Drill bits for router?

[DrPhill]

Hi there, I am going to build a box for my flute. I expect to have to drill some holes with decent perpendicularity (is that even a word?). I don't have a pillar drill and my skill at drilling perpendicular holes with a hand held drill is legendary (for all the wrong reasons). I wondered If I could get a bit (1/4 inch or 6mm shank) to go into my Trend T5 router. That would keep the holes properly upright. I am not sure if such bits exist, or what to search for. I intend the holes to be for screws to hold the timber (cherry) together so something like 4mm for the clearance hole and maybe smaller for a pilot hole.

Or am I going to have to buy a pillar drill? I don't really want to as I have limited use and space for one, but.......

Any help or opinions would be valued.

{Edited typos}

 

[mwinfrance]

If I may suggest ..
https://www.stevemaskery.com/jig-plans/p/horizontal-drilling-machine

and then use drill bits to suit.
HTH

ps..the drill bit in a router idea is a way to get hurt badly.

 

[DrPhill]

If I may suggest ..
https://www.stevemaskery.com/jig-plans/p/horizontal-drilling-machine

and then use drill bits to suit.
HTH

Thanks for that - that is an interesting approach - but indirect. I think that I would need some skill and time to make the tool before I could begin my box. (And would need some space to store it).

 

[mwinfrance]

Think about it some more, it is the principle ( horizontal drilling as opposed to vertical drilling ) that will work for what you want to do. I suspect more stable and accurate than doing it vertically too.The actual "machine" need not be precisely as Steve's machine.Easily adapted to be "makeable" as a temporary demountable device.take up no more space, even set up than a shoe box.

 

[BillK]

Maybe a drill stand? The type that mounts a hand drill as a sort of faux drill press. The stands look to be not-great quality but might get a job done for not a lot of cash or space.
Or just a drilling guide block, even cheaper and less space-eating.

 

[Eshmiel]

Hi there, I am going to build a box for my flute. I expect to have to drill some holes with decent perpendicularity (is that even a word?). I don't have a pillar drill and my skill at drilling perpendicular holes with a hand held drill is legendary (for all the wrong reasons). I wondered If I could get a bit (1/4 inch or 6mm shank) to go into my Trend T5 router. That would keep the holes properly upright. I am not sure if such bits exist, or what to search for. I intend the holes to be for screws to hold the timber (cherry) together so something like 4mm for the clearance hole and maybe smaller for a pilot hole.

Or am I going to have to buy a pillar drill? I don't really want to as I have limited use and space for one, but.......

Any help or opinions would be valued.

{Edited typos}

There are straight drillbit-like router bits. Some are just like drill bits in that they're fluted. Upcut fluted bits will drag the waste out of the hole, just like a drill bit.. Search Amazon, Axminster or any other tool seller for "upcut spiral bit". If your Trend router takes 1/4" (6.35mm) bits, go for one of them. You can find them at many cutting diameters, from 3mm upwards. E.g.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/sourcing-m...y&sprefix=upcut+router+bit+set,diy,67&sr=1-20


Another option is a Dremel with an add on that keeps it at right angles to a surface, along with a small chuck and drill bits down to 1mm or even less.

https://www.dremel.com/gb/en/p/dremel-multipurpose-cutting-kit-26150565jb

https://www.dremel.com/gb/en/search?q=drill

https://www.dremel.com/gb/en/p/multi-chuck-0-8-3-2-mm-2615448632

 

[DrPhill]

Maybe a drill stand? The type that mounts a hand drill as a sort of faux drill press. The stands look to be not-great quality but might get a job done for not a lot of cash or space.
Or just a drilling guide block, even cheaper and less space-eating.

Thanks Philk, Yes I looked at those, the stand or a cheap pillar drill might work. For the difference in price I think a pillar might make more sense than a stand. I could imagine a less than perfect fit between drill and stand.

The drill guides don’t fill me with confidence - especially for the finer drills. I could imagine the snapping rather than being guided.

 

[DrPhill]

There are straight drillbit-like router bits. Some are just like drill bits in that they're fluted. Upcut fluted bits will drag the waste out of the hole, just like a drill bit.. Search Amazon, Axminster or any other tool seller for "upcut spiral bit". If your Trend router takes 1/4" (6.35mm) bits, go for one of them. You can find them at many cutting diameters, from 3mm upwards. E.g.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/sourcing-map-2-Flute-Carbide-Engraving/dp/B0DLKT7QTP/ref=sr_1_20?crid=1NKQDKLPNAXVH&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.emuzLJj9ugrIVnxMS8d_tOYiLrxTabPB0GXLX278mdp4uzgqWexHbsdVms11aD-kw9olnZl3ShKpMmiXgFYAv6sL7xzD91BQBAXS5AGo1GXSv6xO-Mqbz8mOsFvw2MZ8-KlouOrnQwDZlCmPBQczQSpdM_KHnX1cyTtcrsx-tmtTPqsHlqjKW7p8NYfxRkyqdF9aYwQw7UithpL1VTs0nVOoGKTvXI95CQcGdD8846g.-gPqtzliKpOElsg0FLkqqps0MSCUObpRE6xbFgn1E8Q&dib_tag=se&keywords=upcut+router+bit+set&qid=1741987081&s=diy&sprefix=upcut+router+bit+set,diy,67&sr=1-20


Another option is a Dremel with an add on that keeps it at right angles to a surface, along with a small chuck and drill bits down to 1mm or even less.

https://www.dremel.com/gb/en/p/dremel-multipurpose-cutting-kit-26150565jb

https://www.dremel.com/gb/en/search?q=drill

https://www.dremel.com/gb/en/p/multi-chuck-0-8-3-2-mm-2615448632

Ah, thanks Eshmiel,yes that was what I was thinking of. I should have guessed that they would be a little more expensive than conventional drill bits.
It makes a pillar look a bit more attractive!

 

[niall Y]

There are drill bits for the router, Trend used to supply them, in fact they probably still do. The ones I have had in the past had carbide tips with a counterbore to the top.

 

[Spectric]

These are ideal for drilling with the router, 1/4 shank but the smallest is 4.8mm .

https://www.wealdentool.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Dowel_51.html

You can get smaller by using two flute cutters but with the 4mm the depth is only 11mm

https://www.wealdentool.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_1_4__Shank_237.html

 

[alan895]

I've bought a couple of these before and they're pretty decent quality, sizes go down to 3mm:

https://trenddirectuk.com/trend-craftpro-router-dowel-drill-bits-1-4-shank.html

 

[mrpercysnodgrass]

I just did a quick search on Facebook marketplace, there are quite a few pillar drill in the £20-£30 bracket and even the one below which is free!

 

[XTiffy]

There are plenty of router cuters that will do what you want. The cutter has a "bottom cutter" function i.e. it is designed to plunge cut. I will be selling one but unfortunately it is a 1/2" shank, so not suitable for you. Wealden Cutters has a very wide range of router cutters and I have found their service to be excellent.

 

[Sideways]

The word of caution is that a cheap pillar drill may suffer quite serious runout and vibration that doesn't make for the best holes. A router that has to spin at 18 to 22 thousand rpm, not just a few hundred, will be extremely well balanced with no runout that matters.

 

[DrPhill]

Wow, thanks folks..... exactly what I was thinking of - but a bit more complicated! I don't know what size of hole I really need for the screws as I haven't chosen those yet. The cutters with countersink look like an excellent idea - but then the pillar drills look tempting too.
Are the dremels any good? I had a copy and found it a bit uncontrollable, but maybe that was just me. A dremel plus router attachment might be a comprimise....

Too many choices to sort through right away, but I'm in no hurry as I need to sketch out the job first. I am thinking of using LibreCAD as it looks adequate, simple and the right price.

 

[DrPhill]

Think about it some more, it is the principle ( horizontal drilling as opposed to vertical drilling ) that will work for what you want to do. I suspect more stable and accurate than doing it vertically too.The actual "machine" need not be precisely as Steve's machine.Easily adapted to be "makeable" as a temporary demountable device.take up no more space, even set up than a shoe box.

Very good points - I will consider that as an option, but it may be a tad more difficult as I will need to drill into the face of a 'sheet' of wood, so would need to be able to align at various heights, and brace the sheet vertically too. Does this not just transfer the need for accuracy to the construction of the jig that holds the drill and the work piece? I would feel more confident buying something that has had the accuracy 'manufactured in'.

 

[cmoops2]

Here's a 4mm bit (1/4" shank) from trend that might help you out:

https://trenddirectuk.com/trend-c22...0wSneO6fMapYej0MyBy67I-x9DmUVM19EeIGbYeEYN7vm

 

[Eshmiel]

A bit of a summary of considerations ...... :

Cheap drill press machines are often, as another notes, poorly made and inaccurate. Second hand ones are that X 3. They can't easily (or at all) drill in the middle of large work pieces.

Consider how you might use any drilling tool you buy for future or other work besides the work you mention. More versatile is good.

Drill stands made to take a portable drill can be good - if you pay for quality. Even the mid-price ones aren't always that good. The cheap ones are very "variable" in their accuracy and best avoided if you want precision of any degree.

Drilling with a router can be very accurate, especially with use of a fence - but the drilling speed can also burn things if you're not careful.

*********
A router is a very versatile machine, especially if you get a good quality machine that also has many add-ons available to perform specialist tasks. But what size? As your woodwork progresses, you find you need at least two sizes/powers: mid-to-small for detail work; a bluddy geet monster for bigger jobs - and to put in a router table if you ever get that far. Get a smaller one first or use that Trend you have until it proves "not-enough". Incidentally, your Trend may have a Euro-collar that'll fit into a portable drill stand in the same way that portable drills fit. That's one way to get a pillar drill.

A Dremel is also very versatile but low in power so only really suitable for smaller work. But if your inclination is to do small & detailed, a Dremel may be a very useful purchase. They can take a vast range of accessories. On the other hand, alternatives to their add-on devices such as a router base/fence are probably advisable as the Dremel ones are rather flimsy/floppy. Veritas make a very good Dremel router/base/fence, for example.