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drill doctor 500x 332 inch to 12 inch drill bit sharpener
Drill Doctor 500X 3/32-Inch to 1/2-Inch Drill Bit Sharpener
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List Price: $163.95
Our Price: $99.95
Your Save: $ 64.00 ( 39% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Tools & Hardware
Brand: Drill Doctor
EAN: 0662949036818
Feature: New simpplified alignment and sharpening procedures.
Label: Drill Doctor
Manufacturer: Drill Doctor
Model: DD500X
Publisher: Drill Doctor
Studio: Drill Doctor
Warranty: 1
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Features
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New simpplified alignment and sharpening procedures.
Sharpens 3/32" - 1/2" standard twist bits and creates split points
Sharpens high-speed steel, masonry, carbide, and TiN-coated bits
New quick change diamond sharpening wheel, no tools needed.
New variable alignment for adjusting chisel and relief angles
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Editorial Reviews:
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Drill bit sharpener that sharpens a full range of bits icluding split points and 135 degree bits used in drilling hardened materials
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent
Comment: The Drill Doctor works just fine. The people who are having problems should read and follow the instructions before complaining.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Drill Doctor 500X
Comment: Got this for Christmas (kids are finally learning to take a hint). Finally go to use it a couple of weeks ago. I had a coffee can full of dull bits. They ran the full range between 3/32 and 1/2 including the metric sizes in that range.
First tip, watch the video.
Second tip, watch the video.
This is not a hard machine to use but the success is very dependent on the technique taught in the video.
I sharpened about 56 bits in 2 hours. Some of them, especially the larger ones required 30 - 40 half turns. Some of the smaller broken bits required re-seating in the chuck 3 - 4 times. I have subsequently used several of the bits I sharpened and they work like new bits. I'm pretty sure I validated Drill Doctor's claim that this machine will pay for itself.
Edit 4 Apr 09, since my initial review I have tried the split point sharpening feature and it worked as advertised. You do have to go slow when inserting the bit holder into the Drill Doctor. The motor does bog down a bit but gets the job done. I loaned my Drill Doc to my son-in-law and he sharpened his box of dull bits. When I got it back I cannot see any significant wear on the wheel. I estimate it has sharpened in excess of 100 bits by now.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I like it
Comment: Like most other reviewers, I like it, neat gadget that works as promised. Does take a little practice and attention to what is going on for good results. But no big deal, if you can operate a powered hand saw you can do this.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Drill Doctor 500X, Most Users Don't Bother.
Comment: Although Drill Doctor claims this model is suitable for heavy duty use, it's clearly not. Plastic and die cast pot metal (more plastic than die cast). Motor didn't have power to sharpen even small bits without bogging down. Don't even try to do split tips this cheap thing will not handle it. If you're anything other than a very light home hobbiest run from this tool it's not worth it. I tried it on 3 or 4 drill bits with limited success and returned it for refund.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Spend the extra and get the 750X
Comment: I bought this machine a few months ago. I've used it to sharpen quite a few bits, 50+ ranging from HSS to masonry. I will emphasize that you MUST read the instructions thoroughly, and watch the DVD as well. It is important to know how the tool works, and why you will ruin bits if you don't follow the instructions.
To sharpen standard 118* bits couldn't be easier. This machine does an excellent job of it, and since I use most of my drill bits to drill in wood, this is the perfect angle for me. Split points can be ground on 118* bits, and I have done this with success. To sharpen masonry bits is also very easy, and the machine does an excellent job in this regard as well.
Where it gets tricky, for me anyway, is in sharpening 135* split point bits. These days nearly all bits sold are this type and it's nice to be able to recreate the same angle and split point. While I have sharpened bits of this angle with success, I haven't been able to get perfect results all the time. Proper alignment is critical. Trying to adjust the relief angle seems to make proper sharpening more difficult and I would not recommend it to someone who just got his hands on this machine. The relief angle is adjusted by putting the chuck to either side of the 118* alignment slot (the + and - increase and decrease the angle). This is to allow a more aggressive or less aggressive cut. Fiddling with this adjustment seems to throw off the split point when it is being ground as well, taking off way too much material. If too much material is removed during the split point procedure, subsequent sharpening of the bit will not yield the same angle since the alignment fingers will not hold the bit from is flutes, but from the newly ground area behind the split point. It is hard to visualize this, the mistake must be made to understand it fully.
Changing the diamond wheel is straight forward and easily done. The machine has a somewhat loud squeal when running, but it isn't too bad. I have sharpened broken bits with success, so that feature definitely works. Also, unless a bit really damaged during a botched sharpening attempt, it can most probably be sharpened to at least a 118* point again, though it will take a while and several alignment and sharpening procedures. I recommend the 100 grit wheel for when this must be done as it will take less time, and then a follow up can be done with the standard 180 grit wheel. The 750X has more features than just being able to accommodate larger bits, so in my opinion it is definitely worth it. I wish I had gotten that model instead, and I believe sharpening 135* and split points would be easier and faster. This is a quality product though, that I must say.
**EDIT 7/26/08**
After using my DD extensively during a project to sharpen a masonry bit, I noticed something that I hadn't observed earlier. When sharpening the bits according to the instructions, the machine does not put opposing angles on the tip of the bit. That is, it grinds both sides of the tip to an arrow point, and this is NOT conducive to easy drilling. In fact, I realize that I put unnecessary load on my drill using the "sharpened" bit. Perhaps experimenting with bit alignment might help, but that can just as easily ruin a bit you're trying to breath more life into.
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