While waiting for Hurricane Charley's windy demo, I found an old 'palimpsest' of my notes re making holes in wood. (the real reason for this post is to use that sporty word ) Anyway, I thought to offer some thoughts on making holes for beginners to consider and for others to disagree with or offer a better way.
- Drilling requires more power than boring with a 'turning cut'
- Spinning the wood against a fixed bit produces a truer hole than spinning the bit. I don't know why, maybe the set-up is stiffer.
- Consider making true long holes with other than twist drills and Forstner bits.
- D-bits and gun drills will enter and straighten a hole that began true then wandered with the grain. If you don't force.
- Consider making long holes from both ends. They will meet if both are started with a center bit in the same punches the spur & center used in roughing out.
- Usually replaced turnings between centers run truer than those replaced in a chuck.
- For making short holes in metal or very hard open grain woods, use an end mill. Ex: drilling angled holes for inserted bits.
- The accuracy and precision of reaming and lapping are rarely necessary for holes in wood. Good for us to know about, but reamers cut along their length and have no drilling point.
- Drill bits are turning tools that are usually neglected compared to the grinding, sharpening and using of gouges and chisels.
- Long bits will spring off center. Work out the spring by repeatedly running through with the same size bit. Consider drilling with a series of undersized bits and cleaning up with a final D bit.
- Wow! I better stop here and resume later. Wind is really picking up. Sorry no time to review this mess. To be continued..... Arch
Fortiter,