Lamp augers

Re: Lamp augers

Bob Hackett

>If you`re drilling into endgrain I would recomend what shipbuilders use and that is what`s called a barefoot auger.It has no leadscrew so it doesn`t follow the grain.

You could always do what Dave Lancaster did and use a gun barrel drill.He had his extended to over 6 feet.The fellow that brazed on the extention made sure to keep the holes for the coolant open. Dave hooks it up to his compressor and just shoots air to it to clear the chips instead of withdrawing the drill.I`ve seen him bore thru the shaft of a hardwood floor lamp in under 5 minutes.The hole was dead center too.

Mainely,Bob

Re: Lamp augers

bill crommett

>I have used a lamp auger, but it needs a hollow tailstock such as on a Shopsmith. It does a fairly straight job, but I would advise drilling the hole first and turning the lamp/rolling pin to match the hole instead of trying to match a hole to a finished piece.

Re: Lamp augers

John Lucas

>I use a lamp Auger often. On short pieces I bore the hole through the tailstock. I have the hollow center designed for this. On long pieces I drill from both ends. I drill from the tailstock and then flip the piece and drill the other side from the tailstock.

Sharpen the auger yourself. It doesn't come sharp enough. I use diamond hones. Don't force the cut and clear it often. If you force the cut any at all it will follow the grain.

I tried everything but a gun drill on a long piece I had to drill and the lamp auger worked best.

Re: Lamp augers

Kirt

>Where can I get a gun drill?? Have never heard of such a thing-seems to me it would be fairly expensive as I can only imagine it is a specialised item.

take care,play safe

"turning to keep warm in the Canadian North"

Kirt

Re: Lamp augers

Fred L. - North Carolina

>ENCO -> www.use-enco.com

Fred

Re: Lamp augers

RevDoug

>Thanks guys. I knew you would come through.

Turn 'em round,

RevDoug

Re: Lamp augers

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I have a long 3/8" spoon bit I wonder if that would work? They have no lead screw so they drill at angles or any direction real straight.