Drill bit sharpener

Geo-TH,In · Nov 13, 2014

Many have asked what is the best drill bit
sharpener? Many, myself included, sharpen bits by
hand using a grinder.

I have a cheapie HF saw blade sharpener. For the
money it does a great job on blades. One time, I
tried using it to sharpen a drill bit. The
diamond wheel does a great job removing metal
from bits too. It like sands it, no sparks,
little heat, produces dust like metal particles.

Well, I'm too cheap to buy a sharpener, so I made
one out of my HF saw blade sharpener. I used a
sharpie to paint the end of a new 1/2 drill bit.
Then I touched the new bit to diamond wheel.
Looked at where the sharpie was removed and made
adjustments so all the shapie was removed. After
a few attempts, I got it right.

It doesn't take any time to sharpen bits. Tested
them out on drill press. I turned out many long
cork screw like pieces of metal.

Actual cost, NOTHING, just a little time.

So much for eyeballing and sharping a bit with a
grinder. It became apparent to me just what a
poor job I used to do.
George

ypop · Nov 13, 2014

Thank You George. That looks like a grate way to sharpen drill bits!
Ypop

Steve@Advance · Nov 13, 2014

I like it! Wonder if and where I could get just the grinding wheel? Could mount it on the bench grinder, rig up a guide.

When you're drilling, making the long chip... When you get the same chip coming off each side of the bit, that's when you know you got it right!

Frank 41 · Nov 13, 2014

That looks much better than a Dril Doctor that I bought. It is pure junk or I can't figure it out. I had a guy that used to work at Revere in Clinton, IL sharpen some bits. He was in his dark shop and did a perfect job by hand.

Geo-TH,In · Nov 13, 2014

Steve,
When I purchased the sharpener, I made sure I
could get replacement diamond wheels. My HF had
them. Don't remember how much. The wheel in pic
is the original. It has 2 sides. I've sharpened
many blades, today many bits and still using the
same side.

I think the arbor size is much smaller than a 5/8
inch arbor on a grinder.

I don't recall what I paid for sharpener, it was
on sale and I had 20% off coupon. I think it was
under $50.

I like to use dewalt 10 inch old school molly
steel blades without carbide tips. Very easy to
sharpen, around $10, very thin blade, uses less
hp, rips through red oak like it cutting soft
pine.
The key to sharpening blades and bits is using a
sharpie. It shows you when you have removed
enough.
George

rrlund · Nov 13, 2014

I got a super nice Drill Doctor for Christmas last year. It'll sharpen up to 3/4 if memory serves me right. It came with an instructional DVD. That thing is NICE! I sat here the day after Christmas and sharpened every old bit I could find.

gene bender · Nov 13, 2014

When the stone on the drill doctor gets worn and it will just how do you dress the wheel again

37chief · Nov 13, 2014

Good job. Nothing like a good sharp drill bit. I have fairly good success on larger drill bits, it's the small ones that are a challenge. Stan

Geo-TH,In · Nov 14, 2014

Stan, My sharpener works great on bits as small as 1/8 inch.

It doesn't heat the bits like a bench grinder will.

It also works great on carbide bits, masonary bits.

I sharpened so may bits today, I'm going to see them in my sleep. Still using the same side of diamond wheel.

jennifer408 · Nov 14, 2014

that sounds like a great idea, thanks for the tip.

dbernie · Nov 15, 2014

I like that setup. I'll have to take a look at one.
How good are them Drill Doctor things?

I worked at one place, and the best drill bit sharpener
I could find there was one of the guys in the machine shop.
Talented individual.

I tend to screw 'em up every time.
Got a bunch here to practice on,
whenever I get to it...

Geo-TH,In · Nov 15, 2014

I've never owned a drill dr. From what I hear,
they use a stone, not a diamond wheel, which has
to be dressed. My diamond wheel has sharpened
many saw blades, including carbide tipped. My
masonry bits are carbide tipped too.

I used a bracket off sharpener to hold 3/8 thread
stock, use a bent metal bracket from junk drawer,
two nuts and a few minutes to set it up. Once I
got the compound angles set up using a ½ new bit
and a sharpie, I may have sharpened over 100
bits, fast and easy. Still using the original
side of diamond wheel.

Jim Naden · Nov 15, 2014

(quoted from post at 16:09:55 11/13/14) When the stone on the drill doctor gets worn and it will just how do you dress the wheel again

Drill Doctor uses a diamond wheel. Comes with 1 spare wheel.

Jim Naden · Nov 15, 2014

(quoted from post at 19:29:59 11/15/14) I've never owned a drill dr. [b:92b96beab9]From what I hear,
they use a stone, [/b:92b96beab9]not a diamond wheel, which has
to be dressed. My diamond wheel has sharpened
many saw blades, including carbide tipped. My
masonry bits are carbide tipped too.

I used a bracket off sharpener to hold 3/8 thread
stock, use a bent metal bracket from junk drawer,
two nuts and a few minutes to set it up. Once I
got the compound angles set up using a ½ new bit
and a sharpie, I may have sharpened over 100
bits, fast and easy. Still using the original
side of diamond wheel.

You heard wrong George. Drill Doctor uses a diamond wheel.

Bret4207 · Nov 16, 2014

Any device you can get that allows a more or less rigid way to hold the drill and still turn it will help produce a good sharp bit. After that the trick is to get the sides the same length. If they aren't precisely the same length, you get an over sized hole. A drill sharpening gauge used to cost a couple dollars, I don't know what they cost know but they are worth the money. Gross angle is much less important than cutting edge angle and length.

My Drill Dr was handy. It's got a lot of grinding on it and I need to tear into it and find out why it's not working right. The same company that makes the Drill Dr, Darex, makes some high dollar stuff that us home fixer stuff types can only dream of.

kansas45 · Nov 16, 2014

I bought a nice Drill Doctor this past spring.
I still do a better job of sharpening drill bits on the grinder by hand than that thing does.
I haven't given up on it though, I'm sure that I need to take the time to understand how it works, but I only think about it when I'm busy and don't have the time to learn to use it correctly.
You know, "I need a sharp drill bit, and I need it NOW!"

GeneMO · Nov 16, 2014

Well, since we are on the subject, I bought an old Craftsman drill bit sharpening guide at a flea market, still in original box. Looks like something out of the 50's or 60's.

For the life of me I cannot figure out how the thing works.

It is a guide only, made to use with your existing bench grinder.

Anybody ever use one?????

It is a Craftsman Drill Grinding Attachment No. 9-6677.. I just looked in the box. The original, handwritten sales slip is in there. Man by the name of John Wardlow bought it in Quincy Il, on May 18, 1959 for $5.50

Gene

Drill bit sharpener

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

ypop

Member

Steve@Advance

Well-known Member

Frank 41

Member

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

rrlund

Well-known Member

gene bender

Well-known Member

37chief

Well-known Member

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

jennifer408

Well-known Member

dbernie

Member

Geo-TH,In

Well-known Member

Jim Naden

Member

Jim Naden

Member

Bret4207

Well-known Member

kansas45

Member

GeneMO

Well-known Member

Similar threads