Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Drill bit sharpeners....

I can do a pretty decent job sharpening my bits on my bench grinder but thinking about caving in a getting a designated device for this purpose. Anyone use a drill dr or something similar? I understand that no matter what you use it requires a little finesse but wondering if they are really worth the $ and opinions on different models.? Input is appreciated.

It's much easier to buy good drill bits that stay sharp.

I toss and replace the smaller ones but replacing the mid to larger ones adds up.

Buy a good grinding wheel dresser and keep the surface of the wheel flat and square- - - - -no need to buy some gimmick that panders to lazy people

Some of the bits I use regularly are 1" diameter or bigger. I've never seen a sharpener big enough to handle something like that.
Jerry

What?

Are you trying to be funny?

Agreed. ^^^
I received one of the Drill Dr. models for a Christmas gift last year. I tried that thing over and over with finesse and precision and never could get a danged bit sharpened to my liking. I finally decided that spending $25-$50 a year on a new set of top notch drill bits would be both time and money well spent.

Thanks. I guess I just might need a finer grit stone

I freehand on the side of a bench grinder wheel. I try to keep the angle the same. One thing to watch out for is keeping both
sides the same length. The short side is just along for the ride, and an uneven bit will grab badly going through the finish.
A gauge would be good to keep the angle correct.

Never ever buy a Drill Dr.....they are not all that

I've been a tool and die maker since 1986 and I recomend you do it by hand.

Bench grinder or a belt sander.....both are fine

Learn the angles and how to move your hands to create the back rakes.....peactice

If you want to buy anything that would help you buy a drill point gauge for under $10

Commercial ones work.

I've been using a drill doctor for about 10 years and love it.

Opposite experience...Drill doctor, I have 3...the big one, the regular one and the left hander. If you can sharpen your bits on a bench grinder, you won't have any trouble with the DD. Yes there is a little learning curve and finesse, you'll have it nailed in about ten minutes. One of my drill presses is an ancient flat belt camelback, turns about 48 rpm in low hole...I get two beautiful, even curls smoking up out of the hole. You will get some wear on the diamond wheel if you sharpen a lot of cobalt drills.

I've had good luck with the Drill Doc. Somebody gave it to me.

Here's the handiest thing since a pocket on a shirt- - - - -keeps grinding wheels straight and true, lasts forever, and it's dirt cheap!

https://www.victornet.com/detail/WDS-6.html

1" square, 6" long, and it will true up the side of a grinding wheel as well as the face. Less than 5 bucks!
Jerry

Which is your favorite and why?

If you use drills....they get dull

BTW...."bits" are used in a horses mouth

I believe there is an original Drill Doctor and I drill doctor II I know some guys that have them and some hate them some love them and I don't know if it's the difference in the variety or what that's kind of what I'm remembering the grill doctor 2 was way better than the original but I could be wrong and have it backwards

Mostly I use Morse taper drills 3/8 to 1 1/4 so I use the big one the most, but I see no quality differences or ease of use differences in any of them. Most guys would be well served with the model that accepts 1/2" and down. Actually the regular one will sharpen a 17/32" (clear drill for 1/2 holes). One thing I do, not in the book, I squirt a little spray silicone on the drill holder device and the socket it goes into. The plastic construction is a little sticky when rotating the drill, and the silicone makes for a smooth light feed. I guess graphite would do the trick too.

I have Drill Doctor and Black & Decker drill sharpeners, but also regularly sharpen by hand. Sharpening is an essential skill for anyone who drills more than occasionally.

I buy new bits