Dog holes

[russellseaton1]

I used a plunge router and 3/4" bit. Router was a Porter Cable 7539 3 HP p lunge router. It plunges 3 inches. Bit was carbide. I went through about 3 inches of wood bench top. I plunged most of the way through and then st opped. Lowered the bit in the clamp a little more then completed the full plunge through the wood. Clamped the router to the bench top so it would n ot move. Cannot recall how I made sure the holes were the same distance ap art and lined up with the other side. Bench top has a line of holes along each edge.

[Markem]

I know how my dad would have done it, brace and bit. Those tools I have not yet gotten.

[Leon]

That just might be heavier than moving the door to the DP.

[krw]

Perhaps. ...or he would have taken it to work and the machine shop would have put it on one of their Bridgeports. ;-)

[krw]

I would need two. I don't have much of a problem with one axis but the second always suffers.

[krw]

Yes, they're "5 Star". I bought them a years ago at the suggestion of several here. Every time we went to Atlanta, I picked up a few at Woodcraft. Now that we live in Atlanta (sorta), they no longer carry them. :-(

Oh, my. SWMBO isn't going to like that site! ;-)

Bookmarked. Thanks!

[krw]

Yeah, it weighs more than 250lbs (it was fun moving it to the attic in our last house and even more fun down the stairs).

I'd forgotten that I have a little toy HF drill press around here somewhere. It's worth a try.

[krw]

That was my first thought. I never liked the idea of hand-holding a

3+ HP router but I doubt my green OF1400 would have a problem with it, though. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I was going to use the track to hold one dimension. I think it's time to experiment.

[Markem]

He had a Bridgeport in the basement, and a large metal lathe.

[krw]

But dad wouldn't have had to moose it onto the Bridgeports. The machinists would have cut the holes for him. ;-) I don't think he was technically their boss but he looked out for them (he was a prof at the university).

[Doug Winterburn]

A 4x4 cut square on both ends. Stand on end and use one edge/corner to align.

[Leon]

A local cabinet hardware store discontinued them. I picked up a bunch of singles and multiples of the frequently used sizes for about 20 cents on the dollar.

Keep them busy selling the product and they may just keep selling them. I will say the price of the 1/2" bit was $20, less now. Imagine a German product going down in price. ;~)

[J. Clarke]

According to the Colt catalog the "5-Star" (aka HSS-FCE) don't come larger than 1/2 inch. For 3/4 it looks like you need to go to the "TwinLand" bit, which, surprisingly, can be had on Amazon for under 10 bucks.

Note that in 2013 they were bought out by a French outfit and the last catalog published seems to be 2013, so the company may be gone now or the products may be sold under a different brand.

[J. Clarke]

Whoops--clicked too soon--Amazon _used_ to have it for under 10 bucks-- that was a cached page I was looking at--now they don't seem to anymore.

[Leon]

The 5 Star does not come larger in Imperial, but does in metric, 16mm.

Still, if you need a 3/4" hole this is not going to be helpful.

I have not tried the Twinland bits, with the 5 Star it is all about the cutting point/tip. In my 1/4" and larger bits I can drill a hole through 3/4" thick oak, with out a backer board, and the hole on the exit side is as crisp and clean at the entry hole. While these bits are suppose to last for a very long time I reserve their use for times I want perfection and when I know that there is nothing hidden in the wood.

There are several places in the U.S. that sell the bits, The best of Things, being one of them, in sets and individually. Also Infinity, AKA Jesada/CMT of America, although they appear to only sell the small set for about $80.

Indeed fewer places sell the 5 Star. Get'em while you can.

[Martin Eastburn]

Have the guide index off the last hole. Constant spacing. Or have two and jump two starting at two starting points.

[krw]

Yeah, the plan was to have a template that I could insert pins in the guide holes to index to existing holes. I'll try it on the door before I munge up a more expensive top.