Metal drill - sharpening / sharpeners

[ukjules]

I have some HSS metal drills i need to sharpen.
I could buy new of course but i seem to be hell bent on seeing if these can be sharpened.

Can anyone recommend a "cheapish" drill sharpener ? they have bought and used ?

[steveb922]

I bought a used Plasplugs tool from E-Bay for about £15 - sharpens HSS drill bits, masonry bits, scissors, knives etc. Can't remember the model number but it had a picture of Tommy Walsh on the front - now ditched. It's not a high quality professional tool, but it's done me OK for about three years.

[ukjules]

like this ?

Like this ? £24

plasplugs tommy walsh.jpg

[Nessism]

I posted a thread about this a year or so ago. Most people said those pencil sharpener type bit sharpeners don't work well. Better than nothing I suppose though.

In the past I've used one of these along with my bench grinder and it worked well. Getting everything all set up takes careful consideration though. I'm going to break mine back out since I've got a huge pile of bits that need a touch up. It's kind of fun but not if you are pressed for time.

[ukjules]

I think your setup there is way beyond what I have or will have.
I take your advice on the pencil sharpener type ones.

I do however think the one in my pic and used by the other chap
Is similar in workings to yours albeit cheaply made.
It sorts the angle out etc .

I am convinced it will do for what I need.

I was drilling holes for the new front chrome mudguard for my bike and
Some of the drills were blunt. It is on perfectly now but it was
Made harder by these blunt drills.

I too would almost enjoy sharpening my drill stock .
I will report on how the device I buy works and update thread.

[Burque73]

I use a belt sander with a worn out belt, like 100 grit for both paddle bit and twist bit sharpening. If a portable angle grinder is handy that works as well. It takes some practice to get the angle right but my bits and chisels usually get a quick touch on the belt once or twice a week.
The edge wont last quite as long but it has worked well for me.

[tom203]

A setup like Nessism shows works well. Trick is to get both flutes even. Then thinning the web. Start with bigger drills, as it's easier to get the technique down

[dorkburger]

I found this neat thing in my father's garage. I've yet to use it.

[wymple]

I use the old Drill Doctor. Slower than hell on bigger bits, but they come out good. I use it on 1/2 inch or smaller bits. Larger than that I take my chances at the grinding wheel, and often make things worse.

[ukjules]

As the drill bits are cheap but have worked ok I have done the following:

-Put drill in vice with a grinding stone in it. It is a cylindrical flat one so i can judge the angle.
-Set it running
-By eye sharpened the two edges on the blunt drill bits. Very lightly
rotated it away at the right angle. (As per a youtube post)

I am yet to test them but just wanted to know - can it be done.
I will test them soon in anger.

And some money saved if it works for the chain and sprockets for next year ......

[marvinsc]

I worked with a busy tool and die shop at a large factory for a lot of years. We had a Drill Dr. but only a couple of guys who were any good with it. It got to the point that dull drills were pitched in a box until one of those guys had a free day.

[dorkburger]

My father could put a mean edge on just about any drill bit using a bench grinder.

[AMK]

Sharpening a drill by hand with a bench grinder and Dorkburger's dad's tool is easy with practice.
There is alot on you tube showing how it's done.
I prefer sharpening by hand but I do have one of Nessism's tool and it is awesome as well.
I've never been impressed with the Drill Doctor. It's like the V stones in my fishing knife sheath.

[Grimly]

I've always done them by hand and eye. Sometimes it can be fun, finding a new angle that cuts like gangbusters, quite unexpectedly.