hidden tang question/swearing

fishface5

fishface5

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I tried to drill out a beautiful piece of ironwood to insert a thin tang. Drill bit wasn't long enough so I bought an extra-long bit, which was so long I couldn't use the drill press platform I had to move it aside and hold the piece in place against the base by hand. It made the holes just fine, but while trying to pressure the bit sideways to grind away the ridges between the holes (to create a rectangle the tang could slide into, instead of a sort of shark-tooth entryway if that makes sense) the bit caught in the wood & snapped off. So now I have a broken bit and a useless piece of wood since I can't get the bit-tip out of the hole. And it chipped a piece of wood off the entry as it was flung from my hand against the wall.

Help - what is the RIGHT way to do this????? Many thanks for pointers!
 
Drill bits don't cut sideways

You can use burrs, rotary flies, rotozip bits, the Bruce Bump carbide broach at USA knifemaker, start small then drill larger holes that overlap




I bet you can get the drill bit out with some fiddling and save the wood.
 
Drill with a normal drill bit first, then insert the long bit in the hole and then insert the bit and block in the drill press. That is how I manage it, plus the first hole helps getting the long bit down straight.
Plus what 12345 sayd, drill bits don't cut sideways.
If you realy can't get the bit out (try a needle nose pliers) cutting scales might be a plan B and give you good use from your wood.
 
Standard length bits are too short. I get long bits from the big hardware stores and cut the shafts to the length I need.
 
I use an extra long bit to drill three separate holes to full depth. I start each hole with a short spotting bit to ensure accuracy. Then I grab my keyhole saw and cut out the little bridge pieces between the holes. The keyhole saw blade fits down into the small drill holes perfectly.

TedP
 
Not only do drill bits not cut sideways, forcing them to do so will ultimately damage your drill press.
 
i drill then mill out all i can reach witha long ball end mill then go back at it will a long drill bit really going easy (and yes i have snapped off a bit in iron wood and its no fun )
 
thanks guys! hmm the holes in this one are too small for broach or keyhole saw, I will have to look into a xtra long ball end mill bit in the right size, plus small hand files
 
I don't know if they're any good but I've seen sawdrill bits that can cut sideways.

410849-7-pc-spiral-saw-drill-set.jpg
 
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