Drill Doctor

[cmyoung2]

Not sure where to post this, but opinions on the Drill Doctor for sharpening drill bits. Thinking about one, have plenty of old bits to practice with

 

[Craig Clayton]

I have never used the Drill Doctor brand. I have a Sears that broke after many years. I am now set up with a standard drill grinding guide. I set this up on a seperate grinder. I have also done many drills by hand. A number of tool maker sharpen large drills by hand ( 1"-2 1/2" ).
It is easy to sharpen the large drills,it is the smaller sizes that are near impossible by hand ( you can not see them ).
I just bought a large replacement kit of drills with many in the smaller range ( 10 drills / size ).
You a can break them just looking at them.

Craig Clayton

 

[Dan Hunter]

I bought a Drill Doctor and even after I opened up the box and looked at it I was somewhat disappointed...plastic everywhere.

I was wrong. The damned thing works well. No more challenging than sharpening a pencil.

 

[Luremaker]

I noticed Canadian Tire has the Drill Doctor on sale for $49 this week and was wondering if it is any good as well.

 

[Shield Arc]

All those gimmicks are to slow. Learn to do it on a bench grinder.

 

[automech]

I have an older one, and it works great. When I step up to a broken bolt now, I know my drills are going to cut into it. Hand grinding drill bits on a grinder was for me a hit or miss thing. Gone are the days of pressing a drill against something and getting nothing but heat. I'm a simple guy, I just want to see that little spiral of metal coming out of the hole as I drill. The drill doctor is the way to go. Perfect angle and edge. The only thing I don't like is that I cant sharpen smaller than 1/8 bits.

 

[lostcause]

I noticed Canadian Tire has the Drill Doctor on sale for $49 this week and was wondering if it is any good as well.

there's a few different versions. the lower model - the 350 only does one tip angle - 118 degrees and doesn't do split points. the 500 will do angles from 118 to 135 degrees and split points. there's also a couple other models too, but those two are the most common. looking at the site, the 350 doesn't list cobalt drill capability. maybe they use a different sharpening wheel? i've been considering getting one, but if and when i do i'll likely go for the 500. sadly, it's around $100 here.

 

[Craig Clayton]

To the Ontario boys I bought past tense ( on sale ) the Mastercraft Titanium 204 piece drill replacement kit $37.00. Lots of smaller range drills.
I was drilling out a muffer mounting stud in the exhaust system. This stud had the fluted shoulder so it was a good and tough grade. I used the Mastercraft Titanium brand. I had to resharpen every 1/16" of depth. not that the edge would not hold but I was under the truck with a hand drill. I stepped up with 3 drill sizes.
So I drilled a total of 1" of stud up the middle.
1 x 16 =16 sharpens / drill
16x 3 = 48 total sharpens more or less all by hand.

Practice makes perfect

Craig Clayton

 

[Dan Hunter]

All those gimmicks are to slow. Learn to do it on a bench grinder.

What's slow about a Drill Doctor? Where's the gimmick?

 

[Soundguy]

i have a copy the seems to work great. did a big coffee can full the day I opened the box. havn't used up enough bits to try it again..

soundguy

 

[Shield Arc]

What's slow about a Drill Doctor? Where's the gimmick?

The slow part is placing the drill bit in the little clamp, and then into the machine. By this time I've already sharpened the drill bit and back to work.

The gimmick is you don't need it.

 

[4shorts]

I've used my Drill Doctor for a few years now and it's good for the most part. Mine is the 750X. I can also sharpen bits via grinder but you'll never get them centered as good as a dedicated sharpener. I do find that the DD don't do such a great job sharpening bits larger than 1/2 at times but I'm still very pleased with it. The DD750X is the top model in the line up.

Drill Doctor - Drill Doctor Model 750X

Features of the DD750X



One chuck sharpens all sizes 3/32" -3/4"
Longer jaws hold bit more precisely and jaw guides eliminate jaw twisting on small bits
Push to Stop design on the drill point splitting port will not allow you to over split the bit point
Adjustable material take-off allows user to change the amount of bit material that can be removed to further extend the life of your bits
User replaceable diamond sharpening wheel design for simple replacement
Cast aluminum point angle shuttle for added durability
Metal sharpening tube
Permanent magnet motor produces consistent power, regardless of speed or load
Sharpens High-speed Steel, Carbide, Cobalt, TiN-coated and Masonry bits
Can sharpen 3/32 1/2 reverse-twist (left-hand) drill bits with optional accessory
Custom Point angle sharpening - choose any angle from 115 degree to 140 degrees
Includes professional hard shell carrying case

 

[RoyJackson]

All those gimmicks are to slow. Learn to do it on a bench grinder.

That's how I do it...but I must admit, I screw it up about half the time...

 

[Shield Arc]

WOW! $180.00 for that, plus shipping. I think I only paid $39.00 for my bench grinder, and it'll do tungsten as well.

 

[Dan Hunter]

By this time I've already sharpened the drill bit and back to work.

Awesome!

 

[Bird]

I've never even used a Drill Doctor, but I know when my brother was a Matco Tool Distributor, he had quite a few customers who were happy with them and never heard of an unhappy owner.

 

[Shield Arc]

never heard of an unhappy owner.

I'm one.
I was given a Drill Doctor years ago by a neighbor because I mounted his backhoe onto his tractor, and I wouldn't take any payment. I tried to use the Drill Doctor a few times, more trouble than it was worth, so I gave it away.:laughing:

 

[yomax4]

I use the superfine wheel on my chainsaw chain sharpener. With a strong pair of reading glasses 3.50 I can see to do bits smaller than 1/16. I have real small number bits too and use a magnifying glass to do them. I screw them up now and again but with the fine wheel and some magnification..No Probs..

 

[cmyoung2]

Thanks guys, Lowes has one on sale for about $80, might have to get me a Christmas present. Let you know in a couple of weeks how it works for me. Grinder might be nice too, not sure about that learning curve.

 

[murphy1244]

The great thing about the drill doc is the bit will cut to size. And no darn sparky can do that.:laughing: