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Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Drill Doctor

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Tweeter

09-23-2005 06:22:13




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How are though Drill Doctors for sharpening drill bits? Are they worth the money and do they do a good job?




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Gene Davis (Ga.)

09-24-2005 18:55:29




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
Best investment for old age eyesight you can get. I had done my sharpening for almost 50 years by hand, and never made as good a point any where near the consistency of this machine.



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Slowpoke

09-24-2005 01:00:29




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
I have the model 750 and it takes bits to 3/4". I have not heard of one that goes to 1". It will not sharpen bits much less than 1/16 if that small. The price used to be $140-$150.
The theory is good, but if the bit is not set up exactly right, you'll get a positive rake instead of a negative one. The device that sets the bit is two pieces of spring steel and not exactly a precision operation. Most of the time it sets the bit ok, but sometimes you have to remove the bit from the drill press and try again if it doesn't cut well. By the way, does anyone use the drill bit sharpening device that mounts on the bench and holds the bit about 45� to the side of the grinding wheel on bench grinder? I have one made by General.

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J Hurley

09-23-2005 20:50:40




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
You can buy a lot of new drill bits for the price you pay for any Drilldoctor!!



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Joe(TX)

09-26-2005 10:28:14




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to J Hurley, 09-23-2005 20:50:40  
Only if you buy the cheap junk or are only talking the small drills. If you talk 3/8 or larger, you are only talking of 10-20 depending on size and quality. Some shops have sharpiners that cost $500-1000.



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dr.sportster

09-24-2005 08:24:30




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to J Hurley, 09-23-2005 20:50:40  
You can also resharpen hundreds of dull bits already in your collection.Most that try it like it.



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Weirsdale George

09-23-2005 22:36:34




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to J Hurley, 09-23-2005 20:50:40  
True if you have a very well stocked hardware store next door. For me, I have a ten mile round trip to get to a mediocre hardware store -- a good one is probably a 30 mile round trip. By the time you figure gas, wear-and-tear and time expended, I paid for my DD a long time ago.



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graygander

09-23-2005 18:39:07




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
I been thinking about getting one also. I can sharpen em by hand on the grinder pretty darn good but my eyes are starting to go bad and I have to take my glasses off and bend down to see what I'm doin.(good way to get hurt) I see em on ebay with the adapters to sharpen up to 1" bits. not cheap, but not really that expensive.....



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Kevin Bismark

09-23-2005 17:09:09




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
Would have to agree with what was said about the cheap version, never knew there was a difference between them, we had one on a big job drilling a lot of stainless steel, and the one on that job I found out when I saw one shopping was the expensive one, the cheeper one didn't look like it would really be something for someone who would use it a lot, my Dad has one of the nice ones but I have never used it, the bench grinder is closer to the drill press so I just use that, you might take a bit or 2 and practice and see how you do, I just sharpen mine on the bench grinder..

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HJP

09-23-2005 13:14:22




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
I have the 400
love it
for the home owner even does the "split- points" well
I even dress my cobalt drill bits with it.
it sharpens at the 135% angle the higher priced ones do two other angles
if you drill wood or mild steel it is a great item.



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chvet73

09-23-2005 11:52:20




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
Love mine.



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Butch(OH)

09-23-2005 09:06:44




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
There are differing machines refered to as "drill doctors", the home owner cheapos sold for Christmas gifts should be left at the stores. The next higher grade machines do well enough to turn hoes into something that will throw a chip or two. The good units are both high priced and probably not what you are refering to. Problem is that the angles and movments required to do a first class job cannot be accomplished in a low-mid priced machine, at least any I have seen.

Never saw a old retired machinist wasn't glad to show an admiring individual how good he is at sharpening bits by hand. Took all of 10 minutes for me to watch and learn, but longer to be able to repeat what I was shown, lol.

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JMS/MN

09-23-2005 11:58:43




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Butch(OH), 09-23-2005 09:06:44  
Agree about learning from a machinist- I worked in a shop during college in the late 60s, still have that first gauge I bought for $1.89.
Gives the right angle, just need to remember to grind off the SHORT side of the drill to make it longer. In the Ag Engineering class we had to make our own, but couldn't stamp the numbers, so the purchased one was better. Just taught my youngest son how to use it- he had two curls coming off the bit in no time.

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Butch(OH)

09-23-2005 13:20:50




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to JMS/MN, 09-23-2005 11:58:43  
My first welding project in HS shop class was to weld two 1/2" nuts together wrench flat to wrench flat, The V formed by the adjoining flats is correct for bit sharpening, still is my tool box.



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JMS/MN

09-23-2005 21:43:54




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Butch(OH), 09-23-2005 13:20:50  
Yes- gives you the 120 degree angle. Exactly what we need to sharpen a drill to specs.I'm sure you agree- the angle is not all that critical, as long as both of them are the same on each side. Then you get curls- from a sharp bit!



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Weirsdale George

09-23-2005 08:52:17




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
Some people love them, some people hate them. I am very happy with the one I have. It is better to learn to sharpen drills free hand, but as our eyes get weaker, it gets harder to do. (I dropped mine Drill Doctor and broke a plastic piece -- called the manufacturer and they sent me a new part for free, didn't even have to pay shipping!)



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JMS/MN

09-23-2005 08:11:46




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
I guess they work fine, but if you find a bit sharpening gauge and learn how to use it, it's a much cheaper alternative. Bought mine at Sears three decades ago, cost two bucks. Now they sell the doctors, no gauges. Can make your own- cut sheet metal into an L, then cut the L to 120 degree angle, instead of 90. Would be missing the little printed numbers that make it easy to use, but it still works.

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deadeye

09-23-2005 07:01:10




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Tweeter, 09-23-2005 06:22:13  
I have one that has 2 sizes of collets, one for small bits and one for large bits... Really like it and is easy to operate....deadeye



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Illinois Boy

09-23-2005 09:35:50




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to deadeye, 09-23-2005 07:01:10  
deadeye,
Sounds like you might want to wear some safety glasses when operating that thing... : )



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MPK

09-23-2005 19:16:26




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 Re: Drill Doctor in reply to Illinois Boy, 09-23-2005 09:35:50  
I have been sharpening bits by hand for 50 yrs and finally got a model 250 Drill Dr. It does a much better job than I ever could by hand. That is a good machine. It has a diamond grinding wheel.



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