Sharpening drill bits

[harold]

Just read the post about drill bits and it reminded me. I have a cigar box full of dull (American made) drill bits and need to sharpen them. I have a Sears Craftsman drill grinding attachment (model 9-6677) that I purchased 30 years ago. I know the unit worked pretty good on the larger bits but... Havn't used it in the past 25 years ,forgot how to set it up, and now can't find the instructions. Sears no longer carry it. I did find an old long time Sears hardware manager that remenbers it. Said it was the same as a ????? Model 31 ( I think he said General but not sure ). Does anyone have instructions for using one of these or remember how to set it up and use. Info that they are willing to share?
Thanks

[Bob]

General advice to preserve the existing bevel. Go light on the leading (cutting edge), then a bit harder as you turn it to take a little more off the trailing edge. Quench quickly and often.
If you have a lot to sharpen I guess I would suggest picking one mid-size, hopefully that there are multiples of, and practice on that one. Shapen, used (mis-use), resharpen. Get the technique down before doing all of them.

Bob

[jniolon]

sharpening bits

I know it goes against the code... and I'm probably violating some unwritten d-i-y rule and will have my tools rust... but for the money...buy a drill doctor... does a good job.. in seconds..literally. up to 1/2 capacity...3/4" with the super duper industrial strength model... second best christmas gift I ever got.. I can now abuse bits and in a few seconds they are a good as new...

I'll admit I've spent a long time over a grinder and could never master the 'feel' you have to have to hand sharpen a bit... I've watched it done and had a master try to show me... I don't have the touch... just like some folks can't hit a curve ball...

drill doctor... straightens out my drill bit curve *****..

john

[bitternut]

I will have to cast my vote for the Drill Doctor like John. I have been sharpening drills by hand on a pedestal grinder for 40 years and can sharpen a drill pretty good. My wife got me the largest model Drill Doctor for X-mas and I love it. It works great. Buy good drill bits also and they won't give out on you in the middle of a job. You get what you pay for. Thats my 2 cents.

[Dave Haak]

Yup, drill Doctor. Had mine for about 5 years and haven't changed to the spare wheel I purchased extra, thinking the original wouldn't last long. Mostly 1/2" bits or smaller but some up to 3/4". Got good at using a bench gringer but hard to end up with the center in the "center".

Dave

[Mike Sherman]

Even in what is considered a heavy industrial enviroment, we use the Drill Doctor. I virtually never go to a jobsite without it. I don't use it very often, but when I need it, it does a superb job. I'm even considering writing a letter to Paul Harvey, I like it that much.

[bitternut]

Harold

Well it looks like everybody is pretty much in agreement about the Drill Doctor but you did not get an answer to your original question.

In our shop we had a larger all metal version of the Drill Doctor that I think was made by Darex. It looked very similar and worked the same way. Probably your Sears model also was of the same design. If yours is similar to the Drill Doctor I could scan the directions to mine and e-mail them to you. Let me know if I can be of any help to you. Good luck in your search.

[cope]

bitternut, Harold's, if I'm not mistaken, is a jig type fixture that holds a bit at the correct angle to sharpen it on a bench grinder. I have one of the same vintage and emailed him last night offering to copy the instructions for him.

[Incommunicado]

I'm glad someone discussed the "drill doctor" I have the model 750, I have read the instructions and watched the video adnauseam. I resulted in the veiwing of their infomercial several times.
This machine has probably ruined more drill bits, than I care to say, it just blunts the drill bits with little or no angle at all. Maybe i should send this back to the manufacturer.
Has anybody had a similar problem with the drill doctor

[bitternut]

INCOMMUNICADO

I also have the 750 Pro Kit and mine works slicker than Franz's owl poop. I am not saying you are doing something wrong in your set up but, before you send it back I would have someone thats handy give it a try. They are made pretty simple and there isn't a lot that could be wrong, but if you don't set the drill up right in the collet it ain't gonna work right.

[Bob]

I have an el-cheapo bit sharpener: 2" wheel, plastic fluted guides that does not sharpen well at all. After reading this thread, I put a bid on a drill doctor on ebay ... quite a few available there, both the 1/2 and 3/4 inch versions.
Bob

[Incommunicado]

Hi Bitternut,

Thanks for the reply, I was in the automotive field several years and have continued with boats cars and motorcycles, and I am familer with mechanical things.
It may be possible that I am not aligning the bit in the chuck properly, so I'll try it again tomorrow. ( I have hundreds of drill bits I can afford to wreck )

[Scott V]

Check out this thread at this site.I think Doug C has it about right.

http://www.chaski.com/ubb/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=machtools&Number=13529&Main=13353#Post13529

[bjdenommee]

My Dad got one of Drill Drs for Xmas and sharpened more bits in an hours time than I have done in a lifetime.

cant wait to get one

[harold]

Thanks Cope

Received the craftsman instructions for the drill grinding attachment in todays mail; many thanks, it is the same as the model I have. Hope to get to use it today but still have about 500 more flower plants to get in the ground today. Been thinking about getting one of those drill doctors that everyone commented on. Will have to check it out later. Again Cope manny thanks.