ERIN LAW PHOTOGRAPHY FOR FAMILY HANDYMAN

As a professional woodworker, I’d much rather use my tools than sharpen them, but I know dull or broken bits are unavoidable. I’ve had a toolbox filled with old drill bits, so it was past time to do something about it. That’s where the Drill Doctor—a sharpening system for all types of drill bits—comes in.

A lot goes into sharpening bits, especially if you’re freehand sharpening. The chisel point must be perfectly centered, and you must have a proper downward angle away from the cutting edge. Thinking about everything required for the perfect setup, it’s amazing you can even sharpen one. The Drill Doctor takes away the guessing game as their system centers the chisel point of the drill and sets up the cutting edge just right. All you have to do is set the bit and rotate to get consistent results every time.

Wondering if the Drill Doctor drill bit sharpener is right for you? Todd Osgood, creator and tool reviewer for Project Farm, says, “The Drill Doctor 750X is simple to use and sharpens drill bits quickly and precisely. It can even convert standard point drill bits into split point bits, allowing for an even more efficient drill bit. It’s by far the best drill bit sharpener that I’ve found in its price range.”

Here is how the Drill Doctor 750X measured up after I tested the tool using a range of bits, angles and materials.

What is the Drill Doctor?

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The Drill Doctor is a professional drill bit sharpening system designed to bring dull or broken bits back to life. The machine easily extends the life of twist bits and masonry bits and improves drilling performance. The chuck can accommodate a 3/4-inch bit and includes long jaws for optimum grip of even the smallest bits from 3/32 inches, which is a lifesaver for when my old eyes can’t see that small.

There are two ports for sharpening, one for standard sharpening and one to sharpen or create split point bits. Holding the drill bit securely using an angle guide, the diamond grinding wheel removes work material, making the sharpening process quick and straightforward. It creates an impressive range of angles from 115 to 140 degrees, with markings for standard sizes of 118 and 135 degrees. It sharpens carbide, cobalt, high-speed steel, black oxide and titanium-coated bits. You’ll realize your return on investment sooner if you’re using cobalt bits that are more expensive to replace. At 7.5 pounds, this machine is portable and compact, taking up little workspace—something a serious craftsman can appreciate.

The Drill Doctor is ideal for home workshops and serious DIYers. They have the sharpening power needed to quickly restore dull or broken drill bits.

Drill Doctor Features

Broken bits are no problem with the Drill Doctor. You can re-point them, easily bringing them back to life. This unit doesn’t sharpen spade or brad point bits, having given that up to be able to sharpen split point bits. If you use a lot of split point bits, you know how quickly they can dull, so this may be the sharpener for you. I was worried about over-splitting the bit point, but this unit has a “push to stop” port, preventing this from happening.

The diamond sharpening wheel is easy to access with a clear window on the bottom. According to the manufacturer’s website, plan for around 100 sharpenings per wheel before you’re due for a replacement. I practiced replacing the wheel with the hub wrench that came in the box and found it quick and easy, with a couple of turns of the hub wheel. However, the sharpening wheel is held by a reverse threaded screw, so remember, left is right and right is wrong. There is no slot or magnetic holder for storing the wrench.

Furthermore, the Drill Doctor drill bit sharpener comes with a three-year warranty that protects against defects due to workmanship or design, abrasives excluded.

How I Tested It

Sharpening drill bits freehand using a bench grinder is like unleashing a tsunami in a teacup. It takes an extremely light touch as well as a bit of good luck to work out. I was skeptical that this compact sharpener could compete with a bench grinder in terms of power. I was pleasantly surprised at the simplicity and accuracy of the three-step, error-proof sharpening process.

Freehand Sharpening

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To start, I chose the bit angle (the standard is 118 or 135 degrees). I then moved from one port to another, aligning the drill bit, adjusting the bit position, and then sharpening the bit. A couple of cams and a swivel move the drill bit precisely through the foolproof sharpening process. To sharpen, line up the white line on the chuck with the cam guide, then, with a light touch, rotate one-half turn and repeate the plunge action until you don’t hear the grinding noise.

After you’re done and the bit is sharpened, there’s access on the far side to add split points on your bits. This can prevent “walking” on the material before beginning a cut. It can also eliminate the need to center-punch a hole. This process was simple as the bit was already in the chuck after sharpening. I just removed the grit tube, pressed the chuck slowly into the split port one half-turn and then repeated.

There’s a slight learning curve at first, but once you get past that it’s like a sharpening assembly line. I read the manual but highly recommend taking time to watch the instructional videos on the manufacturer’s website. Once you get the feel for it (it took me about 15 minutes), you will get amazing results.

First Try

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For my first try, I used some cheap bits that I didn’t mind ruining. I failed to adjust the bit position correctly, which is an important step to proper alignment. The bit clamp arms should be holding the bit at its thinnest part (the flutes). To correct this, I turned the bit slightly until the clamp arms fell into the flutes.

The Drill Doctor took about two minutes to sharpen a 118-degree 13/64 split point drill bit from start to finish using the default material removal setting. I’m sure adjusting the material removal could have done it faster—certainly a far better result than trudging to the hardware store for a new drill bit set and better than the hit-or-miss method of my free-hand sharpening attempts.

After I got a couple of bits under my belt, I went from dull to sharp in about two minutes with accurate and consistent results. Using a marker on the top of the drill bit, I could see where the Drill Doctor had gone to work. It removed all the markings, and the cutting edge looked sharp and ready for action.

Pros

• Can create or sharpen split point bits
• “Push to stop” design to prevent over-splitting drill points
• Operation is smooth, low vibration
• Once past the initial learning curve, the three-step process (choose angle, align, sharpen) is accurate and straightforward
• Impressive range of angles from 115 to 140 degrees
• Large enough to accept bits up to 3/4 inch

Cons

• Doesn’t sharpen brad point or spade bits
• Not as versatile as the Drill Doctor X2, which can sharpen knives, scissors, and drill bits

FAQ

Can you sharpen masonry bits on a Drill Doctor?

Masonry bits typically have a carbide or similar hardened tip designed for drilling into materials like concrete, brick or stone. The hardness of these materials means that they can be sharpened on the Drill Doctor but instead of making rotations in the sharpening port, you sharpen by using a plunging action. Insert the chuck to sharpen one side, remove it, and then repeat on the other side.

Can Drill Doctor sharpen carbide?

The 180-grit diamond grinding wheel can sharpen bits made out of carbide. It can also sharpen carbon steel, high-speed steel, cobalt, TiN-coated and masonry drill bits.

What Other Reviewers Had to Say

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The Drill Doctor 750x has earned nearly 2,700 five-star ratings on Amazon alone. Here’s what real-life users are saying about it:

Five-star reviewer, Cindy S., says the Drill Doctor is user-friendly and works great. “We sharpened at least 20 drill bits the first night, took one of the worst and cheapest drill bits, and it’s like brand new now.”

“I certainly recommend the DD750X to anyone who wants cleaner sharpening, a simpler sharpening process or who wants to remove any human error from splitting a point using more traditional methods,” says Rakesh Aladeen, who gave the Drill Doctor five stars for the quick learning curve and quality sharpening.

Verified purchaser, KC says, “I liked the versatility of the 750X and couldn’t be happier. I sharpened at least 100 bits the first day I got it! It was pretty pricey but to me, it’s worth every penny.”

Drill Doctor vs. Tormek

The more affordable Drill Doctor specifically sharpens drill bits. It doesn’t offer the versatility of sharpening other types of tools. The Tormek sharpening system sharpens a variety of tools, including knives, chisels and scissors. It’s known for using a water-cooled sharping method, which prevents overheating of the tools. The Tormek is more expensive with a steeper learning curve due to the variety of jigs and accessories that go with the sharpening system.

Guy Lautard, author of The Machinist’s Bedside Reader, has a Tormek wet wheel grinding machine but not the Tormek Drill Sharpening attachment, which is quite expensive. Guy explains, “I would prefer the Drill Doctor over the Tormek drill sharpening attachment, due to its significantly lower price and the fact that it is a self-contained device that would be easily taken outside for use, which is what I’d prefer to do, rather than using it inside my shop.”

If your primary need is to sharpen drill bits, the Drill Doctor may be a more cost-effective and straightforward solution. However, if you have a variety of tools to sharpen and are willing to invest in a more versatile system, the Tormek would be a good choice.

Final Verdict

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The Drill Doctor hit it out of the park! It has saved me money in drill bits, the hassle of going to the store for replacements, and time saved on the job from always having a sharp drill bit. The split-point bit feature makes a big difference in cutting speed, too. I’ve sharpened tools with a bench grinder and learned about sharpness, angles and relief. The results of the Drill Doctor have been more accurate and consistent.

Sharpening by hand doesn’t always equal perfection, given the complex angles involved. If I had Superman’s focus and hands, I’d use a bench grinder, but the Drill Doctor is the next best thing. The compact design sold me and has a permanent spot in my shop, so I’m always ready to sharpen a dull bit. Clean, maintain and store it easily.

Where to Buy the Drill Doctor

Increased versatility and precision control provide the added durability needed to sharpen a full range of dull or broken bits.

Find the Drill Doctor drill bit sharpener on Amazon, Acme Tools, Lowe’s or Northern Tool for between $150 and $175. I certainly recommend the 750X to anyone who wants cleaner sharpening, a simpler process or the removal of any human error from using more traditional methods.