When I want to cut an accurate hole in a short, small diameter dowel or rod, I put it in my drill press and hold the bit up against the center of the end while it spins. But when the diameter is greater than my drill press chuck, like if the dowel diameter is 1" or greater, is there some crafty way to cut an accurate hole through the center? The hole needs only to be about 1/2" to 3/4" deep.
Thank you.
Example: If you're drilling a 1" diameter dowel. Clamp a piece if scrap wood to your drill press table. Chuck up a 1" forester bit and drill a locating hole for the dowel in the scrap. Without moving the clamped piece of scrap remove the forester bit an chuck the appropriate sized drill. Place the dowel in the locating hole. Drill the dowel.
awesome, dude
The classic way I've heard is to take a block of wood, bolt it or clamp it to the DP table, then use a forstner, spade it, or whatever you have available to drill a hole into the block the same diameter as the dowel. Now, WITHOUT CHANGING ANY DP ADJUSTMENTS, replace the forstner (or whatever) with the bit you will use to drill the dowel, put the dowel in the hole in the block, & drill.
how do you know the hole is centered if you don't know if the dowel is straight and the bottom of the dowel is square to the side?
Use a thick enough piece of scrap to index off the diameter of the dowel.
Ok, I'll rephrase that. Please preface my first reply with, "First make sure that the dowell you are using is straight and the ends are cut squarely."
You can also find center of the dowel by drilling a hole in a board the diameter of the dowel with a spade or forestner bit, stop just as the point comes out the bottom. Place board over end of dowel and mark center through small hole, drill at the mark.
RE: The subject
A lathe.
Lew
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required