Drilling Blanks?

[kkwall]

Hi All,

Is there an alternative to investing in a bench or pillar drill? I can buy a fairly in-expensive one, but it only has a drilling depth of 50mm, which is not ideal.


I try to drill by hand, but the accuracy is very poor. I would like to mount to my lathe, but not sure what sort of set up I need?


I would appreciate any suggestions that you may have.


Thanks!

 

[jcollazo]

There was a recent discussion about this very subject. You can find it here:
http://www.penturners.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=15286

About halfway down there is another link by Fangar showing his setup for drilling on the lathe.
Hope this helps.

Joe

 

[wudwrkr]

I used my lathe for drilling for the first time this weekend. I had some longer blanks to drill and it worked out great! I highly recommend it!

 

[huntersilver]

My sense is you can find a bench top drill press for very
little money, especially used. When I am driling very heat sensitive
woods I need the stability of a drill press, especially if I am
using water to control the heat.

 

[Dario]

Originally posted by huntersilver
<br />My sense is you can find a bench top drill press for very
little money, especially used. When I am driling very <b>heat sensitive woods </b>I need the stability of a drill press, <b>especially if I am using water to control the heat.</b>

Are you serious? [:0]

 

[huntersilver]

Yes, especially the Snakewood from Darrick, slow pressing and
using a wire brush dipped in water every few seconds and applied to the drill bit and hole. Unfortunately, after one of those $10 blanks
blew, I realized I had to try something differnt[:0]

 

[Dario]

Water while drilling wood is a bad recipe!!!

Not sure where you got that technique but it is a BAD one and will almost guaranteed to increase your chances of a blowout several folds.

 

[huntersilver]

From what I have experienced, the water is almost immediately
evaporated, but my sense is that keeps the blank cooler.

I have not lost a snakewood blank since. Mind you I use this method very rarely.

 

[Blind_Squirrel]

Originally posted by huntersilver
<br />From what I have experienced, the water is almost immediately
evaporated, but my sense is that keeps the blank cooler.

I have not lost a snakewood blank since. Mind you I use this method very rarely.

How hot are you getting these blanks to make water "almost immediately evaporate"?!? [:0] Sounds like you need to sharpen your bit!

 

[kkwall]

Thanks Everyone,


I have looked at the photo from Fangar's link, but unfortunately, I have a very small lathe, which is a Black and decker drill, mounted to a PIRAHNA lathe kit. Sounds very poor quality, but it turns wood a treat, and is very stable, and the alignment is very good.

That said, I havn't tried it on pen blanks yet, and am about to start!

Due to the chuck size, I would need to work out some sort of attachment for the blanks to be mounted on the tail stock , and the drill bit mounted in the chuck!

Need to see if there is an easy way to mount the blank!


Thanks Again, for the feedback/advise,

 

[loglugger]

Pen State Industries has a drill guide that works with a hand drill.
#PK-DGMULTI milti sizedrill guide $15.95
Don’t have any experience with how it works or if it does.
Bob

 

[Dario]

Originally posted by loglugger
<br />Pen State Industries has a drill guide that works with a hand drill.
#PK-DGMULTI milti sizedrill guide $15.95
Don’t have any experience with how it works or if it does.
Bob

IMHO it is not worth buying this...unless you want/need more dust collectors in the shop []

 

[Ligget]

I have a floor standing pillar drill with a over 3 inches of travel which I love, a lot of bench pillar drills in the UK dont have enough travel to drill pen blanks.
Need a jig or vice to hold work steady too.

 

[kkwall]

Hi Ligget,


Yes, I have found that to be the case, maximum drop on some chucks is only 50mm!


I am looking for a suitable bench press, as this appears to be the best option.

 

[loglugger]

Dario have you ever heard of a broom and dust pan, it is not like you have a lot of dust when drilling and chips are easy to sweep up. IMHO.
Bob

 

[Dario]

Originally posted by loglugger
<br />Dario have you ever heard of a broom and dust pan, it is not like you have a lot of dust when drilling and chips are easy to sweep up. IMHO.
Bob

LOL...I think you missed the joke.

"Dust collector" as something that is there collecting dust but not being used. []

 

[kkwall]

<br />Hi All,


I have found a solution of sorts!

I managed to put together a bit of a homemade clamp for holding the blanks on the lathe, and taking them to the drill bit in the chuck.


It works very well, and I can get an accurate hole through a blank without the doubt or worry of trying to do it free hand.



It is a short term solution, but I am pretty pleased with myself for the design and development of this little piece of kit!


Please see attached some photo's.

<br />

<br />

 

[Dario]

Impressive!

Now if you can only raise or lower that jig...you will have better centering capability. [^]

 

[kkwall]

Hi Dario,


Hadn't gone as far as to think of movement within the jig for various blank sizes,,,,,doh!!!!


Will have a think on this one! Perhaps I will make Jig model 2????

 

[loglugger]

Yes Dario I missed that, Sorry. I was hoping someone would chime in that has used it so we would know if it worked or not. I read where people ask about a tool and a lot of answers, some good and some bad from people that have never had that tool in there hand and there for never used it, so I find it very hard for the person that asked about a tool to make a decision basted on answers of that sort. Just a pet peeve that I am trying to get along with. It might be a dust catcher especially after you get a drill press but it might be just the thing until you do.
Kenny that is a very good idea and a nice job of carrying it out. Just have all blanks the same size and you will have it made.
Bob