Any one use a Drill Doctor?

[emr]

I am about to start some serious tap and dieing and I figure that I will start to dull out my drill bits. I have been thinking about getting a Drill Doctor (or Harbor Freight knock off) for quite some time and it may be time now. Has anyone used a drill bit sharpener of any kind? How did it work? Are the worth the money, or is it better to just buy new bits when they are dull?

I am sure most of you know what I am talking about but if not:
http://www.drilldoctor.com/

 

[rskybiz]

I had one POS IMHO! It did have some benefit, but I found it not to be all that much.

 

[Cobleskill]

Was it a genuine Drill Doctor? I wouldn't think a a Harbor Freight model would be worth taking home. I have seen their chain grinders. Cheap and next to useless.

 

[rskybiz]

yes Genuine drill doctor bought it at a trade show after demonstrations. thought awsome it will save some cash in the future, never found that to be the case!

 

[Cobleskill]

It looks like a quality tool. I am surprised. I can sharpen a bit by eye, but it sure isn't perfect. Doing that has a big learning curve.

 

[lumberjack]

I've read quite a few great reviews of it; I'm supprised as well.

 

[Brimmstone]

They take some time to get used to. It also depends which model you have. I've had a couple from the very first ones that you had to pretty much feel your way through using to the latest one. They work fine once you get the hang of it. I use mine at least once a week to touch up all the bits I used. If I have a special job it might get used ten or fifteen times in one day if it's hard on a drill bit. They will sharpen anything too. I used mine to sharpen a couple of carbide drill bits I was using to drill out a starter bolt on a bus. Damn thing had been torched off and heat hardened to the point nothing else would drill through it. Sharpened the two carbide bits I was using no problem and kept doing it every time I would chip to big of a piece of the cutting edge.

 

[woodworkingboy]

I had a bolt broken off once that I couldn't drill out after a lot of messing around.. I thought the hell with this, and took the nozzle of my plasma torch and stuck it into the hole and pulled the trigger. The broken bolt shot out of there like a hot rocket, and it didn't mess up the threads. I was really proud of myself. I wouldn't recommend it on a blind hole.

 

[sotc]

I have not used one but they are made locally, usually some on craigslist here this time of year. Heard good things about them but I sharpen by hand on a bench grinder

 

[Burnham]

Like the new avatar, Willie. Handsome couple .

 

[SkwerI]

The punk cleans up nice, doesn't he?

 

[sotc]

Haha, thanks, little more my style, need to figure out how to crop it on my new puter.

 

[MasterBlaster]

Post the entire pic and I'll do it.

 

[Cut4fun]

Post the entire pic and I'll do it.

Thats what I was thinking too. The avatar pic is to small.

 

[NeTree]

I had one POS IMHO! It did have some benefit, but I found it not to be all that much.

I concur.

 

[NickfromWI]

Never heard of it. Went to youtube and found this:

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/K45lvC8Z1ZU?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/K45lvC8Z1ZU?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Looking at the vid, it seems straight forward. With beginner model starting at like $80 and some going on ebay for less than $25, it seems like it could save you money. I've spent more than $25 in bits over the last year.

What don't you guys like about it?

 

[NeTree]

Almost impossible to get consistent angles.... parts wear fast, aggravating the first problem... doesn't really put that great an edge on...


Why would you have to keep buying new bits? At the shop, I send them out to a grinding service. Cost me $100 last month to get 20 lbs of bits done. Check with a few machine shops in your area; I bet at least one of them either does it, or deals with a place that does.

What size bits are you using, and to drill what? I'm a service engineer, and I don't go through that many bits.

 

[NickfromWI]

I'm just saying if you buy one of these:

It's gonna run you 20-25 bucks, depending on what kit you get. I try to drill everything from soft plastic to steel. Sometimes they just straight up snap in half (because I'm abusing them and pushing to hard) and eventually some just get dull.

The drill doctor looks like it's relying too much on use being able to "know" how to sharpen...

 

[SkwerI]

Nick, those drill bits rock.
Unfortunately you cannot sharpen them with this type of sharpener unless you grind off the pilot point tip, and that's what makes these bits so good.

 

[sotc]

Heres an avatar pic, thanks Butch

Get a drill gauge and a little bench grinder, ez pz to sharpen a standard bit

 

[SkwerI]

Willie, how'd a punk like you land such a babe?

 

[sotc]

I tricked her

 

[sotc]

That and my 10 cord dowry!

 

[woodworkingboy]

Same here, on a bench grinder, but not as good as a machinest friend. Experience shows.

 

[NeTree]

Nick, are you using oil when drilling steel? Try using less pressure, and match the drill speed to the bit size properly.

Heck, I've got an $8 Job-Lot set I've been using for over a year now.




Willie...