Shop Talk 22: Lisle Drill Grinder

I get many requests to show my drill grinder, so this is it. I have a Lisle model 91000 drill bit grinder. This unit is no longer made, but it sure is a good one to have. I sharpens drills from 1/8" up to 1 1/4". Once you learn how to properly set the drill, it's pretty simple to use. if done correctly, it will make a grind as good as any factory made grind.
Older video of drill bit grinding: • Shop Talk With Adam: D...
Want to support the channel? / abom79

[@nelsnielson]

We have this drill grinder in our shop. It had been sitting for years. Watching this video helped bring it back to life. Saving time and money. Much appreciated!

[@123Shel12]

Good video! One thing that fascinates me when I watch your videos is the realization of how massive, strong and well built your shop machinery is while at the same time being capable of incredibly precise adjustment. I respect people who can operate a CNC machine, but I admire machinists like yourself who can use your shop tools so skillfully.

[@bcbloc02]

The grind does look factory but the proof is always in how it cuts. :-)

[@TrustNotta]

I think it’s really cool your still running the family business. It’s obvious you have a ton of pride for what you do. It’s a shame places of business like yours are fast disappearing around the country. From one small business owner/operator to another...Good on ya buddy.

[@robertevans6481]

You would make a great instructor, for those that would want to learn. Thanks for sharing this...

[@castnetman]

That is a fantastic story. You have a way with you that makes us feel like a part of the family. We probably all have stories like that if we paid attention to our elders, mentors, teachers and yes our dads.

[@patricksullivan9951]

Hi Adam, you know we have the same unit in our shop, but nobody knows how to use it, except ME!!! I found the diamond dressing tool, it was buried in the bottom of a cabinet. Now to sharpen every bit I own, then the shops bits!!! Good timing on the video, many thanks!!!

[@mdvener]

what can I say. AvE told me about your channel. so glad I started watching. always checking for new videos of yours. you are the man. the way you explain everything, how and what makes your machines work, does n don'ts. you are a family guy, no BS, but I find myself so involved. always great content. my way of saying thanks. I have always wondered how things were made. Don't give away that magic wand, cause you make it look like magic. just years of learning n taking a lot of pride in everything you do.

[@douglassmith2055]

Thank you for another great video. The guys who put the Lisle grinder together did a great job. There are many drill sharpening designs, this one seems very straight forward and easy once you get used to it. Precision Drill grinders, are EXPENSIVE and hard to find used. This model would be great project for someone to do a remake of.

[@tuscanland]

Hey Adam, it's so good to hear stories of your father and you in the shop, I wish you all the best.

[@hyperluminalreality1]

He told that story the last time he made a vid about the Lisle drill grinder. I remember it. Cool pops he had.

[@davidflower3396]

Super helpful video! If anyone wants to buy one of these Lisle sharpeners and cannot find one on ebay, just get on the phone and start calling machine shops - find a shop where the only guy who knew how to use the Lisle retired 5 years ago and no one has used the thing since....that is how I got mine!

[@pwpia5461]

Adam...about 4 months ago I saw your first one you did on the grinder. I have one of these and never had the time to dig it out. After watching you...and learning how to set it up...I then dug it out... ordered some small parts from Lisle. (parts are getting down there now) There is one guy still left there, that is the long time expert. I told him about you and he was smiling thru the phone. Things like the Drill Dr. hurt this product...mainly cost...but I know of no one who has bought 2 DD's. You inspired me to take the time ...clean it up and JUST used it. This KZbin will be the "how to use it" forever...thank you for doing this...and of course....everything else!!

[@MegaLostOne]

I started off with a "General brand" style that uses the side of a bench grinder wheel and it works decent and I purchased one of the old school Black and Decker sharpeners for the small bits and it also does a decent job. I was lucky enough to get a Lisle 91000 off of flee bay that the previous owner hadn't used very much and it still pretty much looked like new and all I can say is they do a fantastic job on sharpening bits and they come out just like a factory bit.

[@andydelarue9344]

Who's a lucky boy, don't we all want a grand dad like yours. Thanks for showing.

[@Drottninggatan2017]

A grind dad.

[@literoadie3502]

Those crisp margins look great after the grind! It's always satisfying to see drill grinding.

[@davidfraser4830]

one thing never changes. There is always a right tool for every job. Thanks Adam

[@shannonstebbens6992]

I too loved the story that went along with the original video. This presentation finally made me understand what you are doing with the set up though.

[@MrJugsstein]

Ha Adam that was a great smile as you spoke you your Dad and Grandad. The whole video would have been worth it just for that.

[@SmallMartingale]

Holy shit, 175k!!! You're really doing something special over here, Adam. Thanks for opening up your shop for us like you do!

[@TheDisorderly1]

I'm not sure how you're doing it Adam but you're videos look amazing. The quality is fantastic.

[@terrycannon570]

I've seen the older video also Adam but never miss a chance to watch this specialized content. I worked at a shop about 45 years ago and my job was to drill holes in super sized I beams for bridges. Our bits were big enuff they had holes in them for coolant to pass thru. We had a bit sharpening machine similar to yours but only our foreman knew how to use it. If you had a bit that needed sharpening he would sharpen it for you. Those are the jobs that need dedicated people doing. Too easy to scrap a wheel or a bit if you are not careful and also you get consistency among the tools. Thanks again for taking the time to show us how to do it right.

[@Badgermatt-nc5nr]

I remember the original video on this grinder, and I remember the story about how you got it. I love hearing the stories, it really makes me feel like I'm just a buddy sitting around in your shop with you shooting the bull having fun. Thank you sir!

[@ArcticBlues1]

I have never used any drill grinder. When I was in skool, they made me learn to grind by hand. Prolly took me 2 years to get decent at it and I still am not all that good at it. Your's looks like the best one I have ever seen!

[@mikebailey3614]

Love the story about the grinder. those are the things that really bring flavor to life.

[@drubradley8821]

DANG!!!!! Now I want one of those now too!!!!... Ebay, Here I come...

[@Bluswede]

Product placement!...Adam sits in front of the phone number of the family shop. Absolutely no complaints from me!

[@eldeedee43]

Thanks for sharing Adam. Great tool story.

[@buildmotion1426]

Well ain’t that something!!! I have this exact grinder in my shop. Never quite new how to tune it for a proper grind. I’ll give it another try. Thanks for the video Adam!

[@TTR_SLD]

I appreciate the story as well Adam, thanks for sharing!

[@jenniferwhitewolf3784]

Well engineered tool. Too bad they quit making it.. this video alone would have been good for several sales. Thanks for showing the details..

[@memybikeni9931]

I loved the back story to this about acquiring the machine. Excellent vid mate.

[@63256325N]

What a great tool! Perfect every time. Thanks for sharing the knowledge.

[@vimeel4420]

The Drill Grinder is really well designed, fascinating! Perfect work!

[@w056007568]

What a great tool and it can cope with a massive range of drill sizes! Excellent video too Adam, thanks.

[@johnstrange6799]

Goes right on the list of things I sure wish I had. Thanks for the mid week video. :)

[@donaldlittle1489]

Love the video, and the extra time spent on a single piece of equipment. Dude, you really look like you've lost weight!

[@German_MDS]

Pretty neat machine. I always peek at it when it was seating on the end of the bench. Thanks for sharing Adam!

[@GrumsPlace]

That is a beautiful piece of machinery for keeping bits sharp and your explanation of setting it up works for me, understood all of it and I don't even do machining,

[@jmwarden1]

Adam, after watching your first video on the Lisle drill grinder, I was able to find one about 100 miles from me and went and picked it. It was in great shape and I have sharpened quite a few drill bits with. It does an amazing job on so many different size drill bits. Thanks for the videos and please keep them coming.

[@spencertoolandgrind]

Thank you Adam. Just bought one at the Model Engineering Expo, yesterday at the Yack arena. Wyandotte Mi. Your reaching all over the states. Can’t wait to sharpen a few drills. Thank you again for the simple in sight.

[@tacitus101010]

Excellent instructional video! You explained that really well.

[@Nullpersona]

Thanks for the tips! After watching this, it occurs that these different job segments could be used as elements of a machining curriculum, especially if organized into various playlists by tool, procedure, and purpose. There would be a lot of overlap, since this would at least be on a grinder playlist, and a drill bit refurbishing playlist. The consistent quality and tone are professional and personal, at the same time. A friendly virtual shop teacher for future generations.

[@rosswaring2835]

Hey Adam. A very nicely presented video. It’s so nice to hear you recount stories of your Dad and Grandad.

[@bxmachine]

Another very informative video, thanks Adam.

[@GrussimoGarage]

What a nice grinder... Indeed factory looking grind.

[@jefferdman5921]

Enjoyed your memories of your Father- Nice tool, looked like it did a great job!

[@surq0784]

This was a great video and the fact that you showed the chips from using the tool afterward at the end was the icing on the cake! Very great video to share!

[@billlee5307]

Thanks Adam, as always I enjoy being "in" your shop. I have a TDR/SRD drill grinder. Like the Lisle, it takes some learning but does a good job. It looks as if your Lisle is a heftier machine and should have a long useful life.

[@binderstem31]

Great video. I just acquired one of these. This will come in handy around the shop. A am awful at grinding drill bits by hand. Mine is missing the wheel dresser and the adjustable V block. Thanks again Adam .

[@ericcommarato7727]

I have the same model. Lisle no longer makes them. Thanks for posting!

[@34k5]

I`m so glad after years of looking I finally got one of these. Was not missing anything but the little drill flute stop was bent and ground down, so I was able to order a replacement. They do not have many parts left. I also spent about an hour making a new diamond dresser holder, and taking about 3/32 off the wheel to remove a few small chips. Great machine!

[@aussiebloke609]

That is such a nice tool to have around. I was taught to grind them by hand (many years ago now) and you wouldn't believe how many I ground down to a nub because I kept getting one side not quite right and having to redo it. Again. And again. This is so much better! :-)

[@AnthonyJanflone]

Fantastic tool! This is the second one I've ever seen!

[@jeffryblackmon4846]

The best part is both flutes are ground the same. Nice!

[@johnreese3943]

I have the same model grinder. I thought is was the most inconvenient grinder made. Thanks to your video I now understand how to use it more effectively. Keep up the good work.

[@speedbuggy16v]

Awesome, gramps or dad did good, now I have to find me one, I can do them by hand but that's going to be a lot more accurate than my eyeball! Thanks for the video!

[@johnwarkentinnikiskialaska8364]

Very interesting video Adam thanks for sharing

[@scottmarshall6766]

A lot of the drill sharpeners I've seen took more time to set up than it is worth. I once worked at shop where we had a very expensive drill grinding machine that would so all sorts of wild stuff like SDS drills and quad points, but it took so long to set up, most of the guys would just hand sharpen on the simple wet grinder that sat next to it. It was worth it if you saved up a bunch of small (harder to hand grind) bits and ran them all at once, but it wasn't worth spending the time for a touch up on drills >1/4", unless you needed them perfect for something. one of the big faults was it needed to be set up for a specific size (Or very close) or the relief angle would be off, so it needed resetting for nearly each drill. Your machine seems to have hit the balance between forgiving, fast setup and accurate angles. I see why you like it so much - in addition to the sentimental value. Dad's and granddad's tools are special, even if they were nothing special when new. It looks like it could be reproduced with a little clever machine work, some welding and and a used grinder. Even so, it could be simplified even more if one were to build a machine dedicated to 2 flute twist drills. Maybe enough to make it from a couple blocks of stock for the holder, and a micrometer feed from of a donor machine (auction or cheap chinese ). You would think someone would have acquired the design and be selling them, as is so common these days. Thanks for the closer look at a fine machine. Another line on the "to build someday" list..... (The ABOM stamp of approval pretty well kills any chance of picking up one on ebay for 100 bucks)

[@petermoale2116]

Adam, great job in explaining the set up portion on the drill holder attachment. I have the exact model, and by reading the (so called) instructions, was VERY confused on the set up portion. Thanks for taking the time to explain.

[@superdupergrover9857]

i work at an auto parts store, and Lisle makes great stuff. it is expensive, except for ignition testers, but nearly all i've seen have been made in America. you can tell their stuff is better than imports just by looking at it. they make a lot of specialty tools for handling certain problems that come up in fixing cars.

[@waxore1142]

I'd give my left testicle to learn from you and ToT. My dad was an old tool and die maker for Lockheed back in the day. He passed before i had the opportunity to learn anything from him.

[@carolinaprepper540]

This is my kind of video ! Thanks brother !

[@patrickshaw7983]

Does a good job. I remember way back having to grind 2" drills by hand using a protractor for the angle and a rule for the length of the cutting edge. Watch the swarf coming off and adjust if necessary!!

[@Rubbernecker]

Nice, I have wondered for some time how you grind drill bits. Thanks for sharing!

[@zeab47]

I used a drill grinder in the early 60s when i was a young apprentice, one of my early jobs was keeping the drills in readiness for the turret lathe production line.

[@shawnmrfixitlee6478]

AWESOME TOOL ! great share Adam .. THUMBS UP MAN..

[@BruceBoschek]

A completely different league than my Drill Doctor! lol Beautiful machine and sharpening job. Thanks for the excellent explanation.

[@mikeoswald2000]

I have that exact grinder. Thanks for sharing how you use yours. I learned some things that will help me with mine. I liked your comment about sticking the drill out far enough that you don't grind the stop. Yes, I goofed and ground the stop a bit. Thanks again.

[@hiteck007]

Wanna sell it?? yet

[@poozandweeez]

nice grinder, we had a derex grinder at a former employer of mine, was an awesome machine, used to run on cams, you could grind almost anything, i even made extra long spotting drills from drill rod for those once in amillion year jobs that would come through, nice kit, Adam

[@ke6bnl]

I just picked up the drill mounting parts for the sharpener but did not get the motor portion. I needed this to see how it works may have to mount it to a reg ular grinder unless I can get the motor base assembly. THANKS MUCH FOR THE IN DEPTH VIDEO. ps see you at the BASH

[@AG4QH1]

Very cool video Adam. We had a drill bit sharpener at a shop i worked at some years back that would do about a 1/2" dia. max. The bigger dia. I would hand sharpen them. Thanks for the video. Dave

[@Mrgreendragon3]

thanks adam love your videos man

[@BlackEpyon]

I picked up a used chain-saw sharpener. The guy had just moved into the strata (I'm the landscaper) and didn't need it any more. Looks like a chop grinder for cutting metal stock, only instead of a table it has a jig for holding the chain with angle adjustments and a release to advance to the next tooth. When you use something frequently (pruning season), it helps to have something on hand that can sharpen it quickly and accurately.

[@MrJugsstein]

Very nice tutorial Adam.

[@dvobgo92]

you're such a good guy bro. much love

[@bobbyw9046]

Looks like a really high quality sole purposed machine! Over the years I've tried all kinds of machines and jigs including a few different models of Drill Doctors. None worked worth a damned! About two years ago I dedicated an entire Sunday afternoon to teaching myself to hand grind 118º drill bits perfectly on my 6" Grinder by hand only. It took me a while but now I can grind them perfectly by hand with just the use of a Starrett drill gauge. It literally takes me minutes and they work great! No more machines for me but I will say that the Lisle looks like a really great one!

[@2024bear]

awesome grind ........... impressive

[@grntitan1]

It sure did a nice job on that drill bit that's for darn sure.

[@jimboknife7272]

Super clean grind

[@renebourbeau1671]

I need me on of those, very cool.

[@brosselot1]

Man that is what I need. Very cool thanks for sharing

[@mr.toliver2717]

What a awesome video keep up the good work man👍👏👏☝️🥇

[@randomdude1786]

natural born storyteller. entertained and I now know how a lisle sharpener goes, pretty cool.

[@hughedavid1]

My Dad had an old Lisle Valve grinder that used when he was doing mechanic work long before I came along. However we always hand ground our drill bits so I never had the pleaser of using something like that.

[@Huskiedrive361]

Another great video! Thanks Adam.

[@beachcomberbob3496]

Thanks for sharing, Adam. It's given me the encouragement to dig out my old sharpening jig that was consigned to the bottom of the 'useless gadgets' box years ago. Mine bolts to the bench next to the grinder, and uses the side of the wheel, but works exactly like yours does mechanically.

[@johnsawyer2516]

Beachcomber Bob yes I have one that sounds the same. It a real buggger to set up but once done it works fine for most jobs. I still prefer to hand grind keeps the old skills alive.

[@beachcomberbob3496]

Me too. I can hand grind faster that the time it takes to set that gizmo up - hence it being in the discarded gadget box. I suppose if I had a dedicated area to set it up permanently, I might get to use it more often. In my micro workshop, everything has to be set up and put away (except the lathe and mill) to make space on the bench.

[@lucwybo]

Very nice drill grinder and it looks also very easy to used. I has maked also a video for PP-U3 toolgrinder, and it was not so easy to find out how it works but as soon as the first drill was grinded it works very good. This grinder is a copy of the Deckel SO grinder. You video's are very good but the dimensions are outstanding for the hobbiest but the working methods are very usefull. Thanks for that.

[@ypaulbrown]

Adam, Great tutorial......thanks....now to find a 91000 to buy....cheers, Paul

[@MrToddtimmons]

What a beauty,now get back to the G&E

[@denniss5512]

Hey buddy, Getting awfully spoiled with these mid week videos! What a great grinder. Man thats a pretty edge, so much better than the Doctors best thats for sure. Looking forward to this weekends uploads. This weeks pass down to my guys is "Adam says always double check your work and break the edges". It's catching on and improving what they do.

[@Abom79]

Great to hear you passing on the helpful tips Dennis!

[@lencost1]

Hi Adam! In recent video a friend of yours mentioned your Dad. I enjoyed that little glimpse of your Dad. I would like to see more of your friends and family talk about him.

[@johnlockhart2674]

We in our shop had a Oliver Drill Sharpener that we used mostly me , it was a good bit easier to use than the one you have , it did a very good job on the drills , but it went from about 1/2 “ up to 3” twist drills and it did take up more space than yours , hopefully we will get another one ! We lost it in a flood.

[@Stikker021]

Damn, looks good. I'll be there shortly with all my iffy drill bits. :D

[@hammer1212]

So glad you made this video! Mine is missing the dressing fixture.

[@ronringel9132]

Your BEST video to date... thanks for sharing . Best regards.

[@rodneywroten2994]

one great bit grinder Adam

[@mertonsilliker3686]

Beautiful job

[@MF175mp]

I have a universal tool and cutter grinder but no drill grinding attachment for it so i think i'm going to make something like that for it. Or if I could find a jig like that to fit in a collet on my universal workhead it would be fine. Thanks Adam for showing these up

[@robinregner3702]

I always like to see you using these great german WERA screwdrivers:)

[@larrychamberlain2871]

Nice job,thanks Adam

[@webopi]

Hello Adam, thank you for this great video. Maybe i have new ideas for more Shoptalks. 1: Cleaning and lubrication for the machines. 2: Adjusting way and gibs. 3: Cutter: When did i use a 2-Fluter, 3-Fluter, 4-Fluter and so on. When did i need a carbide cutter. I always like to look all of your videos and learn much about turning and milling. Thank you so much Mike from Germany