Drill bit sharpening

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Do you guys sharpen your own bits? Is that a skill I can/should learn? I have tried a few times with hit and miss results. Any pointers?-Ryan
Reply:Just get a Drill Doctor, and follow the directions. There are several models. I got the basic one as a gift a few years ago. I am very impressed at how well it works.And then, after so much work...... you have it in your hand, and you look over to your side...... and the runner has run off. Leaving you holding the prize, wondering when the runner will return.
Reply:It is a good skill to learn.  We have 2 drill doctors at work and 1 of them I've never had any luck with and the other does ok but not as good as a belt sander.  When you sharpen the bit make sure you have a thing of water right beside you.  Take just a little bit off at a time and dip it in the water.  Make sure your trailing edge is below your cutting edge.  You can put more of an angle on the cutting edge and the bit will cut faster but won't last as long.  The only thing I liked about the drill doctor is you can put a split point on the bit with the more expensive models but it's not worth it.  Everone here at work just comes and gets me to sharpen their bits because they don't like the doc either.DewayneDixieland WeldingMM350PLincoln 100Some torchesOther misc. tools
Reply:I grind my own. The trick is to go from the back trailing edge to the front cutting edge...in a curved motion. I hold my bits with two hands, one hand guides the other provides the motion for the bit. It's definately an acquired skill. Take a junk bit and keep practicing. I'll try to take a quick video and show you.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:How do y'all set up the belt sander:  angle the table down for the bevel angle, then angle the bit on the table for the angle of the point?  Or do you use the top roller to get a little hollow grind, or freehand it or something?    (thanks)
Reply:I sharpen mine on my bench grinder. Hold the bit at almost a 90 degree to the face of the grinder wheel.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:There have been many previous posts on this - see links below:http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=7514http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=4469http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=3906http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=455http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=614http://www.weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=437Rick V
Reply:I love my Drill Dr. I've learned that if I sharpen a new bit with it, the bit is sharper than new. It just takes a light touch to get a sharp bit.
Reply:I personally have never had much luck with my drill Doctor.  A girlfriend bought it for me as a birthday gift, but I have better results sharpening my own.  Practice makes perfect.I'm a Lover, Fighter, Wild horse Rider, and a pretty good welding man......
Reply:I got a Drill Doctor as a wedding present several years ago, and I dig it.  Its fast and I've had great luck on bits between 3/32" and 9/16".  I wasn't sure how effective it was going to be, until I had to drill a bunch of 3/16" plate.  After drilling the first 3 holes on a well used Hitachi bit, I re-sharpened it on the Drill Dr. and proceeded to drill a dozen more holes with no hesitation.  I will say that it took a couple tries doing the little set-up routine before I got confident with the process. After that, I didn't need to look back at the manual.  cricman
Reply:I have done it both ways, used the grinder and used the drill doctor. I just bought the drill doctor about 6 months ago after first trying a cheap Harbor Freight bit dresser that was about worthless. I have had good results with using the grinder, but it takes patience as you do not want to grind too much to fast. Keep some cooling water close by and keep the bit cool while you are dressing it helps. I like the drill doctor as I can go through all my drill bits every few months or as needed to keep them up in good shape.
Reply:If you can find a old time machinist in your area, ask him to teach you to sharpen drill bits. In my younger days an old machinist taught me, and it is a skill you never forget. If you learn how to sharpen drill bits this way, it will put a Drill Doctor to shame!Read again what Microzone wrote because he has it right.Clarke 130EN C25Lincoln 225 AC Stick(1968)Smith O/A RigHF 4X6 Red BandsawBlack & Decker Pro Chopsaw16 Speed Drill PressSpeedglas XL HelmetHarbor Freight Stuff
Reply:I had tried to sharpen a bit or two in the past with no luck. I read this thread last night, and the other threads from the past. Just a bit (unintentional pun) ago I was trying to drill with a pitifully dull 1/4", took it to the belt sander and had it back in the chuck in under 3 minutes. Can't tell you how tickled I was watching that curly sliver of steel get longer and longer. Had to turn off the drill press to unwrap the curl from the bit.  I think in the past I hadn't paid enough attention to the shape, and maybe I sharpened the leading edge but didn't grind away the "hump" behind it. Keeping the leading edge from even touching the work.Thanks for the tips! (another bad unintentional pun)Miller EconotigCutmaster 38Yes ma'am, that IS a screwdriver in my pocket!
Reply:Originally Posted by MicroZoneI sharpen mine on my bench grinder. Hold the bit at almost a 90 degree to the face of the grinder wheel.
Reply:B-E-N-C-H  Grinder....  What is the "huh" part?John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Try this one.  put the bit on the face of the bench grinding wheel.  Start with the proper angle.  Just take a little off the edge and move the entire bit UP the wheel keeping the bit in the same position.  This finishes the rest of the bit.  Alternate sides taking only a little off at a time.  LOOK at he relief angle.  If you are drilling soft stuff, it can be bigger, harder stuff make it a little smaller.  LOOK at the length of the cutting edges and make sure they are even.  Once you can get TWO sides cutting, you got it!I too have a drill doctor.  It works sometimes and other times it doesn't.  It seems to depend on the flutes of the bit.  Sometimes it puts the relief on backwards.  I still prefer a bench grinder with a fine wheel.  I can see where a belt sander would be better, but I don't have one.When I was a young buck I mounted quite a few dump bodies and log loaders on trucks.  You learn how to sharpen a bit real fast.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:John I think It would sharpen better a 30 degrees.Clarke 130EN C25Lincoln 225 AC Stick(1968)Smith O/A RigHF 4X6 Red BandsawBlack & Decker Pro Chopsaw16 Speed Drill PressSpeedglas XL HelmetHarbor Freight Stuff
Reply:Originally Posted by MicroZoneB-E-N-C-H  Grinder....  What is the "huh" part?
Reply:Okay, gotcha! It's not exactly 90 but it's at a very close right angle. The face of the grinder wheel only has so much room between the guide edge and top cover. I used 90 as a reference point, it might be 75, 80 or 85. I lay the trailing edge on the wheel and then work my way to the cutting edge. Sorry for the confusion.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:I can sharpen larger drill bits fairly well. I guess the smaller one it's just as easy to pitch them. The only time I messed with the smaller bits was to regrind them for drilling plexiglass.
Reply:the drill dr. not a fan, i learned old school on the grinder. i need to feel it for it to work right.63' Lincoln SA200 2008 miller trailblazer 302fibre-metal pipelinermiller camo BWEand all the guns and ammo a growin boy needs
Reply:Originally Posted by MicroZoneOkay, gotcha! It's not exactly 90 but it's at a very close right angle. The face of the grinder wheel only has so much room between the guide edge and top cover. I used 90 as a reference point, it might be 75, 80 or 85. I lay the trailing edge on the wheel and then work my way to the cutting edge. Sorry for the confusion.
Reply:I have the Drill Doctor pro which can do the split point as well as regular point. I love it and can't imagine ever doing without it now. I sharpen a lot of bits, and i mean a lot, and the drill doctor has saved me so much time and money it isn't funny.Miller DVI2Lincoln Precision Tig 225Thermodynamics Cutmaster 38Everything else needed.
Reply:The Drill Doctor is for girls...muahahaaa.  Just messing because J posted he had one. John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Originally Posted by MicroZoneThe Drill Doctor is for girls...muahahaaa.  Just messing because J posted he had one.Originally Posted by MicroZoneThe Drill Doctor is for girls...muahahaaa.  Just messing because J posted he had one.
Reply:cricmanJohn -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com