Drill Bits

[trap50]

What do you do with your old dull drill bits? Throw them away and buy new ones, get them sharpened? where? I tried on my grinder but mostly make a mess out of them. How much would it cost to have someone sharpen them?

[ 02-23-2004, 05:14 AM: Message edited by: trap50 ]

[AuntyM]

I have been lusting over the Drill Doctor to sharpen my own bits. (hubby keeps using them and dulling them and when I go to use them... )

Several models are available at your home stores. I hear the cheapest one that is powered by your drill doesn't work all that well. The others make bits almost like new.

[MacEFL]

I use the drill doctor here at work and bring in bits from home. Works great. Can even split the points. Works awsome for the price especialy.

[Abalone]

Drill doctor is for sissies. All you need is a grinding wheel and an angle guage.
Have someone that knows how to show you the proper way to do it. It's a piece of cake.
Start with larger bits and work smaller.

[ 02-23-2004, 07:22 AM: Message edited by: Abalone ]

[Hogback]

Buy a Drill Doctor, they really work and are fool proof. Cost about 75 bucks and are indestructible.
Randy

[Hawg Caller]

I agree with abalone...a drill gauge is real cheap and easy to use, if you have a grinder its a piece of cake. you can even grind them to different angles for the type of material you are using.

[1pump]

It's just like sharpening knives or hooks. For some people it's second nature, for others (like me) it's like trying to remove your own appendix.

I've seen them done freehand on a grinder, but you really need a gauge like Abalone said.

Most mechanics/machinists turn their noses up at the Drill Dr, but a shop-grade sharpener runs about $600 minimum, and for the average DIY type that's not practical. So I guess for the money a Drill Dr would be OK for light use.

[Cool Texan]

$75 for a drill doctor versus a couple bucks for a new bit. I dont go through 40 bits very often, so I just buy new ones. If I did remodeling projects for a living (I wish) I'd likely get the Doctor.

[Chrome Bumper]

Be careful what you wish for Cool Texan.

[jr sherwood]

After 25+ yrs. in the const. trade i ended up with a drawer full of dull bits. Didn't have very good luck trying to sharpen them with a grinder so i bought a Drill Dr. My vote goes to the Dr. I LOVE IT!!! No more dull bits! jr

[Cool Texan]

Originally posted by Chrome Bumper:
Be careful what you wish for Cool Texan.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I'd love to have more know-how to be able to make a good living fixing up houses. I'm still pretty basic...but learning all the time. Just need to learn more wood skills, drywall, etc (the big stuff).

[AuntyM]

CT,

Just be careful how much the Mrs learns. Hubby and I can do just about anything else together and not fight, but give us a few tools, and the fur flies!

Yesterdays argument was over whether or not a fence must be square to the router blade in order for a line to be routed straight in a straight board.

[Rocky]

another shout out for the drill doctor, kinda spendy but well worth it if you cant sharpen a bit (like me) on a grinder. also, I think Home Depot still sells a sharpener that can be used on bits and scissors and is quite a bit (no pun intended) cheaper than the Doctor, might have to look around some cuz last time I was in there I asked and they said "we dont carry any", next time I went, after I bought a drill doctor, I asked again, someone else...."oh yea, right over here.........."

[Cool Texan]

AM, we have a good relationship. I do most of the work, and she does the finishing touches and the small details. She is better at painting for detail and fixing my paint....but she leaves it to me to do most of the other stuff.

Best quote ever, when discussing installing a light fixture: "Honey, you do it...I dont want to get shocked". Hmmm...but its ok if I get shocked?!? [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

:grin: