gonefirefighting
Well-known member
I live in the sticks so I have never seen one personally, anyone got one and care to share some insight before I spend the money to see if it is worth it?
Drill doctor sharpener, worth the money?
- Thread starter gonefirefighting
- Start date
softailgarage
Well-known member
Yep, if yer gonna get one get the 750, you'll have everything you need for both small and large bits. I'm happy with mine and can make you a little money too!
OP
gonefirefighting
Well-known member
I drill some pretty heavy steel on a regular basis, I assume they are pretty sharp afterwards?
Buckgnarly
Well-known member
750 here, VERY happy with it. Once you get the hang of it, literally takes seconds to get sharp bits.
kc-steve
Well-known member
foreverfalcon40
Well-known member
- Joined
- Feb 12, 2013
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I've never needed a drill doctor because I don't let my drill bits overheat with a little tool called an oil can.
Steve
Is it better to drill with oil or use Screwloose (kinda like wd40 while drilling)
Packard V8
Well-known member
Yes, the DD750 is the only one to have. Most sharpeners are as good as the person using them. The DD750 I have I got at a neighborhood garage sale. I heard from another neighbor the seller was selling it because, "It's a piece of junk." I took time to read the instructions and it's worked perfectly for me.
Having said that, I got by for forty years with one of the various models of sharpening jig which bolts to the side of a grinder wheel.
jack vines
Having said that, I got by for forty years with one of the various models of sharpening jig which bolts to the side of a grinder wheel.
jack vines
jjjrmx5
Well-known member
I have the older 500 model and love it.
Bought it NOS used once for under $50 on CL.
I seldom use bits larger than 1/2" so it suits my needs.
If you need to do up to 3/4" get the 750.
I'm on my second sharpening wheel with no problems at all.
About 250+ bits sharpened to date and I've got about 150 more staring at me from my living room every nite that I've got to get to.
If you do a lot of drilling into metal or hard mat'ls yes, they are good to have.
Drills used only on wood seem to seldom need a lot of sharpening I tend to see.
As for sharpness, yep just like new.
Although you do lose the coating on the area sharpened.
Might want to price out what a drill bit shapening jig that attaches to your bench grinder as well.
Some say just do it by hand with ni jig, but I;ve seen more botched bits done that way than well done ones.
Just my 2 cents.
Bought it NOS used once for under $50 on CL.
I seldom use bits larger than 1/2" so it suits my needs.
If you need to do up to 3/4" get the 750.
I'm on my second sharpening wheel with no problems at all.
About 250+ bits sharpened to date and I've got about 150 more staring at me from my living room every nite that I've got to get to.
If you do a lot of drilling into metal or hard mat'ls yes, they are good to have.
Drills used only on wood seem to seldom need a lot of sharpening I tend to see.
As for sharpness, yep just like new.
Although you do lose the coating on the area sharpened.
Might want to price out what a drill bit shapening jig that attaches to your bench grinder as well.
Some say just do it by hand with ni jig, but I;ve seen more botched bits done that way than well done ones.
Just my 2 cents.
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bobcatdan
Well-known member
Pretty sure I have a 750. I find it hit and miss, but it very well could be me. I have sharpen complete drill sets and they have come out sharper then new. Other drill bits couldn't drill butter when I was done. My set up is always the same, yet different results. Other thing I have notice is once you sharpen a bit a number of times that it is noticably shorter, it doesn't sharpen worth a damn either.
X1 Mike
Well-known member
I also vote for sharpening yourself. It gives you more versatility also, you can sharpen them to drill slightly oversize if needed.
woody 73
Well-known member
I like them for the small bits, but I learned that just finding the correct angle and clamping a block of wood down, (as a Jig) on your bench grinder platform will give you the same results as a drill doctor.
Funny thing but after learning how to sharpen them, I no longer throw away any of the larger bits that sometimes snap, I just start a new point and the bit is just smaller in length.
Funny thing but after learning how to sharpen them, I no longer throw away any of the larger bits that sometimes snap, I just start a new point and the bit is just smaller in length.
muddinguy
Well-known member
We go through bits at work like candy.. But we also use 7/8 quite often none of us are very good with the bench grinder method.. Is there a way to sharpen bigger then 3/4 on these?
spotco2
Well-known member
We go through A LOT of bits up to 5/16. I always bought individual sizes in bulk and just scrapped them out when they got to dull or crappy to sharpen with a file or grinder. Then I started reading about this wonderful tool and figured it would pay for itself quickly.
Got it, read directions, promptly inserted my first bit and it came out lop sided. Next bit looked good but wouldn't cut wood. Next, then next, then next. I even grabbed a new bit and just did a scratch test in the DD to see what it was really doing compared to a factory cut. Yeah, I ruined that one too.
Gave it to one of the guys that worked for me. He absolutely loved it and could shave with his sharpened bits. I had to let him go before I could get him to show me what I was doing wrong.
There's a learning curve for it, just like any other tool. Obviously some are better with it than others.
Got it, read directions, promptly inserted my first bit and it came out lop sided. Next bit looked good but wouldn't cut wood. Next, then next, then next. I even grabbed a new bit and just did a scratch test in the DD to see what it was really doing compared to a factory cut. Yeah, I ruined that one too.
Gave it to one of the guys that worked for me. He absolutely loved it and could shave with his sharpened bits. I had to let him go before I could get him to show me what I was doing wrong.
There's a learning curve for it, just like any other tool. Obviously some are better with it than others.
Before you can sharpen twist drills well, you need to understand the geometry that makes them cut.
Here is everything you need to know:http://neme-s.org/2005%20May%20Meeting/drills.pdf
I got the General model grinding attachment that has been around for 60 years.
http://www.generaltools.com/825--Original-Drill-Grinding-Attachment_p_213.html
After figuring out how it worked, how to set it up, what adjustments to make, and a bunch of other little details, I went for a 118 deg point angle with no web thinning. I went through my stash and ground over 1000 twist drills in about 3 evenings. The drills were from 1/8" to 3/4". I have it left set up so I can walk over and grind a drill in about a minute flat. Drills over 1/2" I generally hand grind on the belt grinder, as it is quicker.
Here is mine set up on a dedicated grinding wheel. Not pretty, but its works well:
Greyson
Here is everything you need to know:http://neme-s.org/2005%20May%20Meeting/drills.pdf
I got the General model grinding attachment that has been around for 60 years.
http://www.generaltools.com/825--Original-Drill-Grinding-Attachment_p_213.html
After figuring out how it worked, how to set it up, what adjustments to make, and a bunch of other little details, I went for a 118 deg point angle with no web thinning. I went through my stash and ground over 1000 twist drills in about 3 evenings. The drills were from 1/8" to 3/4". I have it left set up so I can walk over and grind a drill in about a minute flat. Drills over 1/2" I generally hand grind on the belt grinder, as it is quicker.
Here is mine set up on a dedicated grinding wheel. Not pretty, but its works well:
Greyson
AndrewDouglasBird
Well-known member
I have the older style 500 that looks like this:
Works great. Have sharpened several dozen drills with it with great results.
And to those saying to just sharpen by hand, not only do you need the correct wheel for it, it takes quite a bit of skill to sharpen by hand properly. Not something that can't be learned, but unless you are sharpening a LOT of bits, it will take a while to get the hang of it. The drill doctor is idiot proof.
Works great. Have sharpened several dozen drills with it with great results.
And to those saying to just sharpen by hand, not only do you need the correct wheel for it, it takes quite a bit of skill to sharpen by hand properly. Not something that can't be learned, but unless you are sharpening a LOT of bits, it will take a while to get the hang of it. The drill doctor is idiot proof.
1/2 Cup
Member Emeritus
I have never used a DD or similar sharpener. One of the very first things we were taught at trade school was how to sharpen a drill bit correctly and that has stayed with me ever since.
I have a dedicated grinder wheel just for sharpening bits, that said as I get older I am having a little more difficulty with seeing the smaller ones to be accurate.
I have a dedicated grinder wheel just for sharpening bits, that said as I get older I am having a little more difficulty with seeing the smaller ones to be accurate.
fatfillup
Well-known member
From what I have heard, if you follow the directions, watch the video, they work quite well. But,,,,,,,,,you have to follow the directions.
For the guys who sharpen by hand, I would assume there is a learning curve there also but once the skill is acquired, it is probably faster. I am a bit jealous of guys that can do it by hand
but I have learned to sharpen chisels pretty well but that took lots of repetition.
For the guys who sharpen by hand, I would assume there is a learning curve there also but once the skill is acquired, it is probably faster. I am a bit jealous of guys that can do it by hand
but I have learned to sharpen chisels pretty well but that took lots of repetition.thebeekeeper1
Well-known member
I have the older style 500 that looks like this:
Works great. Have sharpened several dozen drills with it with great results.
And to those saying to just sharpen by hand, not only do you need the correct wheel for it, it takes quite a bit of skill to sharpen by hand properly. Not something that can't be learned, but unless you are sharpening a LOT of bits, it will take a while to get the hang of it. The drill doctor is idiot proof.
Me too--CraigsList for $35. Once you figure it out (read directions, watch YouTube videos) it is GREAT. I've sharpened dozens and dozens of bits to perfection, testing occasionally as I go. Now I have all my oddball used bits sharp and several chunks of steel with random holes drilled in them.
Jswain
Well-known member
I havent used a drill doctor but I sharpen all mine by hand and get awesome results, big thing is keeping your grinding wheel in good shape and keeping the bit cool while grinding. Havent had any problems at all drilling through metal after they get sharpened.
coolreed
Well-known member
I have been very disappointed with my Drill Doctor. I have read the instructions a dozen times but my results have not been good. I can do a better job with just using my grinder. Just my opinion.
I own a 750 but I don't feel I've fully been consumed by the kool ade. Let me post a suggestion and not get hated for it;
Maybe the quality of the drill bits is affecting some of these results, both positive and negative, more than the device itself.
Maybe the quality of the drill bits is affecting some of these results, both positive and negative, more than the device itself.
ajchien
Well-known member
I just bought the old model DD250 off of craigslist. I also started learning how to hand grind them a half year ago, and I think I do pretty decently. For the dozen or so drill bits ive sharpened with DD, it's done a good job for the most part. However, on the bits that it hasnt worked on, it's gone horribly bad.
The DD is faster than doing by hand for me.
The DD takes off less material than doing it by hand.
When I do it by hand, i know I'll get it right eventually, or sometimes close enough is good enough for an application. When DD goes wrong, I have no idea why it's gone wrong and it just progressively screws up the bit, that I completely redo it by hand.
From now on, I think Im going to use the DD first. But if it dosent do a decent job, Ill go over to hand grind.
The DD is faster than doing by hand for me.
The DD takes off less material than doing it by hand.
When I do it by hand, i know I'll get it right eventually, or sometimes close enough is good enough for an application. When DD goes wrong, I have no idea why it's gone wrong and it just progressively screws up the bit, that I completely redo it by hand.
From now on, I think Im going to use the DD first. But if it dosent do a decent job, Ill go over to hand grind.
totally agree, as I age the changes in eyesight make things more difficult. Sharpening drills was maybe the first thing I learned in my apprenticeship. Once you learn it is second nature.
thebeekeeper1
Well-known member
I'd bet the single biggest cause of poor results is failure to use and understand the bit orientation first step. The bit MUST be properly oriented in the chuck in order to get it sharpened.
That and firm pressure on the chuck while sharpening, and making sure you turn it an even number of times. Not hard once you grasp it, but definitely not intuitive or natural or obvious without reading the directions and doing each step in order and properly.
That and firm pressure on the chuck while sharpening, and making sure you turn it an even number of times. Not hard once you grasp it, but definitely not intuitive or natural or obvious without reading the directions and doing each step in order and properly.
Heavy Metal Doctor
Well-known member
x3
we have DD machine the boss brought in for the shop....I played around with it enough to learn how to use it and then decided it just takes too dang long and went back to hand sharpening....It hasn't been outta the shop tool box in probably 8 or 10 years.....
Steevo
Well-known member
Hell, you don't even have to be able to read to use a DD. They come with a DVD, and the video instruction can be found online as well.
I have sharpened literally 100's of bits with mine, and love it.
I have sharpened literally 100's of bits with mine, and love it.
justanengineer
Well-known member
IMHO theyre not worth the new price. Used price (usually <$50) maybe, but not new, even at a discount. I had one for a few years at work and it didnt get too much use bc I could do a better job by hand. From what Ive seen they seem to do a decent job consistently sharpening bits, but tend to remove quite a bit of material and have issues cutting the point on center.
Dont get me wrong, Darex makes some very fine machines. A few months ago I bought a like-new Darex M5 with a ton of accessories for <$300 ($250 IIRC). I havent used it much but Ive got a few thousand drills to sharpen so it will earn its keep eventually or get sold, just thought I would try a professional machine after years of offhand grinding.
Dont get me wrong, Darex makes some very fine machines. A few months ago I bought a like-new Darex M5 with a ton of accessories for <$300 ($250 IIRC). I havent used it much but Ive got a few thousand drills to sharpen so it will earn its keep eventually or get sold, just thought I would try a professional machine after years of offhand grinding.
I think mine is a 350. I paid $20 for it at the neighbors auction, brand new in the box. I've used it a few times and it was worth what I paid for it.