How to use a drill doctor | & the 3 different models

Table of contents

What is a Drill Doctor used for?
Benefits of using a Drill Doctor
Differences between Drill Doctor models
What metal types of drill bits can a Drill Doctor sharpen?
How to use a Drill Doctor 350x?
How to use a Drill Doctor 500x?
How to use a Drill Doctor 750x?
Other ways to sharpen drill bits
How to maintain your Drill Doctor?
Dos and don’ts when using a Drill Doctor
Are there any safety concerns when using a Drill Doctor?
Time to sharpen!

6 min read and study time

Last updated on May 31, 2024 9:29 am

What is a Drill Doctor used for?

According to Aaron Barnett of BangingToolbox: The Drill Doctor is a drill bit sharpening system owned by Professional Tool Manufacturing LLC. This system revolutionized drill bit sharpening for everyone and can restore even the dullest of drill bits back to near-perfect conditions.

The Drill Doctor is most efficient at sharpening a drill bit’s original point angle and easily does so with high-speed steel (HSS), carbide, and even cobalt steel.

Benefits of using a Drill Doctor

The system lets you to work with various different sizes and types of drill bits.
Fine-tune adjustment and point angle selection [1].
Multiple options and settings for better bit sharpening while being easy to use.
The machine-powered operation produces more consistent sharpening results.
Trivializes tedious manual sharpening of multiple drill bits.

Important parts of a Drill Doctor you should know

The chuck

A drill doctor’s chuck is a specialized clamp for holding bits with radial symmetry, especially those that are cylindrical in shape.

Chucks like what’s in the Drill Doctor is a common mechanism in rotating tools and can either be two or three-jawed depending on the model.

You can sharpen left-hand drill bits with a dedicated Drill Doctor Left-handed bit, chuck.

Alignment port

The Drill Doctor’s carefully constructed alignment port produces geometrically accurate drill bits.

Since most bits have either 118° or 135° point angles, this mechanism sets the bit position in order to get the most precise results.

Sharpening port

The bread and butter of the system. The sharpening port is what accepts the drill bits and houses the sharpening wheel.

Dotted with a cam guide, the sharpening port is responsible for ensuring that your bits are not sharpened skewly.

Splitting port

Part of the system that helps you tackle split points. Split-point drill bits lift away debris more easily and drill holes faster with lower chances of snagging.

The splitting port lets you easily work on drill bit splits in just a few quick turns of the chuck.

Differences between Drill Doctor models

The Drill Doctor sharpening system is comprised of a line of tools, but among the most notable ones are the top three:

DD350X

The 350X is the entry-model unit and is the best choice to familiarize yourself with the system for a new DIY’er.

With a price-friendly tag, it’s an excellent option when first learning the ropes of DIY. Small yet sturdy, this tool is a drill doctor with a chuck to sharpen up to 3/4 bits.

It doesn’t have an alignment port, so it works in a pretty straightforward manner, especially for bits with 118° point angles.

It comes with an industrial-grade diamond sharpening wheel, making it more than enough for light shop and home use.

DD500X

The mid-tier of the Drill Doctor line. More capable and versatile than the 350X, the 500X is better suited for serious DIYers and hobbyists, as well as budding professionals.

It can handle up to ½” standard bits but takes on more material including HSS and black oxide steel.

It features a longer chuck for more precision and stability as well as the addition of a 135° point angle position and an alignment port.

DD750X

The 750X is Drill Doctor’s top-line model. It combines the abilities of the previous two models and cranks it up further.

Working at record speeds, this tool sharpens standard twist and masonry bits up to ¾”. It offers custom point angle sharpening from 115 – 140°.

With adjustable material take-off, push-to-stop functionality, and the addition of a splitting port, the 750X is your all-in-one when it comes to precision, superior quality drill bit sharpening.

To add, despite being a premium tool, its price is still quite manageable.

Can a Drill Doctor sharpen masonry bits?

As far as I’m aware, no a Drill Doctor cannot be used to sharpen masonry bits. Masonry drill bits have a producing front tooth that doesn’t actually need sharpening. Masonry drill bits operate with a hammering function rather than by cutting.

What metal types of drill bits can a Drill Doctor sharpen?

HSS. HSS is primarily for drilling wood, PVC, and similar types of soft materials. Standard bits are easily handled by any Drill Doctor model.
Cobalt. Extremely hard bits that easily dissipate heat. Drill bits perfect for boring tough materials like aluminum and stainless steel. Only handled by higher-end Drill Doctors.
Carbide. Carbide drill bits retain their sharpness much longer than most others. Masonry bits such as these are handled by select Drill Doctor models.

How to use a Drill Doctor 350x?

These are the step-by-step procedures on how to sharpen drill bits with a Drill Doctor 350x:

Insert the bit into the chuck.
Slightly tighten the chuck by rotating the knob clockwise.
Set the bit depth. Only fully tighten the chuck at this point. Align the white triangle on the chuck with the cam guide.
With the chuck against the cam guide, insert it in the sharpening port until it fits into place.
Turn on the Drill Doctor and push the chuck into the sharpening port, slowly turning it until the bit is sharpened.

How to use a Drill Doctor 500x?

The basic operation of the 500X works in pretty much the same way as the 350X, only that there’s the addition of point angle selection through an alignment port.

With the bit loosely fit in the chuck, insert it into the alignment port.
Press the alignment button down to open the bit clam arms, then insert either of the chuck’s alignment guides until it meets the 118° notch.
Slide the drill bit in until it hits the drill stop.
Adjust the bit position by slightly turning the bit until it falls into the flutes.
Sharpen normally.

How to use a Drill Doctor 750x?

The 750X is basically a vamped-up version of the 500X. It contains all the same attributes and further improves upon them, along with the addition of adjustable material take-off and a higher range of point angle sharpening.

The first two guides showed us how to place, align, and sharpen bits respectively. So now, here’s a quick flow of how to use a drill doctor drill bit sharpener 750x:

Insert the bit into the chuck.
Insert the chuck into the alignment port, clamp down on the flutes.
Select the point angle.
Now insert the chuck into the sharpening port.
Turn on and sharpen.

Note: material take-off helps you to select whether you wish to remove more or less from the tip. And if you want to know how to sharpen left-hand drill bits with a drill doctor, use a left-handed drill bit chuck instead of the regular chuck.

Other ways to sharpen drill bits

When it comes to cost-efficiency, nothing beats a dedicated drill bit sharpener.

The Drill Doctor is simple and effective with an acceptable price tag.

If you’re looking for something less or more, then consider these other options:

Industrial grade drill bit power sharpener the Darex V-390 for more rigorous and demanding sharpening tasks.
A multi-purpose bit sharpener that can sharpen other types of edges, the XtremepowerUS Multipurpose Power Drill Bit Sharpener.
Use jigs and power tools such as bench grinders as outlined in our guide.

How to maintain your Drill Doctor?

Now that you know how to use a Drill Doctor 750 and other models maintenance is relatively easy. It mainly involves periodic cleaning and replacement [2] of the diamond cutting wheel.

After sharpening about 25 drill bits, material dust will accumulate in the grinding compartment which can cause wear on the sharpening port. Unplug the tool and open the wheel access.

With the cover down, gently shake the dust particles off and into a disposable container, then just brush away any that was left behind. Use compressed air or a brush to clean the chuck. Consider replacing the grinding wheel after about 200 sharpenings.

Dos and don’ts when using a Drill Doctor

Dos

Do always align before sharpening as it helps maintain the accurate geometry of drill bits.
Do always ensure that the chuck is fully tightened before sharpening.
Do keep in mind what kind of drill bit you’re working on (not all bits respond well to the same kind of handling).

Don’ts

Don’t sharpen based on eye observation and instinct. Use the tool’s guides and alignment options even if you’re already a tool veteran. This ensures accuracy and quality results.
Don’t sharpen with a loose drill bit as results might be off.

Are there any safety concerns when using a Drill Doctor?

Luckily, using a Drill Doctor is pretty safe. There are no exposed gears of blades that could cause injury. To maintain relative peace, just keep in mind the following:

Always make sure that the chuck is properly aligned and tightened before actually sharpening to avoid misaligned jams and accidents. The sudden backlash from the grinding wheel may cause a bit to suddenly fly off at dangerous speeds if not secured.
Work slowly and precisely, avoiding too much pressure and haste to reduce the risk of damage and accidents.
Mind the cord, as it’s often not too long.

Time to sharpen!

You really can’t compromise the health of your drill bit and a well-invested cordless drill.

When we’re sick, we see a doctor. The same could be said about drill bits – once they’ve grown weary and dull, it’s time they got a visit from a Drill Doctor.

Sharpening bits can be easy and quick even if done manually, but if it’s speed and quality you’re after, nothing beats an electric drill bit sharpener.

The Drill Doctor is a great tool that offers all the qualities you would want when it comes to sharpening and prolonging the life of your expensive drill bits.

Don’t wait any longer, get your bit prescription now!