Drill bits

[rumblecloud]

Ok, what do you do with them when they get dull?

Just going thru a recent battle drilling out the end of a pinch bolt that I had to cut the head off. I must've gone thru six different bits because they dulled so fast. I'm not talking about cheap ass bits. 15 to 18 bucks a piece. Some I had but three were brand spanking new.

But my question is what do I do with them now? Can they be resharpened? Drill Doctor?
And I have coffe can full of older bits that virtually useless. I know I'm not alone.

So what do you do with yours?

 

[duffy]

I bought a Drill Doctor when they first came out and every so often (once every couple of years) I get tired of dull bits and break it out.

 

[CrabGuy]

I have had good luck with my Drill Doctor 750X but seem to have better results on my older black oxide machinist grade bits than the common titanium coated bit sets so common today. Those will sharpen OK but seem more speed sensitive as to how long they stay sharpened. The older original Drill Doctor was terrible and mine was tossed.

 

[Roert42]

I sharpen them on a bench grinder.

I do a lot of drilling through stainless at work, that dulls them out pretty fast, so I got decent at it. Look at a new drill bit, then use the grinder to reshape the edge to look like a new drill bit. The nice thing about doing it by hand is you can put different angles on the bit depending on what kind of material you need to drill. A steeper angle is good for harder materials because it bites less, a wide angle can be nice for aluminum because you will remove more material faster.

We have a drill doctor at the shop, but I could never get it to actually sharpen the dill bits. Puts a nice straight edge on it, look good, but not actually sharp.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I bought an old black and decker sharpner from the restore last summer...paid 5 bucks and put it to work. Saved me a fourtune over buying new bits

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

You tube....
And a bench grinder.

 

[rumblecloud]

I sharpen them on a bench grinder.

I didn't even think of this. DUH!
I have two grinders. yea!!

 

[Shran]

I sharpen everything bigger than 1/4" or so on an angle grinder with a flap wheel. Sometimes I use the bench grinder first for big bits that are really trashed, then hit them with the flap wheel. That usually gets them nice and sharp. Smaller bits are usually cheap enough to throw away although I do try on occasion.

I have a drill doctor but I haven't used it in years. Not sure why but it would get certain bits perfect and totally ruin others so I quit using it.

 

[rumblecloud]

Well then...if anyone's looking for me, I'll be in the barn for the next week sharpening drill pits and getting anal putting all the sets back together

 

[Curious Hound]

I tried a drill Dr once, over 20 years ago. Results weren't great. I do big bits on the bench grinder and replace small bits.

 

[DILLARD000]

...tried a drill Dr once, over 20 years ago. Results weren't great
...do big bits on the bench grinder and replace small bits.

Same here, threw DrillDr in the trash after a few tries & choice words.
BenchGrinder & a little patience.

 

[Roert42]

Yeah, those small bits are a giant pita to sharpen. Just toss them away.

 

[scotts90ranger]

drill doctor relies on the spiral cut being at the same angle, so bits with a different angle will sharpen differently, that's why it's a pain...

I have a mini bench grinder I usually at home, the 3" harbor freight deal with the flex wand, it's gutless unless fully wound up but it does a good job on some things...

 

[PetroleumJunkie412]

Well then...if anyone's looking for me, I'll be in the barn for the next week getting anal

Everything you say will be misquoted and used against you.

 

[RumPunch]

Mac drill bits warranty if chipped. Gets past 2 sharpenings vice, hammer, exchange