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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
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    Tasmania
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    Default HSS drill-bit sharpeners

    I have been unsuccessfully searching online for some balanced evaluation of drill-bit sharpeners that are available in Australia. I want something that does not cost the earth and that suits a handyman workshop, not a professional operation. Sharpening the standard range of bits up to at least 13mm diameter, but larger than that would be welcome. Does anyone on this list have personal knowledge that would allow them to give me such an evaluation of one or more such sharpeners? I'd be most appreciative.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
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    Melbourne
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    The drill doctor works for me ,simple to use
    I bought it some time ago I think it was about $199

  4. #3
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    Apr 2014
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    Little River
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    77
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    After many attempts at getting an easy to use and accurate drill sharpener I purchased an early model Drill Doctor that I find is very easy to use and sharpens your drills in a few seconds to as good, if not better, than new.

    It is not one of the current models but it handles drills up to 19 mm. The current models are supposed to be even easier to use.

    Not cheap but they work.

  5. #4
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    Jun 2003
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    Sunbury, Vic
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    2,713

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    Drill Doctor for me also. I bought the middle of the range. Forgotten the price but I think they have come down since.
    Tom

    "It's good enough" is low aim

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
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    4,470

  7. #6
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    Sep 2016
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    Bentleigh East
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    50
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    423

    Default

    Is it really hard to sharpen drill bits on the bench grinder by hand? (never done it)

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    Bundaberg
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    54
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    3,402

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    Quote Originally Posted by Spyro View Post
    Is it really hard to sharpen drill bits on the bench grinder by hand? (never done it)
    Really easy, providing that accuracy isn’t a desired outcome. There are thousands and thousands of people who “can” sharpen drill bits by hand and all of them will drill oversized holes. If you can live with holes between 5% and 25% bigger than what’s stamped on the shank then have a go.
    Nothing succeeds like a budgie without a beak.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Tasmania
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    Yes, it IS really hard — you have to have the angle exactly right and the tip must be dead centre.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Mt Crosby, Brisbane
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    2,548

    Default

    We were taught to do it by hand during my apprenticeship. If you do it fairly regularly it's easy enough. If you do it once in a blue moon you have to relearn, or I do. Mind I can't remember this morning...

    I have had for many years one of those drill powered sharpeners. No they do not give a professional result. They only do up to 10 mm I think. But when I'm mid job and want to give a drill a quick touch up (which can get you arrested these days) they are fast and foolproof. Aldi had them recently for about $10. I bought 2.

    The grinder jigs China linked to have been around as long as I can remember. I have not used one but considered buying one. In theory they should work perfectly. Provided you have a bench grinder....
    I'm just a startled bunny in the headlights of life. L.J. Young.
    We live in a free country. We have freedom of choice. You can choose to agree with me, or you can choose to be wrong.
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  11. #10
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    Aug 2008
    Location
    Melbourne
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    34
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spyro View Post
    Is it really hard to sharpen drill bits on the bench grinder by hand? (never done it)
    Not at all, I do it all the time. I'm not far from you, happy to come past and give you a demo.

    Technical note on the drill doctor: The grinding wheels are diamond, diamond is carbon, carbon is soluble in steel. The heat generated accelerates the absorption of carbon and your diamond grinding wheel goes blunt prematurely. I'm sure the manufacturers know this, but they get to sell more spares and make more money.

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Tasmania
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    Yeah, I have had one of those jigs China linked to, for years. It works after a fashion but is a bit sloppy and the result is not great — certainly doesn't return the tool to new quality cutting. It was frustration with the poor results from it, that led me to ask the question on this thread. The consensus seems to be the Drill Doctor. I just have to decide if I want to spend that much money (they seem to run around $250). For the amount of drilling I do, buying replacement drills would probably work out a lot cheaper…

  13. #12
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    May 2013
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    Rockhampton QLD
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    I’ve had a Drill Doctor for years and it’s worth the money after the initial price shock.

    Ross

  14. #13
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    Apr 2001
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    Perth
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    I have a Drill Doctor 500, which sharpens up to 1/2", as I recall. Had this about 6 or 7 years. Over the weekend I replaced the diamond wheel for the first time - it was still sharpening, but slowly. Now it speeds through the process, and I wound up running through about 15-20 drill bits as part of a general workshop tidy up.

    Regards from Perth

    Derek
    Visit www.inthewoodshop.com for tutorials on constructing handtools, handtool reviews, and my trials and tribulations with furniture builds.

  15. #14
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    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
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    7,696

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    Quote Originally Posted by Chief Tiff View Post
    Really easy, providing that accuracy isn’t a desired outcome. There are thousands and thousands of people who “can” sharpen drill bits by hand and all of them will drill oversized holes. If you can live with holes between 5% and 25% bigger than what’s stamped on the shank then have a go.
    That is not my experience at all. It is like all manual tasks, do it often enough and you get good at it. My Brother in Law is a tool maker and I can assure you that he can sharpen a drill as well as a drill doctor because he was trained to do it and has done literally thousands in his career.

    This a really good video, he starts from a piece of round stock and explains why a drill is sharpened the way it is.

    CHRIS

  16. #15
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    Apr 2018
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    Nsw
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    64
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    1,357

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    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Parks View Post
    That is not my experience at all. It is like all manual tasks, do it often enough and you get good at it. My Brother in Law is a tool maker and I can assure you that he can sharpen a drill as well as a drill doctor because he was trained to do it and has done literally thousands in his career.

    This a really good video, he starts from a piece of round stock and explains why a drill is sharpened the way it is.

    Thanks for that video Chris, it was good information. I was taught years ago to sharpen freehand on a grinder like he did but never been told in depth the reasoning behind it all

    In general I don’t go too bad at it but often wondered about whether a sharpening device like drill doctor would be better or more consistent result

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