Anyone used drills like these?

Anyone used drills like these?

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Simpo Two

Original Poster:

85,422 posts

265 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
For large holes I have a set of flat bits, but they're a pretty rough and ready answer.

By contrast twist drills give a cleaner hole more easily because they cut rather than scrape - but has anyone used a set of mofos like these?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Metric-Sizes-Reduced-Shan...

Do they look like they'll go blunt after the first use?

Scolmore

2,722 posts

192 months

Monday 27th June 2022
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I've used similar but only in a lathe.

For timber I'd use an auger bit.

southendpier

5,261 posts

229 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
these worked well for me on a recent project:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/EXGOX-Speed-Steel-Cutter-...

ARHarh

3,757 posts

107 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
It depends what you are drilling. For Wood use a forstner bit, for sheet metal use a step drill, for metal more than 3mm they will.be fine.

Mike_k

94 posts

94 months

Monday 27th June 2022
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have used upto 19mm before but was pilot holed 10mm first

Blacksmith drill bits i think they are called

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

85,422 posts

265 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
southendpier said:
these worked well for me on a recent project:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/EXGOX-Speed-Steel-Cutter-...
Not much use for a parallel sided hole any more than a few mm deep though.

ARHarh said:
It depends what you are drilling. For Wood use a forstner bit, for sheet metal use a step drill, for metal more than 3mm they will.be fine.
Wood. I have a Forstner bit, for when holes need flat bottoms (I went through a phase of making tealight holders). But the horizontal cutters, which are basically the same as a flat bit, go blunt with disappointing rapidity.

I'm reminded of my father, who somehow bored a hole right down the middle of a 5' narwhal tusk. God knows how he did it! I still have it.

Taff107

567 posts

149 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
Wood. I have a Forstner bit, for when holes need flat bottoms (I went through a phase of making tealight holders). But the horizontal cutters, which are basically the same as a flat bit, go blunt with disappointing rapidity.

I'm reminded of my father, who somehow bored a hole right down the middle of a 5' narwhal tusk. God knows how he did it! I still have it.
A decent augur bit for drilling wood. Straight and clean....

Evoluzione

10,345 posts

243 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
It depends exactly what you're doing 'drilling wood' isn't very specific.
The bits you linked to are just normal twist bits, nothing special.
If you're having problems you've either selected the wrong tool or maybe they are blunt.

rxe

6,700 posts

103 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
Yes, blacksmith drills- their only purpose is when you need to drill a big hole that is bigger than your biggest drill chuck - in my case this is 13 mm. I used one last weekend to fit a lambda bung in a Land Rover exhaust.

Yes, getting the mag drill out with a rotabroach carbide cutter would be better, but it was in my other shed.

Slackline

411 posts

134 months

Monday 27th June 2022
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Mike_k said:
have used upto 19mm before but was pilot holed 10mm first

Blacksmith drill bits i think they are called
Yes, this is what they are called. And piloting up to the final diameter will be kinder on the drill if it only has a half inch chuck.

CubanPete

3,630 posts

188 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
I have.

They're perfectly fine!

Run slowly and watch your wrists (same as a big auger bit)

I find they're a bit less prone to snatching than an auger bit. Some of the auger bits I have also 'pull into' the wood, and can split it if you're not careful, and these are easier on that front too.

I am not an expert!


Simpo Two

Original Poster:

85,422 posts

265 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
Evoluzione said:
It depends exactly what you're doing 'drilling wood' isn't very specific.
The bits you linked to are just normal twist bits, nothing special.
If you're having problems you've either selected the wrong tool or maybe they are blunt.
Yes, they're just rather bigger than normal twist drills!

Flat bits drill holes but they scrape rather than cut and are just a bit nasty to use.

Slackline said:
And piloting up to the final diameter will be kinder on the drill if it only has a half inch chuck.
That's a fair idea, as long as losing the centre is OK. I hadn't thought of the extra load on the drill.

Maybe I'll wait until I actually need them...!

jrb43

798 posts

255 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
Simpo Two said:
I'm reminded of my father, who somehow bored a hole right down the middle of a 5' narwhal tusk. God knows how he did it! I still have it.
Gave a good anaesthetic first I imagine... wink

Simpo Two

Original Poster:

85,422 posts

265 months

Monday 27th June 2022
quotequote all
jrb43 said:
Gave a good anaesthetic first I imagine... wink
hehe He would have had some in stock - but probably not enough for a whale.

The obvious answer is to put it on a lathe and shove an auger through the headstock - but his lathe wasn't long enough for that. Maybe he found someone with a longer one!

What do other people do with their narwhal tusks?

Cold

15,247 posts

90 months

Monday 27th June 2022
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Simpo Two said:
What do other people do with their narwhal tusks?
Stab at knife wielding maniacs on London Bridge.

TimmyMallett

2,843 posts

112 months

Tuesday 28th June 2022
quotequote all
Cold said:
Stab at knife wielding maniacs on London Bridge.
laugh
Parry! Dodge! Parry! Lunge!