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Drilling STRAIGHT HOLES with a 1 1/8" Spade Bit
RandyT:
--- Quote from: Bill_S on May 06, 2003, 12:25:08 pm ---I went with a Forstner (sp?) bit instead of a spade bit. It produced a much nicer hole and was easier to keep straight by hand.
--- End quote ---
Forstner bits are great for making holes, but they are designed for a drill press.
The scary thing about these is that the sides of the bit don't have a cutting edge. This means that they make nice clean holes, but it also means that if you should mistakenly tilt the drill while using one, the bit will grab and you could break your wrist.
Be careful out there :)
RandyT
Grasshopper:
I've got exactly the same problem. My drill press does not allow you to drill a hole more than 4" from the edge of the wood. Because of this I decided to limit the depth of my first panel to 8". This is just about big enough for a small 1 player panel but not enough for a bigger 2 player panel that I intend to build in the near future.
I'm pretty certain that if I tried to drill the holes with a hand held drill I would screw up.
My plan (which I have yet to put into action) is to use the drill press to design a template for the joystick and button holes. The template will be a long thin plank of wood obviously less than 8" wide. I will clamp the template to my control panel and then use it to cut out the joystick/button holes with a router fitted with a laminate trimming bit. I should be able to use the same template for the player 1 and player 2 controls.
mpm32:
Ah grasshopper. You do not want to use a laminite trimming bit for your idea. A laminate bit is best for laminate. You want to use a pattern cutting bit. One with a top bearing would suit you purpose better. Like this;
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_patrn.html
"try to take the pebble from my hand, grasshopper"
Grasshopper:
--- Quote from: mpm32 on May 06, 2003, 03:49:30 pm ---Ah grasshopper. You do not want to use a laminite trimming bit for your idea. A laminate bit is best for laminate. You want to use a pattern cutting bit. One with a top bearing would suit you purpose better. Like this;
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_patrn.html
"try to take the pebble from my hand, grasshopper"
--- End quote ---
LOL...I see you've guessed the source of my username!
You're right of course, a pattern bit would be better for my purposes. Unfortunately I haven't seen any being sold locally, and at the moment I'm trying to get away with just using the bits that came free with my router.
A laminate trimming bit should work if I turn the panel upside down before routing. I'll see how it goes.
HeadRusch:
That drill guide is pretty sweet, but it looks like its designed for "normal" bits...ie: 3/4" and less, not the 1 1/2" spade I'd be using....
I was thinking of getting a hole-cutting bit instead but I'm not sure if its worth it to go back tot he store to get one, as the spade should do fine. I take my time with the spade bits...let them shave off material slowly. Did an 1 1/2 hole in the cabinet box yesterday and it made a MOUND of MDF dust.
When next I drill, I'm wearing a freakin mask :P
I'm hackin up sawdust..