cut down drill bit

[sm_jamieson]

I've had to cut down (well, snap off) a 5mm drill bit to make it shorter for access in a tight space. But now the chuck will not hold it straight, since it is trying to grip the flutes. The chuck grips the flutes of smaller drill its OK with a little fiddling, but the 5mm one is just not. Any ideas for how to do this ? I thought of filling part of the flutes with lead, but I don't really have the equipment. Other idea is to use the other part of the drill, but I'd have to grind the snapped off end correctly.

Simon.

[tabbypurr]

I'd do the latter. It has more chance of working than winding 1mm wire round the bit to assist grip.

NT

[Scott M]

You can buy stub length drill bits. eBay seems to have various ones listed. Always meaning to buy a set but never got my round tuit.

[tabbypurr]

I just use broken ones.

NT

[James Harris]

Maybe a coupler? You can get right-angle and flexible drives.

[Dave Plowman (News)]

5mm isn't too difficult to sharpen on a grindstone. Much smaller may well be.

[tabbypurr]

Not really. I just shift to a different grind pattern with 3mm and under.

NT

[Dave Plowman (News)]

That's good to know. Sharpening small ones is not a skill I've aquired.

I'd be willing to pay a decent price for a powered drill sharpener that could do the small sizes.

[tabbypurr]

More pressure & more speed makes them far less critical.

NT