Replies

1. 
   jazzdogg | Jul 15, 2005 06:59pm | #1

   Does anyone know what kinds of bits the Dr. is capable of sharpening properly (and the sizes it can handle)?

   Will the Drill Dr. sharpen my Forstners, brad-points, self-feeding augers, power-bores, spoons, and tapered bits? I'd surmise: not likely.

   If not, that just leaves the least expensive drill bits for the Dr. to sharpen, and since I rarely use twist drills in wood working, it doesn't seem highly likely that the Dr. will pay for itself - at least in my shop.

    

   -Jazzdogg-

   "Don't ask youself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive." Gil Bailie

1. 
   WillGeorge | Jul 16, 2005 08:06pm | #7

   brad-points?? I thought ya just got new ones?

1. 
   bladerunner | Jul 18, 2005 11:13pm | #10

   Brad points can be sharpened by a good saw service very economically.

2. 
   mike4244 | Jul 15, 2005 09:07pm | #2

   I was at HD one morning and saw the Drill Doctor on sale for $39.99, This is a motorized model that does machine drills up to 1/2"I believe. I bought and tried it out on a half dozen drills of various sizes. It did an excellent job, drills were as sharp as new. Small learning curve, took me about 15 minutes to fully understand the proper procedures. Mine is not a model that will do brad points, I think it may do masonary bits,not sure. Overall this is a good tool.

   mike

1. 
   FitandCut | Jul 15, 2005 11:44pm | #3

   I have one.  It was a Christmas Present (if you have been reading my e-mails you will notice that I use that phrase a lot).  It works OK.  Better than I can do by hand.  The finish seems a bit rough to me.  I have an old Craftsman drill bit sharpener attachment  for a grinder which looks good until you notice that it doesn't leave any clearance behind the cutting edge - I forget what the correct term is.  Sharpening drill bits by hand is a skill and takes practice.  I can do it, but not like the machinist who showed me how.  Never tried anything but metal cutting bits.

1. 
   mike4244 | Jul 16, 2005 09:25pm | #8

   Relief is the term your looking for. With relief the bit won't cut. I used to be pretty good sharpening freehand, have to do it often though. The Drill Doctor works well for me. I would not have bought it except for a gift certificate and the low price.

   mike

3. 
   dukeone | Jul 16, 2005 01:22am | #4

   Gasper: Haven't use the D.D. but this Darex sure looks like one heck of a drill sharpener. Their basic model is about a grand but I'll bet it does a great job on bits. Maybe couple friends could share one.

   KDM

   http://www.darex.com/

   Kenneth Duke Masters
   The Bill of Rights
   December 15 1791
   NRA Endowment Member
   LEAA Life Member
   CRPA Member

   
   

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   Edited 7/16/2005 4:55 am ET by duke-one

4. 
   none | Jul 16, 2005 04:48am | #5

   We have the 750 model, and it does everything I could ask. The first month, I sharpened about 200 bits. My son, the mechanic, has some very hard bits( I think they are cobalt) and it did a great job on them. The real advantage is that during a job, you don't have to go to hardware store to get a sharp bit. . Ours included the LEFT hand chuck which allows us to sharpen "easy out" bits. Tool crib has recon. ones for about $70.00. On bits larger than 1/2", I use a General Tool sharpening jig that works on the side of grinding wheel. It also does a great job. DAREX makes the Drill Doctor.

   
   

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   Edited 7/15/2005 9:52 pm ET by none

5. 
   WillGeorge | Jul 16, 2005 08:05pm | #6

   I do not own one but have used my son-in-pain's (law)... a few times...

   Works OK... But my first job after the army was setting up Brown & Sharps.. So I have sharpened MANY drills by hand on a old grind stone... I think I do about as good at less cost!

6. 
   SawdustSteve | Jul 17, 2005 03:57am | #9

   I recently purchased the Drill Doctor Model 300. I go between woodworking and metalworking, so I use lots of drill bits. Some of the higher$$$ models will do split-point drills and Brad point drills. It comes with a video-tape so you don't even have to read to operate it. (Good for us lazy folks) It works well, but no machine is going to equal a 'facrory grind.' I sharpened a very LARGE fist-full of dull and questionably sharp bits in one evening, then took it over to my friends shop and sharpened 25 - 30 more. Every one of the drills came out properly shaped and sharp. I'm sorry I didn't get the better machine altho I do not use split-point drills but I do use brad-points. SawdustSteve