Ok, my newsserver doesn't seem to be working right so this is more or less
a test message--but it's on topic!

I was drilling some 1/2" holes in 2x4s using a twist bit and tailed drill.
Occasionally it would catch while drilling. Applying a thin coat of wax
helped quite a bit, but I was wondering if there was anything else I could
do to prevent the catches? I don't always have wax handy.

Does pressure make a difference? The drill was sharp, btw.

Puckdropper

On 1/30/2016 8:51 AM, Puckdropper wrote:
Ok, my newsserver doesn't seem to be working right so this is more or less
a test message--but it's on topic!

I was drilling some 1/2" holes in 2x4s using a twist bit and tailed drill.
Occasionally it would catch while drilling. Applying a thin coat of wax
helped quite a bit, but I was wondering if there was anything else I could
do to prevent the catches? I don't always have wax handy.

Does pressure make a difference? The drill was sharp, btw.

Puckdropper


This often happens more with soft woods as you go through a hard spot in
the grain into the softer spots. The bit literally takes too big of a
bite when it enters the soft spot and bogs the drill down.

You can regrind the bits, if they are regular twist bits, so that they
are less aggressive, for example a grind that is better suited for
drilling through steel or iron.

Alternatively switch to a less aggressive feed bit like a Forester style
bit.

The lube is going to help if you are getting the "catch" because of side
friction, that happens when you can't deep the drill and bit going
perfectly straight during the entire drilling operation.

Or use a DP. ;~)

On 1/30/2016 9:51 AM, Puckdropper wrote:
Ok, my newsserver doesn't seem to be working right so this is more or less
a test message--but it's on topic!

I was drilling some 1/2" holes in 2x4s using a twist bit and tailed drill.
Occasionally it would catch while drilling. Applying a thin coat of wax
helped quite a bit, but I was wondering if there was anything else I could
do to prevent the catches? I don't always have wax handy.

Does pressure make a difference? The drill was sharp, btw.

Puckdropper


IMO, I have learned that applying less pressure becomes easier
especially if hitting a knot. I would back off the pressure and feel the
bit slightly eat away with less intensity. I believe with great
pressure, the bit is trying to dig in and remove too much at once which
will eventually cause a bind/catch.

On Sat, 30 Jan 2016 11:08:34 -0500, Meanie
wrote:

On 1/30/2016 9:51 AM, Puckdropper wrote:
Ok, my newsserver doesn't seem to be working right so this is more or less
a test message--but it's on topic!

I was drilling some 1/2" holes in 2x4s using a twist bit and tailed drill.
Occasionally it would catch while drilling. Applying a thin coat of wax
helped quite a bit, but I was wondering if there was anything else I could
do to prevent the catches? I don't always have wax handy.

Does pressure make a difference? The drill was sharp, btw.

Puckdropper


IMO, I have learned that applying less pressure becomes easier
especially if hitting a knot. I would back off the pressure and feel the
bit slightly eat away with less intensity. I believe with great
pressure, the bit is trying to dig in and remove too much at once which
will eventually cause a bind/catch.
That's where a power feed drill press comes in handy!!!

On 1/30/2016 11:46 AM, wrote:
On Sat, 30 Jan 2016 11:08:34 -0500, Meanie
wrote:

On 1/30/2016 9:51 AM, Puckdropper wrote:
Ok, my newsserver doesn't seem to be working right so this is more or less
a test message--but it's on topic!

I was drilling some 1/2" holes in 2x4s using a twist bit and tailed drill.
Occasionally it would catch while drilling. Applying a thin coat of wax
helped quite a bit, but I was wondering if there was anything else I could
do to prevent the catches? I don't always have wax handy.

Does pressure make a difference? The drill was sharp, btw.

Puckdropper


IMO, I have learned that applying less pressure becomes easier
especially if hitting a knot. I would back off the pressure and feel the
bit slightly eat away with less intensity. I believe with great
pressure, the bit is trying to dig in and remove too much at once which
will eventually cause a bind/catch.
That's where a power feed drill press comes in handy!!!



Exactly, you can control the rate of feed with a DP. It is difficult to
control feed rate with a hand held drill in common construction material
especially when going through a hard spot and entering into a soft spot.

Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet wrote in
:

On 1/30/2016 8:51 AM, Puckdropper wrote:
Ok, my newsserver doesn't seem to be working right so this is more or
less a test message--but it's on topic!

I was drilling some 1/2" holes in 2x4s using a twist bit and tailed
drill. Occasionally it would catch while drilling. Applying a thin
coat of wax helped quite a bit, but I was wondering if there was
anything else I could do to prevent the catches? I don't always have
wax handy.

Does pressure make a difference? The drill was sharp, btw.

Puckdropper


This often happens more with soft woods as you go through a hard spot
in the grain into the softer spots. The bit literally takes too big
of a bite when it enters the soft spot and bogs the drill down.

You can regrind the bits, if they are regular twist bits, so that they
are less aggressive, for example a grind that is better suited for
drilling through steel or iron.

Alternatively switch to a less aggressive feed bit like a Forester
style bit.

The lube is going to help if you are getting the "catch" because of
side friction, that happens when you can't deep the drill and bit
going perfectly straight during the entire drilling operation.

Or use a DP. ;~)


I hadn't thought about regrinding the bit. I might give that a try next
time I get into this.

What I left out was I couldn't use the DP for these holes. They were
mounting holes for rink brackets, and the cross brace would be in the
way.

Puckdropper

On 1/30/2016 4:58 PM, Puckdropper wrote:
Leon lcb11211@swbelldotnet wrote in
:

On 1/30/2016 8:51 AM, Puckdropper wrote:
Ok, my newsserver doesn't seem to be working right so this is more or
less a test message--but it's on topic!

I was drilling some 1/2" holes in 2x4s using a twist bit and tailed
drill. Occasionally it would catch while drilling. Applying a thin
coat of wax helped quite a bit, but I was wondering if there was
anything else I could do to prevent the catches? I don't always have
wax handy.

Does pressure make a difference? The drill was sharp, btw.

Puckdropper


This often happens more with soft woods as you go through a hard spot
in the grain into the softer spots. The bit literally takes too big
of a bite when it enters the soft spot and bogs the drill down.

You can regrind the bits, if they are regular twist bits, so that they
are less aggressive, for example a grind that is better suited for
drilling through steel or iron.

Alternatively switch to a less aggressive feed bit like a Forester
style bit.

The lube is going to help if you are getting the "catch" because of
side friction, that happens when you can't deep the drill and bit
going perfectly straight during the entire drilling operation.

Or use a DP. ;~)


I hadn't thought about regrinding the bit. I might give that a try next
time I get into this.

What I left out was I couldn't use the DP for these holes. They were
mounting holes for rink brackets, and the cross brace would be in the
way.

A DP cannot be used for everything.




Puckdropper