Replies

1. 
   nigelUsa | Jan 14, 2003 12:47am | #1

   I have one of these things sitting in the drawer collecting dust I did try to use it and found I could use the face of the wheel with  fair results. But it was a major fiddle to get right. I picked up a drill doctor and sharpened all my drill bits (about 200 dull bits)in about 3 hours. 90% cut like new, the other 10%? I think I was getting dull!!

1. 
   fredsmart48 | Jan 14, 2003 01:10am | #3

   I just do it by hand.  On the face of fine grind grit grinding stone.  Usually takes less that 30 seconds to one.  Usually last a long time unless I am drilling stainless steel. 

2. 
   jazzdogg | Jan 14, 2003 03:39am | #5

   Nigel,

   Is the Drill Dr. worth the asking price? When I saw them advertised on TV, I wondered how many new drill bits I could buy for the cost of the Drill Dr.

   Any down side?

   Jazzdogg

1. 
   jimmys | Jan 14, 2003 03:48am | #7

   it's quick en easy try it you will like it

1. 
   DWRead | Jan 14, 2003 04:52am | #8

   The drill grinding guide is from a German company. The leaflet was in German, English, French, and Italian. On the chance that the instructions lost something in the translation, I used Babelfish to translate the German instructions into English.

   Babelfish is a useful program but not always accurate. Part of the German text was,

   Ja nachdem, wie weit Sie den Bohrer abschleifen wohin, die Verstellschraube D langsam in kleinen Stücken vorwartsdrehen.

   I think it is saying to grind the bit by turning bolt D slowly and in small increments. Somehow it got translated as,

   After, as far you sand off the drill where, the adjusting bolt D slowly in small Stucken before waiting Southern German Broadcasting Corporation marriages.

   Janet

2. 
   nigelUsa | Jan 14, 2003 08:09am | #10

   Its by far the easiest system I have used so far, save buying new! Not cheap as in low $$$ but you might not ever but another drill bit! I have a set of drills from MAC tools (far from cheap) and they cut beautiful from new and the drill doc has resharpened the most used like new. No regrets.

1. 
   jazzdogg | Jan 14, 2003 08:16am | #11

   Not cheap as in low $$$ but you might not ever but another drill bit!

   Except for those itty-bitty ones that always seem to break or get lost at the most inopportune moment!

   Thanks for the heads-up!

1. 
   DWRead | Jan 14, 2003 06:33pm | #12

   I originally planned to touchup twist bits by hand, but in Leonard Lee's book indicated that that was a sure way for beginners to wreck the bits. So I decided to buy the Eclipse sharpener that he recommended (over the one that his company sells!), but couldn't find one anywhere on the Internet.

   My practice bit is sharp on the edges, but is hard to start. It doesn't want to stay in place.

   Janet

2. 
   nigelUsa | Jan 15, 2003 05:45am | #13

   My dad who is now 92 just picks up a dull bit and zip, zip, zip, on the grinder by hand has a sharp bit. After hours of trying to "copy" him, with him watching, I never could get it . Close but not there!! With the drill doctor now I got it.

3. 
   jako17 | Jan 15, 2003 06:36am | #14

   Hi Janet,   Usually the reasons for difficult starting after hand sharpening a twist drill are  :

   1 Wrong grind angle ,I seem to remember 118degs

   2 Uneven grind  resulting in to wide or an eccentric tip

   3 Most often, no back relief behind cutting edge

   Check 

    Lee 's exhausting book on sharpening

         Lifes a grind then you die!!!  :-)

4. 
   billyg83440 | Jan 16, 2003 01:24am | #15

   The itsy bitsy easy to break drill bits. I once bought a dozen of each small size from harbor frieght. I don't think I've ever had a 1/16" bit get dull on me. Haven't bought one in years, and a dozen cost less then one good new bit. Was surprised at how well these drill. Larger sizes I pay more for better bits. I'd love a drill doctor. A guy at work offered to let me borrow his once. I said maybe later. Two weeks later he no longer worked here. Opps.

3. 
   Mackwood | Jan 14, 2003 05:49am | #9

   I finally got myself a "Drill Doctor" as well, and like you I sharpened every dull bit I could find the first time I took it out of the box.  This is a really great piece of equipment.  I really like the fact that once you've used it, it's very repeatable.  You don't have to relearn the thing every time you use it!  I was so impressed that I ordered the large chuck and what I think will be a lifetime supply of diamond wheels just in case they stop making them!!

2. 
   PlaneWood | Jan 14, 2003 01:09am | #2

   Janet -

   I use my home made vertical belt sander.  I set the angle of the support bed to about 30 degrees below horizontal and hold the bit at about 22 degrees to the belt (left from perpendicular).  The cutting edge of the bit should be held at 90 degrees from the direction the belt runs.   I have a line marked on the support  bed at 22 degrees.  Holding the bit steady and at 22 degrees, I move it back and forth across the belt in about a 1/2" swath.   Do not rotate the bit while running it back and forth.  About 5 seconds per edge is all that's needed once you get the hang of it.  Takes a little eye practice to get the faces the same width. 

   Cocobolo and IPE really dulls drill bits fast!

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy
   PlaneWood

3. 
   jako17 | Jan 14, 2003 03:04am | #4

   Janet Is the stone wobling as it rotates? If so look  for the card (or heavy paper )labels either side of the stone to be rucked up under the arbour washers .This sometimes causes wobble.Take it off and reseat it .Eccentricity on the circumference ,you just dress off as you are undoubtably aware.Remember the left arbour nut is a left hand thread

4. 
   jimmys | Jan 14, 2003 03:43am | #6

   get a drill doc.