Professional Tool Mfg.  Professional Tool Mfg. : Drill Bit Sharpener

Ideally, I would like to have gotten a professional bit sharpening system, but most start at the $1,000 level and go up rapidly in price. I figured I'd give something in the $100 range a try instead to see if could at least keep my bits in decent shape. For the most part, this machine has done just that. 

What I liked:

The machine is pretty easy to use, and the basic idea of aligning the bit and sharpening it with a rotating cam action is the same as much more expensive systems use. I like the alignment system because it goes off of the flute lower down on  the bit opposed to the very tip. If you have a bit with a damaged tip, you're aligning off a better portion of the bit. I tried out the tip splitting feature on the Drill Doctor just yesterday, and I liked the results. 

What I didn't like:

While it's a good, economy system of sharpening bits, I still think the fit and build of some components could be better. The alignment arms could be made a little heavier with more precision in their operation. Also the fit of the bit holder in the sharpening port could be a little better to prevent the noticeable wobble going on while sharpening. Cuts are usually good and even, but frequently the relief angle is off, and needs to be redone. 

All and all, I think it's a okay machine for it's price. I'm going to stick to using this for wood working bits opposed to bits I use for machining purposes. 

I Recide overseas in India I recently purchased Drill Doctor 500X and Paid quite a bit on shipping and custom duty and to my suprise I found it had wrong voltage, sears should warn overseas customer regarding difference in voltage or provide correct voltage equipment, even after using (220 to 110)stepdown voltage adaptor the machine blew the inline motor protector and is unusable, also sears will not supply the spare grinding wheel as it says cannot be shipped overseas, this is ridiculous as machine can be shipped bur spare wheel,can`t be shipped overseas, sears should seroiuly look into this matter, its of great concern to international buyers,

I had four sets of drill bits, all were so dull that I couldn't drill through any metal (they just scored the surface). This bit sharpener not only sharpened all the bits, but it allowed me to change the angle on some, so they were much better at drilling throught metal. This sharpener will save me a bunch of money, since drill bits haven't gotten cheaper over the years. BTW, if you happen to break a drill bit, when using it, don't throw it away, this machine will sharpen it, making it as good as new (it'll just be a little shorter). Need self-centering drill bits, this machine does that too.

I used this product to show it off during Demo Days in my Sears store. I retrieved several drill bits from the maintenance shop and had customers watch as I filed the cutting edge of the bit. I then tried to drill into a soft 2x4 and it just wouldn't do it. I would then take the bit out and put it into the Drill Doctor (very easy process) and after about 5 passes it had a brand new edge. I put it back into the drill and hit that same 2x4 and it was like brand new. This machine I used for Demo lasted 8 hours each weekend for about 4 months being used continuously the whole 8 hours, and never even sounded like it struggled. When we were done with the demo we had probably sharpened about 4000 bits, then we sold it off as used. The guy that bought it still comes in, and always talks about how great it is. The savings you can return from your investment of this tool is incredible, the small bits don't break as easily if they are sharp, and the large ones are expensive so resharpening can save you a load of money.

 I use drill bits that cost $5 each to drill through steel plate.  On average, i got 25 holes to the bit.  After that, the bit was too dull to drill paper.  I had nearly 50 drill bits in a box, about 6 months of work....I sharpened them all back to better than new edge.  Thats  $250  in renewed resources.  It doesnt take a genius to figure out that savings!  Now, I shop at pawn shops for old, dull bits and buy them by the pound.  I go into my shop and watch TV while I sharpen the old bits back to life.

     I really love neat gadgets that actually do "everything" they say they will.  My only suggestion, buy the biggest, most expensive model they have.  that machine will make you money if you let it.  I got one not long ago, and resharpen 1/2" dia. x 12" long bits for some old machinist friends....Ive made more in "tips" than what the machine cost me.  try it.

A good little machine for the money, plus it's made in the USA !! Easy to use but you do have to be careful when lining up the narrowest part of the flutes with the Bit Clamp Arms, or you will not grind enough clearance behind the cutting edges. You can also index the collet in the Alignment Guide to help relieve this problem. The diamond wheel life is not great, but plated wheel life never is if you can't run them wet. If you need a drill sharpener for the home workshop this will do the job.

I have bought most of the drill bit sharpening gadgets that have come on the market over forty years. Only one of them worked well. That was a simple thing that you put the bit in an roll it over a sheet of emery cloth. Works great, for large bits. The problem is, I mostly use bits between 1/4 and 1/16. I can sharpen the large bits by hand on a grind wheel. I need something to sharpen small bits. Well, the Drill Doctor does it. This thing really works. So far I have used it on bits down to 3/32. The enclosed instructions say that's the smallest it goes, but I'm betting it will go lower. This is a great product. I have hundreds of old dull bits in several cigar boxes. I will probably never have to buy a bit again. Except for the tiny ones, and they cost almost nothing anyway.

Incredible tool, must have in every shop. I use to think that drill bits were disposable only. Not only has it paid for itself in bit savings, I now feel safer knowing that I have a sharper line of tools.