drill sharpener?

[general--lee]

hi can any one recommend a really good drill sharperning machine?

im guessing drill doctor going to lead here?

i can just about do it on a bench grinder but takes a few attemps on each bit so want one of these ones wher you just push it in lol

any reveiws on like the rawplugs type multi tools etc

thanks ken

 

[simon718]

have a look in this thread mate was discussed i think

 

[hareng]

Think i know the type your after, waste of time. Every drill you want to touch up or sharpen has to be independantly setup from the others, even same size, right pain. All to do with the locater on the spiral and length in front of it unless you want all drills same length assuming spirals are the same as well.
Gave a Plasplugs or similar away 17 years ago.
There are attachments for the bench grinder as well, work like Plasplugs types.

 

[irondarren]

Im afraid in still into sharpening by eye , but as i get older i notice it becomes more difficult to sharpen smaller drills (sub 5mm)

 

[Sam]

I have a drill doctor and would recomend.

 

[Hitch]

Im another that does them by eye.

Knowing what sort of angles work best for certain materials helps a lot.
If you can get them right after a few goes, id be tempted to stay with the by eye method.
Youll soon get the hang of it with some practice.

As for them plasplugs things, a waste of time, I use bigger drill bits than the entire wheel diameter on them

 

[shenion]

Received a 750X Drill Doctor today.

It works well, not real accurate on small 135 degree bits. You can visually set it up right better on small bits.

Was able to sharpen my bits and change the angle from 118 to 135 deg on a few. The 750X will do split point bits so it will handle the center drills used on my lathe. Also has an adjustable stop to set amount of cut.

Seems good investment. Have been fighting boring on the lathe with crappy bits that wandered.

I have done them by eye for a long time. Now, I need to get my reading glasses Still takes a few tries to get both angles right. The Drill doctor just makes it faster and more repeatable.

Grinding split points is nice, I have been changing some of my common bits to split-point. They cut real fast and don't wander when starting.

 

[simon718]

iv been learning how to do them by eye, getting better, certainatly beats trying to use blunt bits i don't have a chance of getting them right under 5mm though

 

[graffian]

Under 1/8th and over 7/8th are difficult. I was given one of them drill doctor thingies for xmas, what a piece of ****e, instructions were needed and if you need instructions it's not fer me. Keep meaning to stick it on ebay.

 

[bert]

i did my 12mm bit on the grinding wheel by eye, first time it was out of balance but 2nd time got it spot on.

 

[Luke]

I was asked to help one of the apprentices today, who'd succeeded in knackering every 10mm bit in the building. he was struggling with a 'drill bit sharpener' and i tried to get it to work for him, but what an utter pile of rubbish! In the end i brought a handfull of bits home and did them on the grinding wheel, half as long to do twice as many, and they're actually sharp!

 

[graffian]

Bloke I know bought drills from B&Q, or somewherelike that, to drill some holes in ali. He managed to push one thru the bit of ali, then he gave up and bought it round for me to drill the holes. I was amazed at the drills he bought, even more amazed that he managed to drill a hole with one, they were sharpened backwards!

I can't see why drill sharpening is such a big deal. As long as you keep to the basic geometry and have clearance on the cutting edge and the edges are nearly symetrical the drill will drill. You can see at a glance how close they are.