Ugh...handle block crack

jwesthurl

jwesthurl

Joined
Sep 17, 2013
Messages
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What the heck!? I was drilling this piece of dyed, stabilized curly maple with a brand new 1/8 in extra long drill bit and the block just cracked. Any clue as to what possibly could have happened? I don't want this to happen to the other block I have and I'm assuming this is not fixable. Help!
 
Lots of stresses were pent up in that block and the heat from your drill bit was enough to send it over the edge.
 
Yes. I know. I did the same thing on a piece of ironwood. The bit will not clear the wood debris. You need to stop frequently to clean the bit. Try that and drill another hole in that piece. Jess
 
Thanks guys. Jesse, do you mean to drill another hole to test the technique? This block is shot, right?
 
I only drill 1/4 at a time and then lift to clear the chips, I also keep a small wire brush next to my drill press for the stubborn chips that get stuck in the bit, also flipping the block and tapping it on the press table will remove the chips left in the block
 
No, the problem is your drill bit isn't clearing chips well when drilling deep holes, so you need to peck more and pull the bit completely out often.
 
Either cut for scales, or possibly fill the crack with epoxy and squeeze shut with clamps. Good chance it will hold shut.
Randy
 
Could be made into scales or even possibly some wood bolsters in the future. You've got to peck drill deep holes because the material will not clear itself on deep holes in any type of material. I peck drill everything. Just tend to get into less trouble that way and 20 years in the Tool & Die trade you can bet I spent the first few years in trouble many times with drills locked deep in blocks of tool steel.

Jay
 
What causes that problem most of the time is drilling too deep without lifting the drill bit to discharge the chips/swarf. If you drill past the flutes, it will literally turn the trapped wood dust/chips into vapor in the trapped hole and pop the block in half. Slower speed, gentler pressure, and regular lifting of the bit to clear the hole will prevent the problem.
 
What you guys are saying is exactly what happened. Hopefully someone else will learn from my boneheaded mistake and impatience. There was a wisp of smoke right before it popped and the bit was deep in the block past the flutes. I got impatient and didn't want to keep lowering the table (the extra long bit couldn't clear the top of the block when drilling that deep) to clean off the bit and tap out the swarf. New block is all fitted and ready to glue, and I'm going to see if I can get some scales from the cracked block. Lesson learned!
 
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