Osage Orange making bits squeal and overheat??

G

GrizzlyBear

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Dec 5, 2009
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Finally got around to working that slab of Osage Orange into 5/16" thick planks to use as scales. Picked out a matching set and went at it. Got the profile sawn and one side epoxied.

As I went to drill the holes, using a brand new bit (standard bit) the bit began to squeal and heat up as it was drilling through the Osage. I would have to stop and let it cool down every few moments, 6 1/8" holes took quite a bit longer than normal to drill, but they did fine.

I then chucked up my 1/4" bit for the thong tube hole and set about drilling it. Same thing..squealing and heating up. So I put a few drops of water into the hole, that didn't help. Finally, got through it and just as it broke through the other side, for some reason (heat maybe?) the entire scale snapped it's epoxy joint and came right off.

This wood is some brutal stuff, very very very hard and dense!

Would some brad-point bits make the drilling easier through woods like this?

Still don't understand why the epoxy joint broke...it was Devcon 30min 2part, and had nearly 48 hours of cure time because of my other job.
 
Can't explain the epoxy failure but yes brad point bits offer quite a bit less resistance and will heat up less. They also won't blow out your wood when they come through. Pretty cheap @ Lowes...
Matt Doyle
 
I've got a set, just didn't know how well they would drill Osage. Looks like I will be breaking them out when the next scale is epoxied
 
Has your epoxy been stored properly? Not allowed to freeze and thaw repeatedly as happens in many shops this time of year? This can degrade the epoxy, or if it was not mixed in the correct ratio or thoroughly. I like to do the two pot method for critical jobs, mix in one cup then pour it into a second clean cup and continue to mix for another minute, then pour onto a flat surface and spread it around to extend pot life while working with it. Don't forget to create a good mechanical bond, rough up the tang and scale.


-Xander
 
The reason your bit acted as it did may be that you did not pull the bit out after just a little drilling and let the chips out. Also your speed may have been to high. Sometimes when the bit is forced thru without letting the chips escape it will cause your scale to delaminate.
 
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Epoxy is a new tube of 2 part (side by side), 30 min.

I squeeze out the equivalent of a dime from each side and mix for at least 1 minute. Then apply. I don't have enough mixed to do any pouring from one cup to another or anything like that.

I think I forgot to fully rough up the tang, which may have been my problem. I also think that I clamped it too hard and squeezed out too much of the epoxy.
 
Dan, I cycled the bit into the wood a fraction, then back to remove chips...was taught to do this a long time ago :). Speed is the lowest setting on my Craftsman drillpress.

I think alot of the squealing had to do with a cheaper quality bit. I got a large Black and Decker bit set for Xmas, HSS not black oxide and they've worked beautifully on everything up to this point. Combo of ultra hard wood and cheaper bits.
 
Has the wood been properly dried. If there is too much moisture, heat from drilling could cause the wood to swell up binding the drill bit. It could also explain the expoy not holding.

Greg
 
Piece was cut in 1997 and kept dry (as far as I know).

Drilled the other side, same bits (didn't get out the brad points) and they drilled fine. Dunno what the deal was.
 
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