Shopsmith Forums

I am afraid I am back to buying Shopsmith stuff. Eye, ye, ye... I saw one of these complete brad point bit sets in the wooden case and it was less than a quarter of the catalog price with less than 45 seconds left. So I threw out a bid. In the last 20 seconds or so, I could see the Esnipers at work but long story, short: I ended up with a bit set way way less than I every expected t pay- less than $100. I purposely didn't bid high as I didn't really want them. But be careful what you ask for...

I have to be good or I'll be in trouble as we have no room right now for me to high any Shopmith stuff until the remodeling project is done. <smile>

In the spirit of being co-operative,:rolleyes: have them sent to me and I will 'hide' them for you!:D

On Monday afternoon as I was gathering up some small stuff to move to the new shop I ran across a Shopsmith brad-point bit set that I didn't even remember owning.
I believe it has 6 bits in the remains of a soft vinyl case that has become brittle and looks like it laid in the sun for a century or two. They don't show any use and the largest bit still has the protection gunk (I forget its name) on the cutting end.
Always a few nice surprises when you start digging.


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Is there a way to sharpen brad point bits? I have a "Drill Doctor" that can sharpen traditional twist bits (within a certain size range) and I love it. But it doesn't work on any other type of bits.

heathicus wrote:Is there a way to sharpen brad point bits? I have a "Drill Doctor" that can sharpen traditional twist bits (within a certain size range) and I love it. But it doesn't work on any other type of bits.

I think so, but with limited expectations as It will be a manual effort with small abrasives. Also depends upon amount of wear and location.

Probably 'wishful' thinking most of the time. The spurs are more easily attacked, but the wear of the outer surface can be a killer. The inner cutting edges are more difficult to get to. The point less important as long as centered.

heathicus wrote:Is there a way to sharpen brad point bits? I have a "Drill Doctor" that can sharpen traditional twist bits (within a certain size range) and I love it. But it doesn't work on any other type of bits.

Our old friend Nick Engler has a technique on his web site:
http://workshopcompanion.com/KnowHow/To ... l_Bits.htm

My thanks to the Nick Engler web site link I learned how to sharpen those bits. I spent several hours with him back in 2007 and really had no idea of who he was. But I had driven from NJ to Dayton to pick up a stand-alone scroll saw for $100 or something cheap like that & shipping was gonna kill me, so I drove out to pick it up and figured I'd stop at the retail store which the seller told me was open- well it wasn't. It hadn't been for a long time, but it was more of the set Nick & Drew used for Saw Dust Sessions.

So one of the customer service ladies- probably Linda, introduced me to Nick and he spent 2-3 hours with me. When I got home I looked up his name on line and learned about his background in woodworking and old aircraft. It turned out he & I know a retired now general in the Air Force who has his own P-51 Mustang.

Anyhow, Nick spent half that time with me on the strip sander and sharpening different things. Most of all he told me where I could find the leather strop he uses at the end to really polish a blade & remove and remnant of a burr.

Some one mentioned a good book on sharpening. Well there are several others one written by Lee & another by Hock and others as well. I was just getting into woodworking and I figured it would be best if I first learned how to sharpen a blade whether it be a knife, wood chisel, planer, drill bit what ever. Nick was nice enough to demonstrate & then let me have a try. I then became a fan of the saw dust sessions with Drew's tips. It was very informative and best of all it was live and Nick showed me how to do the hammer spinning trick. Be careful because you'll probably loose the hammer & hit something. There is a trick to it. I am promised to secrecy.

So now I am picking up another 510 which I need like a hole in my head- but it is coming with an Incra TS-III, a Mark V planer, a jointer, or a lot of extras which look brand new.. I'm getting it for about the price of a new planer alone which is not bad. I will be doing my Power Pro upgrade to that headstock as it will be my newest one and I'm also changing it into a MArk 7. I bought the double tilt base upgrade with one of my 20% off coupons. I wish I had waited and then would of only paid $100 for the double tilt with the PowerPRo. I also ready have the 520 upgrade, but it's downstairs & had to get to everything- so honest guys, I had to buy another- #6, I think of my MArk Vs. I have 5 or so 10E/ERs- two of which were restored along with speed changers. My goal is to store them all and then hope to find them good homes where they will be used. I wonder how fast the the Power PRo would go with a speed increaser... No I will not find out. I have many spare parts as I started buy them up in 2007/8 when it seemed like Shopsmith's future was in jeopardy. I have bearings, new modified speed controls that will never strip, control sheaves, quadrant assemblies- all new. But everything is slated in the headstocks I will be rebuilding to better than new with double bearing quills, etc. I figured 30-40 year old bearings need to be replaced- period. I made huge way tube rust removers out of 4" PVC. It will be fun making them shine.

Looks like it was a good idea I ran water lines & a drain to my workshop as I might need to put in a toilet & live there if my wife finds out...<oh well...>

heathicus wrote:Is there a way to sharpen brad point bits? I have a "Drill Doctor" that can sharpen traditional twist bits (within a certain size range) and I love it. But it doesn't work on any other type of bits.

I sharpen mine with couple of little diamond paddles. Sharpen the back of the cutting flats, the inside of the spurs and a couple of wipes on the point. Any smaller than 3/8" gets real tough. The brad points are sharpened just like Forstner bits.