Drill bit sharpener

[13SigsParticipant @13sigs]

[13SigsParticipant @13sigs]

I have done a search but cannot find what I want to know.

My trusty Martek drill bit sharpener bought over 10yrs ago has bit the dust and I am now looking for a replacement. Can anyone recommend a drill bit sharpener with an integral motor. I have seen pictures of the Drill Doctor 750x but do not know of anyone who has used it.

Budget it up to £200. Can anyone advise.

Thanks

13Sigs

[chris stephensParticipant @chrisstephens63393]

Hi 13,

The Drill Doctor works very well but is it work the money, I doubt it. If we could get it here for the same price the Yanks pay, then probably.

If you have a Tormek grinder, their drill sharpening attachment looks interesting but again not cheap.

The el cheapo Picador or even cheaper oriental copy can be made to work and is good value provided you can spare the time to learn to use it.

You could learn to sharpen drills free hand but if you really can spare the cash go for the DD, but think to yourself how many new drills you could have bought for the same money.

chriStephens

[I.M. OUTAHEREParticipant @i-m-outahere]

I bought a cheapie drill sharpener from my local supplier which is sort of good for anything over 1/4 inch but under this it grinds uneven so it is what my mates get to use ! i use the four facet tool by Harold Hall on an improvised tool and cutter similar to what Harold describes in his book and i find the whole lot works well and does what i need including millng cutters . I don't know about any one else but i found that once i went to 4 facet i never went back. Actually the tool honing device in the latest MEW has me thinking about a device to sharpen small drill bits using the 4 facet system but i need to develop it to suit my needs . and i would of course pass this onto the author of the article as they should be the one to submit it to MEW besides i have enough trouble typing let alone photographing or playing wiith cad !

[Robin KingParticipant @robinking15611]

I bought the Drill Doctor 750 some years ago, but found it impossible to achieve the correct drill point geometry despite religiously following the recommended procedures shown in their video – negative rakes occurred several times and I ended up spending an inordinate amount of time experimenting with different settings of the drill in the collet holder to try to achieve a halfway usable result. It now sits on the shelf unused.

The four facet drill sharpening jigs are a complete contrast and well worth the time to make one – I made Dave Lammas' version as described in ME many years ago, and it's straightforward to build and use, produces consistent results with a little practice, apart from which it costs a heck of a lot less than the DD!

[GoCreateParticipant @gocreate]

Hi

I use the proxxon drill sharpener which I find works quite well.

However, there is a learning curve, you have to be patient learning to use it correctly, my first few attempts were terrible.

Once you learn to set up the drill correctly it's fine for drills 3mm to 8mm

Video here

Nigel

[robjon44Participant @robjon44]

Hi, I had the good fortune to stumble on a Drill Doctor at a car boot a few years ago, gave £20 for it,new in box. Used it ever since at home and work, with a little care very good results are obtainable making and resharpening 135 degree split points with it, after all it does use a small cylindrical diamond wheel, the corner of which is used to grind the second pair of facets, and it is reversible end for end so in home use should last a very long time. Industrially, on CNC lathes, to provide rock solid data, spot drilling to 1mm above drill diameter to leave a breakedge, the twist drill starts cutting at full diameter, which is nice, and when examined with a glass after 8 or 9 hundred holes, exhibited none of the symptoms of wear shown by a conventional 118 degree point with chisel edge, ie chisel edge and radii forming on outer corners normally leading to premature failure.So, let me say that I have no connection with Mr. Drill Doctor, only as a satisfied customer, but my advice to those going down the the road of making their own attachments would be to go for the 135 degree split point which really shouldn't represent much extra work, 2 sets of facets at 90 degrees rather than 2 sets at 180 degrees, check out the majority off modern straight shank drills for examples thereof.

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Nigel

I'm interested to see that – but £180 is a lot of drills!

I've tried a few sharpeners over the years but am still at the state of having two sets – one for everyday ( rough!) use and one new / nearly new for "important" use and which will move to the "everyday" set in time. Small drills ( <3mm) I buy five at a time.( I should say that most of my use is for smaller drills)

Cheers

Norman

[13SigsParticipant @13sigs]

Posted by tractionengine42 on 22/03/2013 09:55:18:

Hi

I use the proxxon drill sharpener which I find works quite well.

However, there is a learning curve, you have to be patient learning to use it correctly, my first few attempts were terrible.

Once you learn to set up the drill correctly it's fine for drills 3mm to 8mm

Video here

Nigel

Thanks.

I looked at the video and the Proxxon looks like a goer. I considered the Proxxon but could not figure out how the second face was ground exactly 180 degrees from the first face, now all is clear. In addition it was also clear how the clearance is ground behind the cutting lip. The reason I asked about the Drill Doctor is that the operation is similar to my old Martek.

[GoCreateParticipant @gocreate]

Hi

Here's a better price (Edit –  maybe not, you may have to pay import duty?)

You might be interested in this thread.

I think with many drill sharpening jigs you have to be patient in learning how to set them up to get good results. Once you get the hang of it it's a breeze.

Nigel

Some operating instructions here.

 

Edited By tractionengine42 on 22/03/2013 20:18:27

[Alan HopwoodParticipant @alanhopwood63369]

You may have to dig back a fair bit to find a drill honing device described by D.A.G.Brown which sharpens drills from no. 80 up to 3/32". He also described a set up which sharpened the next range up from 3/32" to about 1/4", but if you bother to make the collets he describes and take them on to the next stage he described i.e. using either a Quorn or a Stent, you can sharpen from 3/32" up to 1/2" either to four facet or six! That way you have a chance of poking a hole which is straight and on size.

Regards,

Alan.

[13SigsParticipant @13sigs]

Posted by tractionengine42 on 22/03/2013 19:49:42:

Hi

Here's a better price (Edit – maybe not, you may have to pay import duty?)

You might be interested in this thread.

I think with many drill sharpening jigs you have to be patient in learning how to set them up to get good results. Once you get the hang of it it's a breeze.

Nigel

Some operating instructions here.

Edited By tractionengine42 on 22/03/2013 20:18:27

Here's a better price (Edit – maybe not, you may have to pay import duty?)

I have seen this advert but had second thoughts because I could not be sure that any help I needed would be at the end of a telephone as is the case when I buy from my favourite U.K. outlet. In addition, surely buying from the above in Germany (EEC) will not incur any duty.

[PETER ROACHParticipant @peterroach92938]

Hi,

When you say," bit the dust", what failed?

Like you have had one for 10 plus years, worn the original stone but found another. Then picked up a second one second hand, unused. When the stone is true, a beautiful jig. The collects are wearing and was considering trying to 3d print some replacements or machining some delrin.

If the parts did not make the bin, be interested.

[Jerry WrayParticipant @jerrywray14030]

I have a Tormek,

Its everything they claim, I have not yet found a drill over 6mm which it cannot sharpen with 4 facets, but below that size it can be problematic, 2 facets no problem but getting equal length when doing 4 needs considerable care. But it , does all the garden equipment, kitchen knives, scissors etc. etc… A lot of money though.

There is an active support forum, mainly focussed on woodturning but very friendly and helpful.

The main thing I have against it is the need to clean out the cooling water tray at the end of every session. I am using the original stone which seems to be soft and absorbs a lot of water. Wear is rather more than I expected, but I have never had sharper edges than it gives. And I mean Never. (60+ years) Those edges are durable, typically 6 months for a kitchen knife which needed re sharpening on a steel every week or two.

Cheers,

JerryNotts

[13SigsParticipant @13sigs]

Posted by PETER ROACH on 16/12/2013 14:28:11:

Hi,

When you say," bit the dust", what failed?

Like you have had one for 10 plus years, worn the original stone but found another. Then picked up a second one second hand, unused. When the stone is true, a beautiful jig. The collects are wearing and was considering trying to 3d print some replacements or machining some delrin.

If the parts did not make the bin, be interested.

Sorry for the delay. My Martek was binned some months ago. I could no longer set the drill height when depressing the stop onto the stone. Dust had jammed the stop against the stone and I did not notice, the result being that the complete stop vanished in sparks along with the end of the drill I sharpened. I managed to make adjustments but the result was a bit hit and miss, I had to pull the casing apart and then it all went downhill after than. I am now using the Proxxon drill sharpener and although it is far superior on drills less than 3mm in diameter the Martek is a close second on larger sizes particularly when the cost of both is take into account. However, the Martek is no longer in production. As you will know, the Martek will grind drills of varing angles something which is beyond the Proxxon. Another thing about the Proxxon is that the clearance angle is not always as it should be, it may be due to not being used to the machine.

[PETER KINGParticipant @peterking]

Hi, Some months back the old "Reliance" drill grinding jigs were mentioned, I have both No1 and No3 (which as mentioned is vast) I am looking for a No2. for small drills – under 12mm – I use a machine similar to a 'Drill Doctor' but it is an all-metal job with precision ground collets. its called a GS1 and is probably Chinese. this does normal and split point grinds to various angles from 90 degree to about 120+. the drill doctor I had was plastic and notable for lack of accuracy. PETER KING

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