Looking for long drill bit source

Re: Looking for long drill bit source

papa

I've been lucky at Harbor Freight they also have a catalog

Re: Looking for long drill bit source

Barry Rockwell

You might try McMaster-Carr. They've got just about anything.

Re: Looking for long drill bit source *LINK*

Dick Coers

Here's an auger bit at Home Depot, and this twist drill set on Ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/3-Piece-Over-2-Feet-Long-Wood-Drill-Bit-Set-25-Extra-Long-1-2-in-9-16-in-5-8-/121533663244

but can't find brad point. I think you can convert the twist drill to brad point, but I've never done it.


http://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-1-2-in-x-18-in-Ship-Auger-Bit-48-13-5540/202256133

Re: Looking for long drill bit source

ben d.

The last time I needed a bit like that I went to the welding shop and had a rod welded on as long as I wanted. Now if you are trying to be absolutely accurate you may want to look else where.

ben d.

Re: Looking for long drill bit source *LINK*

Clifton C

Chuck, I've never made a D drill in 1/2 but have made 5/16 and 3/8ths and was amazed at how well they worked. As I remember, I only went 12 inches but straight as an arrow. Just another option. Maybe something to file away for another day. Has anyone else tried this?

Ok, I guess I should add this, I was drilling on the lathe, wood held/driven by chuck, D drill (held with vice grips) run thru tailstock . Can only drill about an inch before clearing swarf. But, as I said before, straight straight straight...

cc


D drill or D bit

Re: Looking for long drill bit source

john Lucas

I had to drill a 54" hole to make a lamp for a guy. I tried everything and every kind of bit. I made a D drill and purchased aircraft bits. I never got the 2 holes from both ends to meet. I ended up riving the wood, running a router bit down both halves and then gluing it back together. The customer was happy. It was a fence railing and he had plenty for me to play with. I got pretty close a couple of times with a D bit and lamp auger. They actually met but not enough to push a piece of wire through. I split the rails after failing to see how straight the holes were.

To do what I think you want to do, start drilling with a brad point or forestner to get a clean straight hole and then change to a longer bit. If your drilling a lamp drill from both ends using the shorter bit and then use the longer bit from both ends to connect. What I did to make sure both holes align was to drill one side. Then I put a pin in a board on the drill press aligned with a plumb bob. Flip the piece and place it on the pin then drill the other side. Now the 2 short holes align which makes it much easier to connect them with the long bit.

Re: Gun drills

Ron Bauer

I have used gun drills for straight long holes. These are what are used to drill gun barrels. You hold a compressed air blow gun on the end where they would use cutting fluid. This constantly evacuates the cuttings. Fed through the tail stock, slowly. Hold with a vice grip or whatever. Found on e-bay in lots of calibers. Don't know about .50 size.

Re: Gun drills

john Lucas

I bought 2 gun drills, one 24" long 3/8" in diameter. Hooked it up to my compressor to blow air through the tip to evacuate shavings. It didn't do any better than my lamp auger at drilling a straight hole through wood. I'm guessing the constant changing grain has something to do with it. You don't have that when boring metal.

I also bought a small one, 1/4" by 8". I think. It broke the first time I use it and I wasn't forcing the tool at all.

I've had my best luck drilling long straight holes with the lamp auger after I sharpened it with diamond hones better than it was from the factory. The D drill and Aircraft bits were only slightly behind. With the D drill you had to withdraw it much more frequently than the lamp auger. The Aircraft bit with compressed air worked better when you withdrew it frequently but it didn't drill any straighter than the lamp auger.

Thanks for all the the suggestions! --