I used the drill bit from wealden to drill a bore down the centre of a lamp stand that was about 350mm tall and it did it fine. As Woody says, very slowly does it, withdraw frequently and it'll be worth drilling a piolt hole with an 8mm or thereabouts to start it off and get as deep with that as you can before resorting to the hand held drill. Turn a handle for the long drill and use the tool rest as a steady as you insert the drill. Speed, about 600 for starters and increase as you see fit and are able to hang on!