to do this to get a feel - looks doable.

For some reason I thought the Drill Doctor was a superior method of sharpening, and owning one for such little work seems wasteful - thus this thought.

 

[dnschmidt]

I have the Drill Doctor 500 (goes up to 1/2" bits) and I HATE it. My dad taught me how to sharpen drills on a grinder (I actually use my belt sander as I find that easier) and I do a better job than the Drill Doctor which never gives enough of clearance. I'd be happy to unload this **** for $50 (half of the Amazon Price and just about brand new as I used it on 5 drills before I convince myself that this was a total POS) + $10 Shipping to anywhere in the United States via USPS Flat Rate Box. PM me and we can make a deal and I can clear some space.

 

[tmcquinn]

For a beginner the old Craftsman/General device bolted next to a bench grinder will git 'er done.

They're a $2 item at most estate/garage/yard sales.

jack vines

I just brought one of these home from my mom's house. If only I hadn't been too much of a punk to learn to use it when my father was alive... Half the time he didn't even use it. He could sharpen a bit by hand on the grinder.

 

[gregaz]

I have the Drill Doctor 500 (goes up to 1/2" bits) and I HATE it. My dad taught me how to sharpen drills on a grinder (I actually use my belt sander as I find that easier) and I do a better job than the Drill Doctor which never gives enough of clearance. I'd be happy to unload this **** for $50 (half of the Amazon Price and just about brand new as I used it on 5 drills before I convince myself that this was a total POS) + $10 Shipping to anywhere in the United States via USPS Flat Rate Box. PM me and we can make a deal and I can clear some space.

After such an endorsement - who could say no, LOL!! I’m even in Phoenix.

As I said above, the plan is to learn to use the grinder. That’s a tool that I already use for other tasks - so doesn’t feel wasteful.

 

[tube_guy]

How do you guys sharpen the really small bits? Like 1/8" and down. I use a bench grinder for larger bits, but it seems like the Drill Doctor would really help for those small bits I have trouble seeing properly. My eyes are getting old, I guess.

 

[dnschmidt]

Tube Guy, that's easy YOU BUY NEW ONES. Drills under 1/8" are cheap. I buy them 10 at at time. Now I can sharpen 1/8" bits and I do but for anything under that I just toss them. The smaller the drill the worse the Drill Doctor does so trust me that's not the answer. If you've got A LOT of bits simply send them to a resharpening service in bulk and let them use a proper automatic grinder and they will have them like brand new in no time. Darex makes commercial grade grinders that actually work (unlike the Drill Doctor) I know they do as I saw them at FabTech in Vegas last year.

 

[E.Marquez]

Im on my second Drill Doctor.
What I found is just following the instructions alone did not get me well sharpened drill bits.. That may be I did not understand what it was telling me to do, I dont know..
So I just played with settings and then tried the bit in a test sample of steel until I found what worked.
I just sharpened 30 or so bits last night, using a DD500X and each of those bits now drills steel well, does not wander on cut.. So far as Im concerned its good enough. I dont think they stay as sharp as the original bit finish, but when it takes only seconds to freshen up the edge, Im not concerned.
I also have the left had conversion for mine so I can do my left hand twist drills as well...


I dont commonly sharpen small bits 1/8" and below as they are so cheap to replace... I buy 1/2 doz when I find them on sale. The exception is mid job when I want a fresh edge or the non standards size bits used for drilling tap holes of for thread inserts.

If you are not getting a decent edge (decent, usable, not perfect) with the DD..its not the tool...unless its broken.

 

[E.Marquez]

Darex makes commercial grade grinders that actually work (unlike the Drill Doctor) .

To each his own,,, but I find the DD sharpens bits to a finish that cuts steel just fine..If you can not get your DD to do the same its broke, or not being used correctly.

 

[tube_guy]

Small drill bits aren't that cheap if you buy good ones. If the Drill Doctor sharpened them well, it would be worth buying one just for that. But maybe they don't, I've never used one.

 

[exmaxima1]

To each his own,,, but I find the DD sharpens bits to a finish that cuts steel just fine..If you can not get your DD to do the same its broke, or not being used correctly.

+1
I borrowed a machinist's DD500x, and found it very easy to get a good cut. Maybe not as nice as factory, but they cleanly drill SS. I pre-sorted the 118 and 135 drills, and was able to sharpen about 100 bits in an hour or so. No split points, but standard drills sharpened just fine. Based on that, I suspect the DD500 I just bought will be just as nice.

 

[leg17]

The natural next step is either learning how to sharpen them using the grinder .....

Stop right there.
You will be much better off if you follow your own suggestion here.

 

[E.Marquez]

+1
I borrowed a machinist's DD500x, and found it very easy to get a good cut. Maybe not as nice as factory, but they cleanly drill SS. I pre-sorted the 118 and 135 drills, and was able to sharpen about 100 bits in an hour or so. No split points, but standard drills sharpened just fine. Based on that, I suspect the DD500 I just bought will be just as nice.

Exactly I dont claim it makes them as sharp or as clean as an old world craftsmen machinist can or an automated grinder might but as Im neither of those and the DD I have makes bits sharp enough to not wander off the placed mark and drill holes in anything from plastic to 316/304 Stainless or A36 steel I do a lot of..... Im fine with what it does.... not the best, not perfect, but very usable...at low buy in, fast use and done in shop anytime needed.....like 2AM and the clamp came loose, material shifted, drill bound and broke....and that was your last 21/64 bit..... grind it to general shape, run it through the DD and finish that hole.

 

[E.Marquez]

Small drill bits aren't that cheap if you buy good ones. If the Drill Doctor sharpened them well, it would be worth buying one just for that. But maybe they don't, I've never used one.

I sharpen as small as 3.3mm as its an odd ball size I need to tap M4 x 0.7. The DD does a good enough job that the 3.3mm bit cuts steel.... If you want more than that, perhaps the DD is not for you.

I have some solid cobalt in smaller sizes I resharpen with a DD, same for left hand twist drills in small sizes .

But for standard HHS black oxide coated jobber length twist drills in the 1/16 to 1/8" size.. its use and toss as I only pay about $0.50 ~$0.63 each for them and I buy um 1/2 doz or more at a time

 

[wayne55]

I have the Craftsman/General device and for me it works the best. I also have an older Drill Doctor. I have to play with the adjustment on the DD when I secure the drill bit to get it to provide enough relief angle behind the cutting edge of the bit, like someone above was referring to. But if I do happen on the right adjustment, it then does a very good job.

 

[dnschmidt]

The relief angle is actually the real problem with the Drill Doctor. Getting this right is really difficult to do in my experience.

 

[rlitman]

The relief angle is actually the real problem with the Drill Doctor. Getting this right is really difficult to do in my experience.

It takes a little understanding of how the alignment gauge works.

Remember that when you're sharpening a spiral fluted drill bit, if you maintain the same orientation with the wheel as you continue grinding back the tip, the relief angle drops.

So, it is important to remember to re-align the bit after every couple of turns against the wheel.

 

[E.Marquez]

It takes a little understanding of how the alignment gauge works.

So what your saying is you have to know how to use the tool?

So, it is important to remember to re-align the bit after every couple of turns against the wheel.

Yup, about every 3 passes is what i do unless Im roughing in a badly damaged bit....then just grind away till the general shape is there, and back to the 3 and align.

 

[PelicanPines]

I share my drill doctor with four other DIY ers ... one has a mig we all share but he does the welding ... one has a PEX crimper ... one a trailer ... the forth ... we just feel sorry for.

 

[Greeny]

I have great results from my DD. Using it infrequently, it is a bit of re-learning each time to get good bits. But, once I've gotten the feel for it again, a pile of bits takes no time to clean up.

I have used my grinder and belt sander to sharpen some by hand, but by the time I got a bit finished just right, it was too short to be much use.

 

[gregaz]

I share my drill doctor with four other DIY ers ... one has a mig we all share but he does the welding ... one has a PEX crimper ... one a trailer ... the forth ... we just feel sorry for.

SEE?! I am not alone in thinking this way!!
And BTW, I have several unique tools that I loan out to neighbors for the same reason.

 

[rlitman]

So what your saying is you have to know how to use the tool? ...

Correct. The DD has a bit of a learning curve, and simply reading the instructions will probably not get you to the point that you get good results. However, once you get the hang of it, you can get tips that rival factory finish. For all those who say they can do that by eye on the grinder, l call BS.

However, that's not to say that you shouldn't be hand grinding drill bits. For starters, if you want to re-tip a broken bit in the DD, I strongly suggest hand grinding it first, to save your diamond wheel. And in most cases, a properly hand ground bit will work just fine, and will still be better than a dull bit. If you're drilling wood, I doubt you'd be able to tell the difference between a properly hand ground bit and one done in the DD. Same goes for anything done in a hand held drill. However, if you're boring steel on the lathe, or looking for a perfect hole in a drill press, you may need the symmetry of the tip that can only be achieved in the DD or an equivalent cam controlled sharpening jig.

 

[APEowner]

I share my drill doctor with four other DIY ers ... one has a mig we all share but he does the welding ... one has a PEX crimper ... one a trailer ... the forth ... we just feel sorry for.

I've never used, or wanted to use a drill doctor but there are certainly expensive tools that get loaned around my circle of friends. There's no point in any of my friends buying, say an engine hoist. I don't use it very often and, frankly if someone else is using it then I don't have to keep moving it out of my way in my shop. I don't own a table saw but I have pretty much unlimited access to one so I'm not planing on buying one anytime soon.

 

[IndyGarage]

Drill Doctor is one of those tools that people either love or hate. I can confirm what others have said - it takes trial and error to figure out how to make it work right. It's all in setting the bit into the clamp and orienting the flutes correctly. If you do that, it makes fast work sharpening bits, and it works very well.

However I find it's one of those tools that I use once a year. Probably a perfect tool for sharing. Other tools that fit that category: Generator (although everyone needs one of those at the same time), Various water pumps I have, Oxy acetelyne torch, wood planer, wood shaper, tube flaring tool, various pullers. H frame press, industrial sewing machine.