For a project I am making 1/8" thick disks, 2 3/4" in diameter with a 2 1/2" hole in the center (I think this is called an annulus which is 1/4" wide). Then I drill eight 1/8" holes equally spaced around the annulus. Problem is almost every wood I have been trying splits when I drill these small holes, even with brand new bits. Any wood suggestions?
I've tried cedar, black walnut, mahogany, hickory.
Thanks,
Jim
wood that can be sliced thin and won't split on drilling
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Re: wood that can be sliced thin and won't split on drilling
Solution #2
jwfollette wrote:For a project I am making 1/8" thick disks, 2 3/4" in diameter with a 2 1/2" hole in the center (I think this is called an annulus which is 1/4" wide). Then I drill eight 1/8" holes equally spaced around the annulus. Problem is almost every wood I have been trying splits when I drill these small holes, even with brand new bits. Any wood suggestions?
I've tried cedar, black walnut, mahogany, hickory.
Thanks,
Jim
Can you do all the drilling on a larger piece, then do the slicing?
Re: wood that can be sliced thin and won't split on drilling
#3I'd certainly try Jim's suggestion. What amounts to a 1/16 wall on a 1/8" think piece of wood is about a low in strength as you can get.
If that suggestion is unworkable, maybe gluing with hot glue to a substrate could help, then heat it up to get it off (if it works).
Following on from that, if the finish of the piece is not important, you could try painting epoxy on both sides before drilling which may give it sufficient strength. Another guess, maybe painting with CA glue?
Re: wood that can be sliced thin and won't split on drilling
#4Take a piece of scrap about 1/2" thick with some strips to locate the disks to ne drilled and drill the hole pattern that you want. Now put a disk to be drilled in the fixture and put a scrap disk on top of the good disk. Now you can do the drilling. Having wood on top and on bottom of the disk to be drilled should eliminate the splitting. Drill with a brad point drill if you have one.
Re: wood that can be sliced thin and won't split on drilling
#5Thanks guys, so far so good with drilling all the holes before slicing. My son is giving me his older glowforge so I will be able to cut pieces like this much easier. Is that still woodworking or cheating?
Re: wood that can be sliced thin and won't split on drilling
#6I found another solution and they are holding together so far...I had a sheet of 1/8" hardboard that has machined and held together better, and since it's painted nobody knows the difference.
Thanks Again.