Joiner8
Apprentice Member
I am new to pen turning and would like to find out what is the best drills to use for drilling out the pen blanks
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Penpal
Grand Master
wm460
Grand Master
- Joined
- Mar 16, 2013
- Posts
- 23,113
- First Name
- Mark
I totally agree with Peter choice.
I have the de walt drills but much prefer the colt drills, I’ve never had a problem with those. I find that the de walt drills can snatch the blanks
As above.....I like the Colt too but their not cheap...I also have a box set from Machine Mart in imperial sizes, if you use good drilling technique they will do a good job.
I think technique is probably the biggest fail most make, me included....Proper drill speeds and feed rates, clearing swarf build up, also not over heating the blank or drill bit( mostly acrylic or Trustone, corian blanks) needless to say sharp bits(we've all done that one extra blank). Work holding either in the lathe or pillar drill, making sure it's square, don't overtighten the blank and crush the grain....
Sorry this has become longer than I thought
I think technique is probably the biggest fail most make, me included....Proper drill speeds and feed rates, clearing swarf build up, also not over heating the blank or drill bit( mostly acrylic or Trustone, corian blanks) needless to say sharp bits(we've all done that one extra blank). Work holding either in the lathe or pillar drill, making sure it's square, don't overtighten the blank and crush the grain....
Sorry this has become longer than I thought
Yes the 7mm is a long one and can be wippy if it's forced on very hard material, I've never had any problems with the other sizes,
Yes the 7mm is a long one and can be wippy if it's forced on very hard material, I've never had any problems with the other sizes,
Do you drill on the lathe or pillar drill
Penpal
Grand Master
My preference is the large dedicated pillar drill,I have a fixed pen blank jawed Vicmarc chuck I enjoy from time to time however the blanks need to be regular. The secret 4 inch jaws I use on the Pillar Drill have open vees in the centres horizontally and three vertical vees that aqllow utmost control with irregular blanks I cut to follow the grain I desire.
Peter.
Peter.
Penpal
Grand Master
Attachments
I drill on a Record pillar drill with a pen blank vice from Turner's Retreat. For me it works,the down side is 50mm of travel so on 63mm blanks I have to raise the vice on a clean piece of MDF.
Do you think its more accurate on pillar drill than on lathe
AllenN
Fellow
I think Mark is right on the money re the drill bits. Personally I drill on the lathe. I prefer it because my pillar drill does not have the necessary length on the quill and is rubbish anyway. I find the lathe to be more accurate and controllable. I use pen blank jaws these days which I like but I managed quite well with standard jaws in the past so they are a bit of a luxury really.
I always use a centre drill or a spot drill to ensure I get the hole starting just where I want it, but then I am not doing this for a living so the extra time taken does not really concern me. The Dewalt bits with their starter tips do much the same thing.
I always use a centre drill or a spot drill to ensure I get the hole starting just where I want it, but then I am not doing this for a living so the extra time taken does not really concern me. The Dewalt bits with their starter tips do much the same thing.
geordie0928
Graduate Member
The same as Penpal.
I use colt drills for acrylics only. They just cut into it like butter.
For wood I spot drill before drilling then use a bright HSS drill with a fairly long spiral flute. I do however re-grind, even a brand new drill, to get a better cutting, softer cutting action than you would with a drill straight from the packet.
Like many I too drill all blanks on the lathe as I find it a lot easier to control the feed rate.
For wood I spot drill before drilling then use a bright HSS drill with a fairly long spiral flute. I do however re-grind, even a brand new drill, to get a better cutting, softer cutting action than you would with a drill straight from the packet.
Like many I too drill all blanks on the lathe as I find it a lot easier to control the feed rate.
Neil
Fellow
Peter, am totally with you, shame we can’t get the imperials here, just the metric.
Penpal
Grand Master
My approaches to drilling blanks is on the lathe as shown with my dedicated Vicmarc chuck with fixed jaws as shown here,my fantastic (so heavy I only just was able to carry this most accurate micro adjustable unit on a large pillar drill.)
I believe in long term solutions considering the importance of drilling in all media.HAve fun drilling it really is a repetitive process,I freely confess I have never varied drilling speed ever on the drill press,I happen to have auto variable speed control on this lathe so I just turn it to fairly fast when turning penblanks..I am reminded my first car was an A Model Ford tourer where the front springs were transverse providing a moving experience from side to side especially on unmade roads.
Peter.
I believe in long term solutions considering the importance of drilling in all media.HAve fun drilling it really is a repetitive process,I freely confess I have never varied drilling speed ever on the drill press,I happen to have auto variable speed control on this lathe so I just turn it to fairly fast when turning penblanks..I am reminded my first car was an A Model Ford tourer where the front springs were transverse providing a moving experience from side to side especially on unmade roads.
Peter.
