Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by The Capo Kid on February 17, 2014 at 6:13am

 

I use a drill guide like yours with my big Bosch hammer drill , with the hammer off of course , works a treat every time , even used on my last build to put in the 2mm side dots . less pressure on the drill bit and make sure it's well supported underneath .

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jim Woods on February 17, 2014 at 6:20am

For a clean side wall, try a brad bit or a forstner bit - pretty cheap at HF

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jantan ux on February 17, 2014 at 7:55am

Someones recommended:

If the wood is splitting / tearing up on the entry and exit of the hole, it's helpful to clamp some "sacrificial" scrap wood on top / below your working piece--the scrap wood takes the damage instead.

What kind of drill bit are you using? Spade or auger bits will just rough out the hole. They eat up the wood so you can drill the hole quick. You need the regular twist or forstner tip for smooth finish holes.

Very slow feedrate is important

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Rand Moore on February 17, 2014 at 10:12pm

Hi Jantan,

Forstner bits seem to be the best for cutting smallish holes. I use a 1 inch (25.4mm) forstner bit to cut sound holes on my sound boxes. As you mentioned, adding a sacrificial board to the underside of your work piece will help prevent breakout, so I always put another scrap board under the one I'm drilling out to prevent breakout. Preventing breakout on a sound board that is actually the lid of your cigar box is a bit tricky, but usually a block of wood wedged inside the cigar box so it doesn't move around works pretty well to back up the sound board when drilling thru it. When I drill thin pieces like sound boards, I give the drill short bursts of power so the drill doesn't come up to full speed, but still turns well enough to cut thru the wood. I just have a single speed electric hand drill (no drill press or base attachment to steady my drill).

As far as Aluminum tubing, I don't really know. The only aluminum I uses is the aluminum from aluminum meter sticks, using small pieces to build simple tail pieces. The metal seems brittle compared to say copper or brass.

Good luck...

-Rand.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Slowpaw Steve T on February 17, 2014 at 11:15pm

you need a saw drill bit, place a block of wood beneath the lid you are drilling the hole into, the bit has a built in pilot to make it easy.  you'll have to prise the ring of waste wood from the bit barrel between each cutting but it works very neatly! (-:  will all fit into a bench drill stand too.

 

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Michael Fred Johnson on February 18, 2014 at 1:58am

This type of drill will not tear the surface of the timber,

Drill through from one side until the centre point just breaks through,turn over and drill from the underside

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Jantan ux on February 18, 2014 at 8:17am

I have 14mm twist drill like in picture. I know that this is best. I also know that forstner bits are very good.

Forstner bits problem is price and where to get it in estonia. Too new in estonia.

• ▶ Reply