Replies

1. 
   roc | Feb 01, 2009 08:11am | #1

   >Drill doctor any good?

   I find DD very good and fast for a home type sharpener. The industrial shop version is lots better but is LOTS LOTS LOTS more expensive.

   Maybe avoid breathing the dust that comes off it but other than that I heartily recommend getting one. I take pride in being able to sharpen twist drill bits by holding by hand on a bench grinder and then give em a touch with a diamond file just to get those nice effortless twin spirals of szwarf coming up out of the hole.

   BUT. Learning to do this takes some time. In my case a great deal of time. And even now a fair amount of concentration.

   With the DD I can crank through a pile of bits and be a bit mindless about it. Kind of nice really.

   I probably misunderstood but I must say you won't be sharpening high speed or cobalt twist drills with regular mill files let alone the carbide dudes.

   >spade, forstner, etc?<

   Diamond hones or files depending on what your bits are made of. Final touch with the fine diamond hones in any case. Read a bunch. It is easy to mess up a forstner and not be able to get it back.

   little diamond files:

   http://www.pacwestoutdoors.com/eze-lap-sample-diamond-pads-77.html:

   also

   http://www.titantoolsupply.com/catalog.asp?prodid=506608&showprevnext=1

   I usually go to MSC or Cutting edge

   http://www.americastoolcrib.com/cgi/CGPTLMXI?PAMODE=*WORK&PMTYPE=KWSEARCH&PMLFNO=02_04_002_001&PMRQNO=000000002122722&PMWORD=DIAMOND%20FILE

   but didn't get through web sites are down for a fix up etc.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 2/1/2009 12:28 am by roc

2. 
   mike4244 | Feb 01, 2009 05:53pm | #2

   I have the older version of the 350 Drill Doctor. This version sharpens twist drills up tp 1/2" diameter. Very small or short bits are almost impossible to sharpen with my version. I have successfully sharpened bits from 1/8" up to 1/2".Drill Doctor has changed some things with the newer version, I do not know exactly what was changed. If you carefully follow directions, you should be able to sharpen bits on your third or forth try. Once you understand how to set up the bit in the collet holder,you have it made.

   mike

3. 
   SawdustSteve | Feb 02, 2009 12:40am | #3

   I have the Drill Doctor for about 3 years. The OLD version (the one I have) does not like to do very small diam. bits, but for anything above 1/8" it is a dream. I purchased 2 coffee-cans full of dull drill bits at a garage sale. I gave them a quick sort by diameter and tossed out some really cheap bits and a few that were too short to bother with. I It took me less than 3 evenings and I had EVERY one of them perfectly sharpened. Now I have to build a drill cabinet to hold all the extra bits. The only bits I will have to purchase in the next two lifetimes are those few 'under 1/8' I understand the newest version is even easier to use. Oh yes, I'm still using the original sharpening drum.
   SawdustSteve Long Island, NY (E of NYC)