A quick question

[Escudo]

What ho fellas,

I have made a handle to repair an old favourite garden tool and also a handle for a screwdriver with some success.

The tricky bit seems to be drilling the hole in the middle of the handle to accept the tool. I can't help thinking that I should be able to do this on the lathe?

The other alternative would be to drill the hole in the blank before forming the handle?

What do you think?

Cheers, Tony.

 

[Woodmagnet]

Either way works Tony. :wink:

 

[Bodrighy]

If you are holding the handle in a chuck you can drill into it with a spindle or bowl gouge. Alternatively you can get a jacobs chuck (drill type chuck on a morse tenon) that fits into the tail stock and you wind it into the spindle whilst it is running. Best done prior to turning to shape to ensure that the hole runs down the centre of the spindle.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mark Hancock]

Tony

The usual way is to drill the hole first before turning. This way the hole is concentric to the turned handle. Have the drill in the headstock and the blank held up against a live centre and wind the blank onto the drill. Then mount the blank with the live centre in the drilled hole and turn to the desired shape.

 

[Bodrighy]

Tony

The usual way is to drill the hole first before turning. This way the hole is concentric to the turned handle. Have the drill in the headstock and the blank held up against a live centre and wind the blank onto the drill. Then mount the blank with the live centre in the drilled hole and turn to the desired shape.

Hi Mark,

I was given to understand you do it the way I suggested with the drill in the tailstock. Could you explain why you suggest the other way around. Perhaps I have been doing it wrongly all this time You are more likely to know what you are doing than me :lol:

Pete

 

[PowerTool]

I drill with Jacobs chuck in the tailstock as well,Pete - so would be nice to hear Marks ideas.(always open to education :wink: )
Andrew

 

[lurker]

Having used the jacobs chuck method & buggered up :roll: :lol:

I drill a hole - lightly drive in a 6 " nail or other suitable steel & then hold this in the Engineering jaws of my Versa chuck. I can remove & refit as many times as I please ( need to do this when fitting brass collar) & it still runs true.

 

[thomvic]

I was given to understand you do it the way I suggested with the drill in the tailstock. Could you explain why you suggest the other way around. Perhaps I have been doing it wrongly all this time You are more likely to know what you are doing than me

Me too. I look froward to the word of experience.

Richard

 

[jpt]

I am not Mark but I do it the same way.

Find the centre at both ends and mark with a bradall.

locate the centre of one end of the wood on the tail centre and slowly wind the tailstock out and start drilling, drill for about an inch then wind out and clear the swarf then repeat until required depth is reached.

When turning locate the hole over a live tailstock centre and the drive in the centre hole at the other end.

The main reason I do it this way is that Its more accurate than holding the wood in a chuck and trying to get it perfectlly lined horizontal so the hole is straight.

Since adopting this method I have not had one hole go off centre wheras holding it in a chuck and trying to drill it I had at least a 50% failure rate especially with handles 12" and over.

john

 

[thomvic]

Thanks John. I can understand the logic there. I'll give it a go.

Richard

 

[Mark Hancock]

Really I shouldn't have said the 'usual' way but rather the way I do it and it is for the reason John (jpt) says. Plus I find it quicker because I'm not having to work out how I'm going to hold the blank at the headstock end, changing chuck jaws etc.

On a point of safety remember to drill at a lower speed (300rpm for me). Also I position the toolrest against the blank and slide the blank along this as I'm drilling. This way it's less likely the blank will be twisted out of my hand if the drill catches.

 

[Escudo]

Thanks for these replies fellas,

Mark described the process including this advice;

Have the drill in the headstock and the blank held up against a live centre and wind the blank onto the drill

How do you hold the blank against the live centre? If I understand this you mount the drill in your chuck and present the blank to the drill. What holds it all level and in place?

Do you hold the blank with your hand somehow?

I think if I could see someone actually doing this it would help my understanding.

It does make sense to drill the hole first, at least that way it will always be in the right place at the end.

Cheers, Tony.

 

[Mark Hancock]

How do you hold the blank against the live centre? If I understand this you mount the drill in your chuck and present the blank to the drill. What holds it all level and in place?

Do you hold the blank with your hand somehow?

Cheers, Tony.

Yes hold the blank with your one hand and wind the tailstock quill out with the other. As I mentioned above it help to have the toolrest in contact with the blank.

It's held level by the drill and the live centre.

 

[Richard Findley]

I'm a bit late on this one :roll: :roll: !!

I must say that I'd do it the same as Mark (and JPT). The main reason for this is that I would do it all between centres rather than involving the chuck. If you are using this method then it is easier to place the drill/jacobs chuck in the headstock end and keep the blank still. Once drilled you can put the revolving centre into your hole and true the end of the blank and the body of the blank to suit, giving the best chance for everything to line up perfectly.

Cheers,

Richard