Red Palm???

[MDWine]

OK you 'red palm' blank turners...

Is it just me, or is red palm difficult to drill... with a 33/64" bit? Yeah, I know it is a big bit, and I was drilling very slowly, very carefully... but it cracked right in half, the length of the blank, when I got to the end... boo hoo for me...

Maybe I picked the wrong wood for a Churchill?

Now, don't let my proclivity for blowing out blanks influence your response, and no darts from the NoVa Peanut Gallery [)]
(Yeah, like that's going to keep them off' me! )

 

[jthompson1995]

I had the same problems when drilling difficult materials, especially palm and Inlace Acrylester. I found the blank would crack as the drill bit exited the bottom of the blank. Now I use a method I hear about from Rich Kleinhenz and I haven't had a failure when drilling since. I cut the blank about 1/4" long and then drill almost all the way through, but not out the other end. Then you trim at the saw of your choice to get a blank drilled through without cracks. I also keep the thin little strips I trim off to use as accents or oops bands.

 

[kent4Him]

Red Palm, Black Palm. There is a high chance of cracking, chipping, exploding, you name it. I've had a few stablized with a little success.

 

[ilikewood]

Jason is correct here. The breakage usually happens at the last 1/4" before the drill bit exits. The method he described is your best bet.

Palm is pretty tough to turn, but the results are worth it.

 

[heineda]

Hello,

I too had the same problem. Red Palm is barely held together bunch of fibers, and if you can drill it, it will almost certainly explode while turning. How to fix? Drill a small hole using the method Jason described, then soak them for 2 or 3 days in a mixture of 1/2 water, and 1/2 yellow wood glue. This will stabilize the blamk, and allow you to work with it.

Good Luck,
Dan

 

[JimGo]

Huh, I didn't know you made pens! Next time try drilling at least one pilot hole first. Jason's technique works, too.

 

[carverken]

Yes he does make pens. [|)] He just has a few too many other irons in the fire[] He makes very nice ones.

 

[Penmonkey]

I blew a nice blank last night too. Don't feel so bad.[]

 

[stevers]

Few days ago, I blew an acrylic about off the tube. Almost half the material flew away. Live and learn.

 

[mdburn_em]

Having blown up MORE than my share of blanks, I remedied the situation by purchasing one of Pauls vises. I think I got a no-blank-blow-up warranty with that, didn't I? [}] Ok, so maybe not, but I believe it will help. It appears that as the bit exits the wood the larger flute(?) grabs the wood and yanks it up the shaft. When it does this, a large object is going through a smaller hole and something has to give. That's going to be the wood. (That's my story and I'm stickin' to it.)
If you completely immobilize the wood blank so it can't jerk up, you'll probably be ok. Or you can just cut the last 1/4" off. []

 

[MDWine]

Thanks everyone, for your replies... even Jim! []

I tried to glue the blank back together with CA, just to turn it and see how it would go, but both blanks blew up. So, I turned it down to the tubes and will start again. I've already drilled the blanks using the "leave some wood at the bottom" method. Now I'm struggling with making adapters for the barrel trimmer. These are some HUGE tubes! Geesh!

Yes Jim, I do make pens ... sometimes... I'm just... uh... meticulous! YEAH! That's the ticket!! []
((...and thanks Ken!! Jim, I acutally cut,drilled,glued,turned AND finished a keychain kit last weekend! WooHoo!!))
I wouldn't mind those blow-ups too much Steve, except that they are frequently LOUD! ... scarey!

 

[Pikebite]

It is also worth wrapping some blanks with tape or string before drilling. Sounds weird but it does help to stop them blowing out when drilling.

 

[Rifleman1776]

My solution for the various problems associated with drilling/turning palm is to give it away. []

 

[bob393]

Thanks: I have some black palm to turn and I didn't expect to have those troubles!

 

[MDWine]

Well, I'm going to try the palm again, on a somewhat smaller kit... I hate to have a blank beat me altogether! Perhaps a baron... I'll keep ya posted!

 

[alamocdc]

Michael, with Palm I always stabilize. Even if it means stabilizing with CA as I go, but prestabilization tends to work much better. I've had good luck w/plexi/acetone, but recently sent some to River Ridge. I haven't had a chance to turn them yet, but it looks promising. Oh, and the drilling long and then trimming method works great.