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OT--Sometimes the simple things work best

J

Jiles

Well-known Member
I am a 67 year old retired Tool&Die Maker. Years ago, I could sharpen a 1/16" drill bit that would cut close to a new one. I did this free handed and without eye glasses or magnification.
Today, with my poor eyesight and shaking hands, I can barely sharpen a 3/8" bit.
This problem started several years ago, and I bought the top of the line Drill Doctor. I could not get it to sharpen my smaller bits but it did a somewhat acceptable job on larger bits.
I know that many of you have had great results with the Drill Doctor and that is great--it just wouldn't work for me.
A few days ago, I bought a General model number 825 Drill Grinding Attachment for the great sum of $14.98!
After a little practice, and experimentation, I can sharpen a 1/16 bit that cuts like new!
Strange thing is, it says the 1/8" is the smallest that can be sharpened!
I don't think these things are made today, so I plan to buy another as a backup.
I am sure many of you have tried this type sharpener, as well as the Drill Doctor, with mixed opinions.
I am thrilled that I can now sharpen a drill bit with this "cheap" machine!
 
I know what you mean about the small drill bits. I can sharpen the larger ones fairly good, not perfect, but they will cut. Stan
 
You are doing better than me then. I have been told many times how to sharpen them by hand but I can't. Bought a Drill Dr. years ago but haven't taken it out of the box yet. I probably have about twenty pounds of dull bits that need sharpened. I just buy the Harbor Freight fourty dollar set when I run out of bits.
 
I apprenticed under a retired navy master machinist. the longest drill bit in his toolbox was about 3" long. if we needed a deeper hole, we used mine, but only after he touched them up. that man could sharpen a drill bit. he used the whole thing.
 
1967 I came home from overseas, started college, and got my first machine shop job. Old machinist showed me how to use a drill gauge, bought from Sears for about two bucks. Still have it, still use it. Never bought a drill dr or other guide. In one Ag Engr class we made a similar gauge. Haven"t seen one is Sears for decades. Yesterday I bought a new one inch dia drill- my 40 year old one has been sharpened so many times, there is only an inch of it left!
 
Ive had a General drill sharpener since 1970.Its still made today but costs about 30.00.Theres an import copy that costs about 16.00.Before that I used a simpler version that cost 3.50.Drill Doctor has a lot of fans but the General does good work for far less money.You need a drill gauge to keep the point centered.Still cant understand why anyone can go thru life without knowing how to sharpen a drill.
 
I have an almost new Drill Doctor sitting on the shelf unused. Went back to hand sharpening after giving it a couple of less than successful tries. My hand sharpened bits don't have that nice consistent machine sharpened look but they cut nonetheless. Jim
 
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