Boring a 6 inch diameter, 6 in deep hole in a log ??

[Drew]

All Dimensions are ball park:

I want to built bird houses from logs. The plan is to go to a wood pile, find a log about 8 inches long by 8 inches in diameter, start at one end and bore( cut, drill, ect.) a 6 in Dia, by 6 inch deep hole in it, drill a connecting 1 1/8 inch hole from the side and then do some touch up.

I am willing to buy a small lathe but I know nothing about them. I am retired and want to do about 1 a week so boring speed is not an issue. I would like to use a table top lathe that I could set up when needed. It would be nice if I could also use the lathe as a " log clamp" so it would hold the steady to do some touch up.

Any thoughs or other ideas to accomplise the project will be deeply apperciated.

Drew

[Andy Dingley]

I've done this in the past, but I did it by taking a disk off each end of the log, splitting it into quarters with axe and froe, taking off the inner corner of each quarter, then putting it back together with staples.

[Dr. Rev. Chuck, M.D. P.A.]

Drill a bunch of 1" holes around the desired circumference, then pop out the waste with a sledge. Leave the rough hewn surface. Your tenants will prefer it, since it makes it easier for the fledglings to climb out.

[Drew]

[e-mail] (GTO69RA4) wrote: Get a big bleeping drill bit and use a drill like mine:

***************************************************** That is a good idea John ,but i have Muscular Dystrophy and with that drill the only thing to get bored would probably be my feet. :-) drew

[Drew]

******************************************************** I am starting to lean that way

drew

[Drew]

"Dr. Rev. Chuck, M.D. P.A." wrote> Drill a bunch of 1" holes around the desired circumference, then pop

************************************************ Something to think about. Thank you. drew

[Drew]

DJ Delorie wrote:> The lathe is the right tool, but this is the wrong newsgroup. Try

******************************************************** Thank you. I will drew

[Dan]

Of all the exellent suggestions I've seen so far on this thread, that one is the way I'd go if I didn't already have a lathe. In fact I think even if I did, I'd give it a shot and see which one the birds liked better. :-)

Definitely want to do it with a good drill press, though. After the third or fourth one even a drill half the size of Drew's is going to feel like an anvil. DAMHIKT.

Dan

[RM MS]

Any size Greenlee over 1" should be fine, longer shank preferred. Drill press same thing, it will need a 1/2" chuck unless the bit is turned down. Longer quill stroke is better, but you can put a block under the piece if it don't go down far enough in one stroke. Pretty basic stuff, just trying to save you from buying a lathe if you really don't have to. You can use a large bit in a hand-held drill also, but even with the center spur, they tnd to walk anyway. When ou drill one hole, space the next one so that there is plenty of wood surrounding the center spur, leaving a series of scallops around the perimeter.

[Charles Erskine]

I recently found out that birdhouse dimensions are species-specific, for example:

might look into the "bandsawn box" technique for this kind of thing.

[Drew]

********************************************************* Thank you. Could you tell where to find info about the " bandsawn box " techique.

drew

[Charlie Spitzer]

[David Chamberlain]

[Drew]

drew

[Charles Erskine]

[e-mail]

Imagine that instead of making that freeform box, you slice an inch off each end off the log and put the two disks aside. Then stand the center part of the log up on the bandsaw and cut into it fom the side and then curve around and out the same slot where you entered to form a hollow wooden tube with a split in the side. Now you can glue the split back together, bore the entrance hole and then glue the top back on. I would attach the bottom with screws so you can clean out the house at the end of the season.

All power tool work is hazardous, but the thought of a heavy, unbalanced log, gripped by its possibly punky bark, whirl> > I recently found out that birdhouse dimensions are species-specific, for example:

[Drew]

**************************************************************** What you say makes a lot of sense. For a 7 inch round, 7 inch long log (app.) can you advise about band saw type, size and power ?? TIA

leyda13

[Alan McClure]

There's a lot of people, many of which frequent rec.crafts.woodturning, that do this every day. There are other ways to affix a work piece to a lathe other than a chuck. ARM