Darex drill sharpener

I bought this little drill sharpener off CL
yesterday.
Just sent the serial # and a couple of
photos to customer support at Darex so they
can ID it and I can get a manual.
It must be their low end model. 1/2
capacity. Would really like to find a good
drill sharpener some day. About 1 1/2in
capacity. Maybe I can get this one sorted
out and trade up.
Anybody here familiar with this model?
Seems it may be missing some parts or
accessories that go in the little shelf in
the back.
I've had a Black & Decker 1/2in sharpener
for years now but never thought much of it.
I have this vision of being an old man and
tinkering in my garage. Sharpen all my
drill bits just for something to do.
Then I would sift through about 150 lbs of
bolts, nuts, screws and washers I have in
drawers, coffee cans and pails and get them
organized so I can find something without
dumping the whole pail out.
I mentioned before that I kinda am semi
retiring here. Gotta figure out stuff to
do so I don't become a bored, cranky old
man and fight and argue with you guys here
on YT.
But I'm rambling...
What say you bored, cranky old guys about
this Darex?
Thanks
Jerry

Darex is the leader in that industry, and that looks like a very good machine. Hope you can get support for it. Probably sharpen drills on the left wheel and thin the point on the right wheel. Might even be able to make combination drills with it.

You have time now,,,plant some squash?

I have one like it I have three mandrels for it Its the real deal.
I would have to look at it to tell you the sizes it does. I broke one of the black straps on the tool holder I don't remember where I got it other than off the net are what info I have accumulated for the machine. When I get the time I will look if I saved the info. Mine has diamond wheels that I spec would be expensive to replace.

It starts slow I spec that's normal if not it does not affect it. Its a tool you hide are folks will worry to to death wanting to sharpen their bits. It was no problem to figure out how to use it : )

Pix in this post

https://forums.yesterdaystractors.com/viewtopic.php?t=1368939&highlight=darex

QUICK LOOK

mandrel
1) up to 1/2" shank
2) up to 3/4" shank

1&2 same o.d.

3) my guess 1" shank maybe 1-1/2

3) much larger O.D. of tool holder 1.975

I have had no problem doing 1" bits with 1/2" shank in the #1 holder. My guess 1" bit is as large as it will do as the tip gauge goes just past the 3/4" mark. It does a bang up job...

I have the newer smaller self contained version that does bits up to 1/2 and has another chuck that goes up to 3/4. My wife and daughter gave me the first one for a Christmas present about 2005. It was the Drill Doctor and it was a little mean to get the bits lined up and done with. I fussed around some with it and eventually just stuck it in a drawer and forgot about it since I can do pretty well sharpening drill bits by hand. One day in 2014 I opened that drawer for something and rediscovered it. I thought just for the heck of I found a Darex website and it had a link to speak to the president of the company. I thought, well I will tell them how useless this thing is before I stick it back in the drawer again, so I did. Then low and behold I got an email reply from the lady who was president of the company wanting to know just what I didn't like about it. I told her the problems I had and her answer was this. We are sorry to hear that you waited so long to tell us this. We are sending you free of charge the latest model to replace that one and don't bother about sending the old one back, do as you please with it. Wow! I was just gonna gripe about the old one and let it be. You talk about customer service and satisfaction, I highly recommend these folks and the new sharpener did work fine. I have only good things to say about the Darex company! Gene Davis (Ga.)

That's not a low end sharpener,I used one for 30 years as a machinist,looks like you are missing a couple accessory's, the right wheel is used for cutting the relief in flutes.

I sold the Drill Doctors for personal use. That is a great unit once you get it dialed in. Should still be able to gat accessories and parts.

I just freehand them down to about 1/4 inch then it is pretty hard to get them that way. Bigger is easier.