Drill Doctor

[Shield Arc]

Grinder might be nice too, not sure about that learning curve.

If you had someone to show you how, you'd pick it up in a couple minutes.

Seems as this is becoming a lost art just like putting a logger's splice in wire rope.

 

[deereman75]

This has reminded me I know someone who could teach me how to do this. I will have to ask next time I see him.

 

[Soundguy]

If you had someone to show you how, you'd pick it up in a couple minutes.

Seems as this is becoming a lost art just like putting a logger's splice in wire rope.

or adjusting a 'non adjustable' mechanical voltage regulator.

becoming a lost art.

soundguy

 

[Hooked_on_HP]

I had the origional drill doctor and wasn't overly impressed. Then I got the drill doctor 750 when it came out and the difference is night and day. It takes a little practice put the results are a bit the cuts straight and true.
Bill

 

[crazyal]

I was a bench grinder guy for the longest time. I resisted buying the DD because of the price. Aft two years ago I broke down and got the 750x. Since then I haven't used the bench grinder for anything. Since moving into the new house they (2) are still sitting on the shelf in the basement with no signs of ever getting mounted to a bench or stand.

I still think I could do a better job with the grinder and I know I can repair a broken bit quicker but to say it's faster, I don't buy it. Saying that all you need to do is learn how to sharpen with a grinder and then it's faster, well once you learn how to use the DD it's just as quick.

 

[Luremaker]

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.

Just checked and it's the model 350 that's on-sale. I guess I'll look for the 500 or better the 750. I've tried the grinder but have not had much luck with it.

I just checked lowes.com site and they sell the DD350x for $49.99 and the XP for $79.98. Lowes.ca does not even list any Drill Doctor.

Homedepot.com has the 750X for $159 and the XP2 for $79.

 

[lostcause]

Just checked and it's the model 350 that's on-sale. I guess I'll look for the 500 or better the 750. I've tried the grinder but have not had much luck with it.

I just checked lowes.com site and they sell the DD350x for $49.99 and the XP for $79.98. Lowes.ca does not even list any Drill Doctor.

Homedepot.com has the 750X for $159 and the XP2 for $79.

i thought i had read that you could buy the 3/4 adapter and use it in the 500 sharpener, but maybe i'm wrong - the drill doctor site shows the 750 being able to do a slightly different range of angles, so maybe the base unit is different. for bits over 1/2" i'm generally comfortable hand sharpening them, but for smaller ones i'm not. it's not just a matter of being able to grind a sharp point that will cut, it's making it so that both cutting edges are identical.

in the last couple years i've done more "precision" work, and i want my smaller bits to be as true as possible so the holes go as straight as possible. i've made a lot of smaller parts where i need to have multiple holes line up precisely. there's no oversize drilling allowed for stuff like this, and i don't want a bit where one side leads the other and the hole wanders or ends up slightly off. this is mostly for small stuff. if i needed precise holes that are larger i'd probably bore them instead of drill them.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

I spent many years in a career running machine shops.
Have wore out 3-4 Drill Doctors over a bunch of years.

In the situation I was in with the materials we used, a Drill Dr. saved us a lot of money in resharpening costs. Another advise will be to ALWAYS buy quality name brand drills.

Most people are too rough on drills when using them in hand feed drill presses and especially hand drill motors. Learn to be consistent in the way you feed a drill and change to a sharp drill as needed to avoid breaking drills.

I agree, it is good to know how to do sharpening "by hand" and it is a good way to rough grind a drill and finish the edges in the Drill Dr.

When I get to doing projects this spring, I'm going to have a new one......

Your millage may vary......
Good luck

 

[crazyal]

i thought i had read that you could buy the 3/4 adapter and use it in the 500 sharpener, but maybe i'm wrong - the drill doctor site shows the 750 being able to do a slightly different range of angles, so maybe the base unit is different. for bits over 1/2" i'm generally comfortable hand sharpening them, but for smaller ones i'm not. it's not just a matter of being able to grind a sharp point that will cut, it's making it so that both cutting edges are identical.

in the last couple years i've done more "precision" work, and i want my smaller bits to be as true as possible so the holes go as straight as possible. i've made a lot of smaller parts where i need to have multiple holes line up precisely. there's no oversize drilling allowed for stuff like this, and i don't want a bit where one side leads the other and the hole wanders or ends up slightly off. this is mostly for small stuff. if i needed precise holes that are larger i'd probably bore them instead of drill them.

You can buy the chuck for larger drill bits for the 500 but it doesn't save any money. If someone was unsure if they would use the DD then they could buy the 500 and if they liked it get the larger chuck.

 

[toxicjeeper]

I have accumulated literally hundreds if not thousands of bits in coffee cans over the years.. I dont know why it took me so long to figure out that i should start sharpening them...Probably cause i just slowed my drill press down to 200 rpm and saw what low speed sharp drills can really do....LOL.....Just bought a DD 350x from canadian tire for the sale price 49 bucks..I plan on "teaching myself" how to sharpen drills on a bench grinder( same way i learned to weld..lots of patients and scraps) but it is nice to have the DD to keep one set sharp while i practise on the others..

That being said i have my sights on a buying/learning how to use a Mill in the future..

 

[Shield Arc]

That being said i have my sights on a buying/learning how to use a Mill in the future..

The problem with a mill, the mill is the cheap part! :laughing:

 

[toxicjeeper]

The problem with a mill, the mill is the cheap part! :laughing:

This is what i have heard..LOL..I see the arrow pointing to what i think is a 360 rotating vise....LOL..you have to forgive my ignorance as i am still infant stages of my knowledge..

From what i have read about milling hold the work piece is just as important as the machine cutting..

 

[Shield Arc]

That picture was for a different site. Yes it's a rotary table.

Grizzly.com

 

[grsthegreat]

I have a drill doctor 750X, and ive used it wor about 1-1/2 years or so.

I absolutely love the thing. Very easy to learnto use, and once its set i can sharpen my entire rack of dull bits in minutes. Very fast and my bits work great afterwards.

For my real large bits i too use the old bench grinder method, but for my 3/4" and smaller bitsw, this method is WAY faster.


I actually snapped the end off of a 3/16" bit last month. i ground off the end and ran it thru the drill doctor. Put a new cutting edge on it and it went back into my drill press and worked great.

 

[redharley]

+ 1 more for the doctor,been a diesel mechanic for 40 yr's, know how to grind them,drill doctor hard to beat for small bit's 3/8 or less, those little guys hard to hold for these hands any more.

 

[Shield Arc]

Another happy customer. :laughing:

 

[Dan Hunter]

The one man campaign to bring back buggy whips continues.

My personal reason for the Drill Doctor...I can't see for crap anymore. I used to have 15/20 and now I can hardly see to drive and read...in some situations, I just can't see. It's thick glasses or blur and I can no longer define what a good edge is by merely looking at it. I can more a less measure and drive a punch. I can sharpen my drills by touch using the DD. For me, it's just another tool of empowerment.

 

[Monster5601]

Another happy customer. :laughing:

After reading this thread you make you feelings clear that the drill doctor is worthless and indirectly belittle anyone that chooses to use it. What is with all the negativity?

I use to use the grinder to touch up my bits but never got the smaller bits, less that a number 7 or so, just right. OK for aluminum but not harder materials. The Drill Doctor does an excellent job, it is easy to use, and it is quick to use.

I keep more than one size bit sharp so I don't have to run to a bench grinder when needed, I simply sharpen my bits when I'm done working for the day, if needed. I find the edge the drill doctor puts back on is near perfect allowing the bit to hold its edge longer than a touched up bit.

 

[deereman75]

Well when I get back from the holidays, I will talk to an old machinist friend of mine. I am sure he will be happy to teach my how to hand sharpen drill bits. Oh and this guy who is a machinist, a welder, an electrician, and an aircraft sheet metal mechanic shares Shield Arc's view that the dril doctors are useless. Seems to be a common view with retired welders/machinists.

 

[k0ua]

You know I have a little saying that I think covers this controversy pretty well:

"every thing is easy if you know how to do it"

As in sharpening a drill bit, well I have sharpened a fair number by hand, and find it a difficult time consuming thing to do, especially for smaller bits. Now I have no doubt that some guys find sharpening drill bits with a grinder an easy simple rewarding thing to do. I do not own a Drill Doctor, as the price has put me off from owning one. But I have no doubt that it is a good tool especially for the difficult smaller bits. I would be willing to bet that there are things I can do pretty easily (like programing old Nortel Meridian PBX's with Command line interface) that others find very difficult. But I also know that the fact I have been doing that for over 30 years makes a difficult task for most, an easy task for me. So to sum up what I am trying to say is just because something seems easy because you have been doing it for a lifetime, does not mean it is easy for anyone to take it up and get the same results. That's all. Merry Christmas everyone!

James K0UA