Brace or Breast Drill?

[Woodenflute]

Hello there

I am soon to embark upon the making of wooden flutes contructed from elder brances. The crux of the operation is to drill the bore of the flute through the centre of the branch. I will do this with a succesion of 24" auger bits but as I am new to this area of woodwork, I was wondering whether a carpenters brace or a breast drill would be the most appropriate tool. I was thinking that the breast drill would be easier to keep stationary and that I could attach a spirit level to it. Which tool would be the easier to manage when boring a very deep, accurate horizontal hole?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated before I purchase the wrong tool!

Thanks

Matt

 

[Newbie_Neil]

Hi Matt

Welcome to the forum.

Sorry that I can't help but someone will be along soon.

Cheers
Neil

 

[garywayne]

Hi Matt, welcome to the forum.

If you have access to a lathe, I would have thought that would be the best way to go. If not, I am sorry that I am unable to help.

I am sure someone will be along with some ideas.

Good luck.

 

[bugbear]

Hello there

I am soon to embark upon the making of wooden flutes contructed from elder brances. The crux of the operation is to drill the bore of the flute through the centre of the branch. I will do this with a succesion of 24" auger bits but as I am new to this area of woodwork, I was wondering whether a carpenters brace or a breast drill would be the most appropriate tool. I was thinking that the breast drill would be easier to keep stationary and that I could attach a spirit level to it. Which tool would be the easier to manage when boring a very deep, accurate horizontal hole?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated before I purchase the wrong tool!

Thanks

Matt

This is *the* central problem of wind instrument construction.

IIRC it's normally done on a lathe.

I would suggest finding a musical instrument forum to get a more specific answer than this forum can give.

BugBear

 

[mudman]

This chap http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/making.html gives quite a good account of making a flute and includes some info on drilling the central hole using a gun drill. Now that sounds like a useful piece of kit.