I'm in the market for an industrial quality drill sharpener. I'm looking closely at a Darex V 390. It sharpens 1/8-3/4 so that would cover everything we use. We don't have a milling machine so I don't have any need to sharpen end mills.

Anyone use one of these, or have a more cost effective option? I'm all about saving a dollar, but I don't care to spend more if I get more...

Used a drill doctor many times at a former workplace, had good results but you have to know what you are doing and how to set it up properly.

What's your budget?

Order direct from drillco and teach your monkies that the bigger the bit, the slower you drill. Pilot holes and lube are your friend. I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir but I would feel guilty if I didn't say it.

I'd like to get out for $1500 or so. May not be possible.

EHH, it's a never ending training process....

I feel your pain.

I'm not real familiar with that particular model but Darex makes good sharpeners for sure. And your right Fur, half of the guys in the shop I work at can't sharpen a drill. I don't know, maybe I'm crazy to think a machinist should be able to do that. It's one of the first things I learned. That and don't take your hand off the key with it still in the (lathe) chuck. I was told in no uncertain terms that I'd be fired for that on the first offence. Good rule. Never seen it but heard the horror stories.

Do it by hand on a grinder.

I can sharpen them free hand down to about 3/8" but smaller than that is hard for me to pull off. Everybody else in the shop is good at ruining a drill bit on a grinder.

i do mine by hand

belt sander works well

I've had two. One was a Drill Doctor and another I can't remember the name neither were over $200 ea. The Doctor was best by far.

I got pretty good at sharpening them by hand and then got a drill doctor and started ruining em. Took me a while for my dyslexic ass to figure out the right angle. I really don't have much time to sharpen em anymore. I just click on McMaster Carr's website now.

You can get a Darex V390 for 1,500 or less if you shop around. They are good machines. I prefer a 12" round pedestal sander.

Used a drill point gage and belt sander for a long time. Picked up a Drill Dr at auction a few years ago. Not sure that any of of our guys do it by hand anymore.

Old man that worked for my dad taught me how to sharpen a bit on a wheel. I got pretty good at it and have used that skill on the job ever since. We only use 1/4, 3/8, and 1/2.

I still sharpen larger bits with grind stone. I started buying Mac cobalt bits years ago. They are warranted for life unless you lose them. If I break one or it gets dull, I turn it in for a new one. We do have a drill doctor for emergences.

When I was at Mueller, the rule-of-thumb we had was to re-sharpen bits over 1/4". For bits 1/4" and smaller, the labor to re-sharpen was more than the cost of a new bit.

Basically what we do too , under a 1/4 " goes in the scrap hopper.