Drill sharpening. Don't hate it when ...

[uart]

You grind each edge then stop to take a closer look. One edge is slightly longer than the other. Also, one side is perfect but side the other needs a touch more work. It's always the longer side that needs more work.

 

[bob15]

That is why I bought a Drill Doctor. I get a better and correctly sharpened drill bit every time.

 

[eddiemeddiem]

A second vote for the drill doctor.

 

[whyNick?]

I'll endorse the Drill Doctor too, with a bit (heh heh) of practice it does a good job.

 

[franzdom]

You grind each edge then stop to take a closer look. One edge is slightly longer than the other. Also, one side is perfect but side the other needs a touch more work. It's always the longer side that needs more work.

Isn't that better than the longer side being perfect and the shorter side needing more work?

 

[kossuth]

Isn't that better than the longer side being perfect and the shorter side needing more work?

Let it go. We know what he meant.

 

[franzdom]

Let it go. We know what he meant.

Do you speak for everybody?

 

[tdkkart]

I just take it to work, drop it in the "dull" drawer and grab a fresh one........

Actually, I have a Drill Doctor at home.

 

[Techie1961]

Isn't that better than the longer side being perfect and the shorter side needing more work?

What he means is that the longer side (distance from the outside diameter to the chisel point) is longer which means that it has the most material removed. Therefore, he has to take lots of good material off the short side just to get it even with the long side to get it centered again... and then take even more off.

I can sharpen a drill really well but just picked up a Drill Doctor recently and have to admit, it is pretty easy and does a decent enough job. Not great for really small drills and big ones but great for the general stuff.

 

[franzdom]

Thanks for the perfect explanation, I was thinking farther from the base which made no sense.

See, not everybody knew what he meant

 

[Zeke]

DD here too but spent many years w/o and had to sharpen by hand. Still have to do my augers, spades and spurs by hand.

 

[uart]

What he means is that the longer side (distance from the outside diameter to the chisel point) is longer

Yep that's exactly what I meant Techie. It always seems to be the one with longer lip edge that has something wrong and needs more grinding, never the shorter lipped side which would have to be ground more anyway.

 

[A_Pmech]

I've gotten to the point where, at most, I need to make a second trip back to the grinder to match the chips.

I ground a few drills down to the nubbins to learn though!

The biggest trick is don't let the drill get too dull in the first place. They get harder to sharpen once they're all F'd up. Then, all you should have to do is touch-up work. Before removing the drill, mark which flute (if any) is taking the heavier cut. Lean on it a bit more when you touch it up and follow the existing point angle. Inspect with the drill gage.

 

[zkling]

Light pressure and constantly check with a drill point gauge.

 

[McFarmer]

DD here too but spent many years w/o and had to sharpen by hand. Still have to do my augers, spades and spurs by hand.

I have the Drill Doctor that does spades, man that makes a totally different tool out of them. I actually reach for them first it the hole is on something the exit isn't critical.

 

[RedneckWelder]

I just gave up on hand sharpening and went drill doctor.

 

[PT Doc]

For those with the split point option, what position do you set the bit and Chuck in the first step? I find that when splitting the point there is very little tip left. I would guess it needs to go a position or 2 to the right of the vertical position.

 

[ddawg16]

Isn't that better than the longer side being perfect and the shorter side needing more work?

Let it go. We know what he meant.

Ever hear the phrase, "if you cut twice it's still too short"?

Do you speak for everybody?

Just maybe......

It was classic sarcasm...

 

[kelpaso1]

+10 on a Drill Doctor. I haven't bought a drill bit in ten years unless I broke one. I tried for 20 years to sharpen drill bits on a grinder but could never get the hang of it. Same as sharpening a chainsaw. I have tried and tried but just don't seem to get it. I bring it to my buddy who cuts wood for a living.

 

[shocker998md]

Nother vote for a drill doctor here.

 

[skyking]

You guys have convinced me. My eyes aren't what they used to be. Hard to swallow your pride after hand sharpening them for years. Oh well

 

[Von Psycho]

If you sharpen your drills by hand and one side is longer it will still drill a hole but it will oversize, good trick for drilling in between sizes if you're that ****.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Drill doctor as well, but having a darex at work has totally spoiled me.