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Silly question…

Hallelujahal

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Silly question probably and the answer is going to be ‘buy the correct size drill you tight git’…but…if a kit I have requires an 11/32” drill (which I don’t have) would an 8mm drill bit ( which I do have) work after a bit of sanding via a long piece of dowel? 🤔
The wood is a nice piece of yew ( I love yew…I like saying that! 😆). Would perhaps a friction fit be possible?
Al
 

flexi

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mark
Unfortunately you should use the correct size... There is always a slight leeway on a bigger size but too tight is too tight and if you force the tube you can buckle or crimp it forcing it in, let alone if your trying to glue it CA is not forgiving and PU will make a sticky mess 😜
 

howsitwork?

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Alex

Might be worth getting a few metric drill bits as these can be had in increments of 0.1mm. so 8.1mm , 8.2mm etc you then have flexibility ?
tracy tools of devon are very good at supplying both individual ground bits ( high quality ) and sets of the same at reasonable prices. After 10mm although available they are individually priced I’ve found. 10.1 and 10.2 are quite handy sizes to have as well
 

Hallelujahal

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Alex
tracy tools of devon are very good at supplying both individual ground bits ( high quality ) and sets of the same at reasonable prices. After 10mm although available they are individually priced I’ve found. 10.1 and 10.2 are quite handy sizes to have as well
Going to have a look now 👍
 

monophoto

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Get a new drill bit.

My chart says that 11/32 corresponds to 8.75mm - 3/4mm would be a lot of sanding. The real risk is that if the hole is too small, inserting the tube will squeeze out most of the glue and starve the joint. If the tube becomes loose while turning, you have a disaster on your hands.

Chinese-made carbon steel bits are very inexpensive; I picked up a 117 bit set on sale at Harbor Freight that includes fractional, numbered and letter-size bits that I reserve exclusively for wood. That way, they last longer without dulling and the need for resharpening. You can also find similar sets in high speed steel and also the fancy titanium-plated steel, but I don't thing either is necessary if you are only going to use them in wood. I know there are far better bits out there, but these are good enough for my purpose - drilling holes in wood.
 

Neil

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Get a new drill bit.

My chart says that 11/32 corresponds to 8.75mm - 3/4mm would be a lot of sanding. The real risk is that if the hole is too small, inserting the tube will squeeze out most of the glue and starve the joint. If the tube becomes loose while turning, you have a disaster on your hands.

Chinese-made carbon steel bits are very inexpensive; I picked up a 117 bit set on sale at Harbor Freight that includes fractional, numbered and letter-size bits that I reserve exclusively for wood. That way, they last longer without dulling and the need for resharpening. You can also find similar sets in high speed steel and also the fancy titanium-plated steel, but I don't thing either is necessary if you are only going to use them in wood. I know there are far better bits out there, but these are good enough for my purpose - drilling holes in wood.
Any recommendations for any kit outlets in NY? Will be there for four days next week, she can go to Maceys , I’ll go pen kit shopping!!!!
 

TVS

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Same as Neil UK drill they do metric and imperial the problem with sanding to get the correct size the hole will never be parallel
 

Phil Dart

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The recommended drill size for any pen kit is always larger that the tube itself, because you have to leave room for the glue. If the drill size is 11/32, which is 8.73mm in new money, it's likely that the tube itself is about the 8.5mm mark. Even for a tube to push in without any glue, it needs to be fractionally smaller than the hole, so your question about an 8mm drill definitely wouldn't work, nether would 8.5, as the tube still wouldn't push in, but 8.7 probably would work.

Most retailers sell the correct drill bits for their kits, or as has already been mentioned, you can get them from sources like Tracy Tools or Uk Drills
 

magpens

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Gert Fitcher

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phil

£5.28, but you'll pay P&P. Sometimes cheaper from the same place on Ebay.

I have their set of bits from 6mm to 10mm in 0.1mms which is good - it's often good to go a size under the recommended size.

I tend to stick to the same kits and have MT bits for them.
 
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