Lisle 91000 Drill Grinder

[Roberts210]

Someone gave me a bunch of drill bits size 9/16ths to 1 inch and all were chipped or dull. So I asked a few machinist buddies if they could sharpen them. None of them had a sharpener and none wanted to do it freehand. Now when I was in FFA Ag Shop, more than 50 years ago, one of our assignments was to learn how to sharpen drill bits by hand using your eye to gauge all the critical angles. Well I passed at that time. But much time and water have also passed... under the bridge so to speak, and I don't have confidence that I can do a very good job free-handing a sharpening job. My little Drill Doctor only goes up to 1/2 inch. What to do? I bought a Lisle 91000 Drill Grinder of course!!



I got it from the son of an old machinist who had died. The son just wanted to get rid of it and sold it to me for $200.



Not a bad price considering they are being listed on ebay in the $500 to $675 range.

 

[Roberts210]

Anybody have any experience with one of these?
Any tips?

I don't think Lisle is selling this machine any more, but I believe they DO have parts available.

 

[Richard Cranium]

So how did it work out?

 

[Roberts210]

Richard I haven't actually sharpened a drill on it yet. I just got it tonight and my big bits are over at the jobsite.

 

[blazemaster83]

I believe Adam Booth has one of these and has a video somewhere showing it and how to use it on youtube. His channel is abom79.

I find 9/16"-1" are about the easiest range to do by hand, as long as the bit isn't broken or badly damaged each drill should take about 30 secs.

That being said I wish I had a Lisle!

 

[DocsMachine]

Doc.

 

[Roberts210]

Thanks BlazeM. I'll try to find his video.
All the big bits were chipped. And the 1" was beat down very badly. Luckily I also got a spare Lisle grinding wheel for free.

 

[Roberts210]

Doc, that's hilarious! Thank you. I'll try not to lick this Lisle, but it's so gorgeous I might not be able to resist.

I've downloaded the manual from Lisle, but it's for a newer machine that has 1 or 2 features mine doesn't. Right now I haven't figured out exactly how to load the drill bit at the correct rotation in the holder. Still studying things.

 

[Roberts210]

BlazeMaster, thanks for the tip about Adam Booth's video. The video he made addresses exactly the thing I was having a problem with.

 

[oldgoaly]

I'm pretty sure I have a pdf copy of the manual somewhere saved online? It is a bit fiddly.
heck it's online from lisle here http://www.lislecorp.com/uploads/files/91000_Drill_Grinder_Instructions_99F8C6E45E647.pdf

 

[Roberts210]

Thanks for that link OldGoaly.

 

[jjgag60]

Does anyone have any experience with replacing the wheels on these grinders. I am torn between the 60 grit and the 100 grit norton white wheel. Any other suggestions. The actual wheel size is 5x3/4x1 so i will have to grind down a larger diameter wheel to fit.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Maybe a little late, but I stumbled onto this while Googling around.

 

[exmaxima1]

Doc.

LOL, I think this is dead on true. The owner of the local drill sharpening shop passed away a few years ago and a few of the Darex grinders made it to my neighbor. He said I could borrow them anytime I wanted, but the learning curve is just too much for me (you need to read a lengthy manual). I free hand the big bits as well, and use my DD for the smaller stuff.

 

[Roberts210]

I've used the 91000 many times since I first posted this Thread. It works great but I always have to refresh myself on setting up the drill bit correctly.

 

[jabberwoki]

I have the same machine and have not researched on how to use it yet so thanks for the thread.

 

[Roberts210]

I've owned both an original Drill Doctor and this 91000. After I got this one I sold the D.D. The D.D.s are good, but this Lisle is better, and if you have large bits, it's the only way to go.

 

[Roberts210]

I don't have the dresser for the grinding wheel. Does anyone know what the cutting tip is made of on the dresser? Abom's video shows how it's used. It would be simple to make one if I knew what the cutting tip was made of.

 

[ttpete]

I don't have the dresser for the grinding wheel. Does anyone know what the cutting tip is made of on the dresser? Abom's video shows how it's used. It would be simple to make one if I knew what the cutting tip was made of.

Should be a diamond. They're usually mounted in a round holder.

 

[Roberts210]

Thanks Pete. After I went to work I got to thinking about it and figured they must be a diamond point dresser. Off to ebay I suppose. Looks like it won't be hard to make at least.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have the same machine and have not researched on how to use it yet so thanks for the thread.

I just noticed that there is a Lisle 91000 on Craigslist in Puyallup, today.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I have the same machine and have not researched on how to use it yet so thanks for the thread.

Craigslist for Puyallup has a Sterling 91000 for sale today.

 

[Roberts210]

The 91000 in Payallup, as well as the ebay one he links to are both missing the complicated assembly that actually holds the drill bit. Without that assembly the 91000 is useless. Now Lisle may have that assembly in their parts dept., but since they stopped making the 91000 some years back, they probably don't. Still, the Payallup one for $150 might be worth buying and then looking for the bit holding assembly. I still use mine--love it.

 

[jabberwoki]

Thats my ad , gj discount $100

 

[rancherbill]

$200, you ****.

 

[Roberts210]

Jabberwocki, email sent.