Peppermill problems

[omb76]

Okay, so I thought that I would be "clever" and try and speed up the drill process on this peppermill by drilling a hole through to clear out most of the wood, then go back and use the forstner bit to finish it up. Well, not such a good idea as the forstner bit now has nothing to guide it when I try and drill it out so it wanders all over the place. Luckily I have not damaged the sides of the mill thus far, and can sand out the bottom once I figure out how to fix this. The wood is Macassar Ebony so I really hate that I chose this expensive of a wood to try this.

Can anyone give some suggestions to how I can complete this drilling so I don't waste the wood?

 

[johnnycnc]

plug the hole with a length of wooden dowel, 1-2" long.
your forstner bit will then have a solid blank to start in.
once it is beyond this plug, the flutes on the forstner and the hole it
has drilled should pilot it through for you.

 

[Super Dave]

Glue a dowel in the hole drilled so the forstner bit has a place to grab ??

Dave

 

[omb76]

Great idea guys, don't know why I didn't come up with that. Thanks for the help!

 

[Glenn McCullough]

Tha was also my suggestion, but thats what we're here for.

 

[leehljp]

The plug as mentioned above works great. An alternative method for future reference is to use forstner bits on the lathe for "turned items". I turned a couple of blanks for Starbucks hot/cold mugs and swapped the plastic outer case for wooden ones. Drilled them with forstner on the lathe. However I did do what you did - drilled the first hole with 1/2 inch and then started the Forstner. No problem when done that way on the lathe.