Wider long hole boring?

[GrahamRounce]

Hi - I need up to about 15mm diameter. Before I spend money, does anyone foresee any problems first boring to the standard(?) 5/16" then using a power drill from each end with a 300mm auger bit and hoping it stays central?
(As the long hole kit from Record Power is about £30 and a cheap set of augers, though I'd only need one, about £24, it's going to be, well, not nothing, for a setup that might get used once a month).
As always, grateful for any advice/suggestions,
Graham

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[Jacob]

You can get extra long spade bits cheaper. And extension pieces. They work really well. Even better if you start the hole with something making a cleaner cut.

 

[bobham]

The auger bit set you link to has lead screws that can be dangerous to use on power equipment. The lead screw self feeds and can exert a considerable amount of force on the stock or the mounting. That may not be as much of an issue in end grain but they are not really the correct tool for the job you want to do.

I don't know about the Record long hole boring set, but the traditional tool for long hole boring was a shell auger which is a completely different thing from the augers you have linked to. A shell auger tends to follow the center of rotation where a lead screw type might follow the grain. A regular twist drill would be better than the spur augers with lead screws that you link to, although a shell auger would be better yet if the Record set includes one.

For enlarging the hole, a twist drill would be the best bet.

Good Luck!
Bob

 

[GrahamRounce]

Thanks Jacob. A spade bit would keep to the initial 5/16" hole, more or less? They don't half get warm, going through hardwood, too, but I'm willing to give it a try...
(I've just checked my 16mm spade - the spikey bit is about 5/16" max dia, luckily enough. Probably it'd be a good idea to blunt its edges first?)

 

[Mark Hancock]

I don't know about the Record long hole boring set, but the traditional tool for long hole boring was a shell auger Good Luck!
Bob

I think this is what Graham was suggesting but then enlarging with an augar bit though I don't know how you would centre the augar bit having already drilled a hole?. As you say a twist drill would be the answer
such as this

Mark

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[jpt]

As others have said the problem with an auger or spade bit would be keeping it straight, how deep do you want to go?

I use THESE from Axminster.

john

 

[GrahamRounce]

... and thanks bobham, too. I was just thinking of using the screw auger to enlarge the hole made with the Record Power set, which does have a shell auger. Then after that, as you say, a long twist drill or a spade as per Jacob would be better... I want to go through about 2ft - standard err standard lamp stuff, only with wider hole.

I'm a bit clearer in my mind (which is not necessarily saying much :wink now about the options. Thanks to all.
G

 

[CHJ]

If you have someone local who can do a bit of metal turning and silver soldering you could get them to make you up a long hole auger of any diameter you choose using a standard centre spur wood drill.

 

[Richard Findley]

Depending how long you need your hole, the best drill I would recommend would be a Beam drill, available form Axminster and Wealdons, amongst others. I have an 18mm and a 20mm and regularly drill 15" long holes (from both ends) which meet up perfectly. The advantage of these is that they are essentially a lip and spur bit so tend to drill straighter:

http://www.wealdentool.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Carpenters_Drill_34.html

http://www.axminster.co.uk/colt-250mm-beam-drills-prod783270/

HTH

Richard

 

[bugbear]

Depending how long you need your hole, the best drill I would recommend would be a Beam drill, available form Axminster and Wealdons, amongst others. I have an 18mm and a 20mm and regularly drill 15" long holes (from both ends) which meet up perfectly. The advantage of these is that they are essentially a lip and spur bit so tend to drill straighter:

http://www.wealdentool.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Carpenters_Drill_34.html

http://www.axminster.co.uk/colt-250mm-beam-drills-prod783270/

HTH

Richard

Wow - those seem remarkably cheap!

BugBear

 

[Richard Findley]

Wow - those seem remarkably cheap!

BugBear

They do, but Colt area a good make and I have been using them for some time and can vouch for the quality (at least of the ones I've used :wink: )

Richard