12
votes
Can I hammer 25.4mm x 300mm oak dowels into a 25mm hole?
On a small scale wood is highly compressible, so the basic answer here is yes. As a joke goes, you might just need a bigger hammer ^_^
Is that normal?
Yes it's quite normal for shop-bought dowel to ...
- 67.3k
11
votes
Are very thin drill bits actually safe?
I was looking for a thin 2mm drill bit. When I asked a manufacturer why their thinnest drill bit was 3mm, they said because drill bits are fragile if you make them too thin.
To me 2mm isn't actually ...
- 67.3k
10
votes
Accepted
Drilling very small holes in softwoods
Is there some fool-proof, simple and most importantly reliable way accurately drill very small holes 0.5 - 2mm (1/50" - 1/16") in softwood with hard grain lines?
Unfortunately, not really.
...
- 67.3k
9
votes
countersinking screws
A countersink is a feature of a hole. The corresponding feature of a screw is a taper under the head. This taper appears on flat head and also oval head screws. So in Lowe's or Home Depot you would ...
- 2,199
7
votes
How to cool hole saw
The problem with hole saws is that there is no way to eject the waste. If the waste sawdust is properly dealt with the saw will not heat up to the point of scorching.
In a normal twist bit the waste ...
- 5,530
7
votes
Accepted
How to use a very large Forstner-style bit
Not to be overly picky but I think it's important to point out that this is not a Forstner bit, no matter how it's named by the manufacturer. It's clearly derived from them of course, but all the key ...
- 67.3k
6
votes
Accepted
Is it a problem if my countersink bit is slightly larger than it needs to be?
It's perfectly fine and common practice to use a countersink bit that is bigger than the taper you make with it, regulating the taper diameter by how deep you go.
A vertical wall above the taper is ...
- 2,199
6
votes
How do you drill concentric holes of different diameters on a drill press?
Forstner bits have a small point on the end which leaves a slight indentation in the wood in the center of the hole. Use this to align your drill bits after changing them. But, to do this, you'll have ...
- 2,622
6
votes
Accepted
How to cool hole saw
This was mentioned in SaSSafraS1232's answer, but it works so well that I think it deserves an answer all on its own.
If you're using a hole saw and planning on cutting all the way through the work ...
- 2,772
6
votes
Recommendations for securing a high torque drill with a larger bit
It sounds like you're running your bit too slowly. Spade bits are pretty sensitive to low speeds. A faster speed (and less feed pressure) will result in less material being removed with each pass. ...
- 5,530
6
votes
Drilling very small holes in softwoods
Is there some fool-proof, simple and most importantly reliable way accurately drill very small holes 0.5 - 2mm (1/50" - 1/16") in softwood with hard grain lines?
Nothing is foolproof, but ...
- 9,588
5
votes
countersinking screws
GRK makes what they call a "self-countersinking" screw. Above the screw threads there are some "cutters" that widen the hole and allow for the screw to be set flush with the surface without having to ...
- 8,054
5
votes
Is there still a place for "hand drills" in a modern woodshop?
Hand drills most definitely have a place. They are
cheaper
quieter
more controllable
handier
safer
and don't require electricity ( Handy if you have a large property or work out on site)
They ...
- 51
5
votes
Why are keyed drill chucks still available for modern tools?
As far as the historical side of the question, the two have been in concurrent use for a very long time. Arthur Irving Jacobs invented the keyed drill chuck in 1902 but bit braces and drills were ...
- 623
5
votes
Accepted
How do I fix chuck wobble in my drill press?
If you have a dial-indicator to check alignment, you can often fix it with a couple of well placed smacks, or worst case - popping the chuck out and re-sitting it to fix the alignment issues.
I had ...
- 1,055
5
votes
Aligning entry and exit side of drawbores
If you're having trouble eyeballing square or plumb as you drill when working solo (so you can't take advantage of a second pair of eyes), which is something I'm convinced most people have trouble ...
- 67.3k
5
votes
Accepted
Are drill guides supposed to be zero-clearance?
This could be a manufacturing issue (not necessarily the one you're thinking of, more on that below) or it could be entirely within specs.
With metal bushings the fit must be loose enough you don't ...
- 67.3k
4
votes
How to make a 3/4" flat bottomed hole?
I have used forstner bits where the the center spurs are removable for (presumably) just this sort of job.
See
http://www.finewoodworking.com/tool-guide/product-finder/mlcs-forstner-bits.aspx
and
...
- 1,055
4
votes
Is it a problem if my countersink bit is slightly larger than it needs to be?
It's actually standard practice to use a countersink bit that's larger than the countersink depression you will make in the wood, precisely because you don't want that little vertical side wall1 ...
- 67.3k
4
votes
Accepted
How do you drill concentric holes of different diameters on a drill press?
You can drill the smaller through-hole first, then use a counterbore tool. The end of the counterbore will use the through-hole as a guide and will cut a flat-bottomed hole of a larger size exactly ...
- 166
4
votes
Drilling through 3/4" MDF?
Drill a pilot hole for your Forstner bits before drilling the main hole.
The problem here is that MDF isn't nearly as compressible as wood. If you look at the center of a Forstner bit you'll see ...
- 5,530
4
votes
How to accurately drill into end grain of a 20 inch table leg
I'm going to suggest two very different methodologies, both of which won't require the purchase of any new bits or any awkward changes to the setup of your drill press (although the first suggestion ...
- 67.3k
4
votes
How to remove a 25mm drill bit stuck in oak sleeper
It seems that your pieces of wood have shifted somewhat since you started drilling.
If you can eyeball the 3 pieces to see which one(s) seem out of line, use one or more clamps to persuade the wayward ...
- 6,785
4
votes
Are very thin drill bits actually safe?
Most US drill indexes go down to 1/16" (1.5875mm). It is best to keep the RPM's high and the feed speed low with those and smaller bits. The use of a drill press is highly recommended. Most ...
- 8,054
4
votes
Accepted
How to prevent tearout when drilling surface at an angle?
Sometimes you just can't prevent all surface tearing when drilling directly into wood. Sharp bits do help — and by sharp I mean sharp, sharp enough you want to handle the bit with care because you ...
- 67.3k
4
votes
Accepted
When should I use a tapered drill bit vs straight drill bit for countersinking wood screws?
As I mention in my Comment above, there are no clear reasons to prefer one type over the other for varied materials, except possibly whether you commonly use straight or tapered screws.
So if you ...
- 67.3k
4
votes
Using tape to thicken shank of the endmill/rotary bit/drill
That sounds like a good way to get yourself seriously hurt. There is no way Tape can handle the forces generated nor the heat from spinning at 32000 rpm. There is a reason they are steel shanks. ...
- 16.1k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible