Striper Talk Striped Bass Fishing, Surfcasting, Boating - View Single Post

Surfster · 12-30-2003, 01:18 PM

Not that I have thru drilled my plugs with a lathe but recalling my machinist experience I can say this. When you are drilling with a lathe you already have center. At that point alls you have to do is make sure your centered with the drill side to side and a LITTLE below center going in. Using the lathe to turn the part realize the PART is spinning and the drill is fixed. It really shouldn't walk a whole lot. What you've got to do is "peck" slowly with the drill and always clear the chips to keep the drill from loading up and walking. IF the drill is overpowered and is forced to walk in a spinning part the drill will break. Worst case if your not quite on center but good enough to get through straight your jole would be slightly oversize. In other words if you are "TOO" far below center then you only cutting with one side of the drill , like a boreing bar. Also when drilling on a lathe you should not just drop the drill in and go. It should be positioned like I said, First , slightly below center and (this is important) with the flutes of the drill horizontal to you, straight across if not perfectly then at least with the flute (cutting edge) closest to you being higher than the other side. When you get in "the groove" it will become second nature and you will find it every time. It is also a good idea to start off the hole with a "jobber" or at least a much shorter and ridged bit to ensure your not walking right off the bat. Watch the bit as you retract out of the hole when you clear the chips. Does it come straight out or kind of "flick" in one direction? I little is fine if it looks like any more than 1/8" then something is off. With a wood lathe you don't have much adjustment so you'll have to beleive your dead on the first time. Try to incorporate as much as you can with what I've said and you should be swell.
ME? well without a lathe that will drill I have my centers already there from the lathe so its a simple matter for me to start my hole on the tail side on center with a short and stiff drill while I hold the plug stock in my left hand. As soon as I get enough bite I SLIGHTLY release tension holding the wood and let it spin in my hand and observe the wood. Is it wobbling? Try to center the drill a little better until that wood looks as straight as yer P*cker on a windy day. When that say 2" deep hole is complete I can now follow it with the long drill and the predrill hole will (should) act as a guide to keep the long one straight. Keep pecking at high rpm and clear yer chips. Last night I did three 8" 2x2 slugs in a row and that drill came out through the center on the other side! When I say Peck the drill Im saying push slightly till you feel it cut then back out and clear. You really should be cutting no more than .25 with each peck before clearing chips. Whichever you prefer good luck and be carefull! Hope some of this makes sense. Hard to put into words what I do without thinking much.

12-30-2003, 01:18 PM	#4
Surfster REDNECK Plugger iTrader: (0) Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: East end L.I. Posts: 309	Lathe is better Not that I have thru drilled my plugs with a lathe but recalling my machinist experience I can say this. When you are drilling with a lathe you already have center. At that point alls you have to do is make sure your centered with the drill side to side and a LITTLE below center going in. Using the lathe to turn the part realize the PART is spinning and the drill is fixed. It really shouldn't walk a whole lot. What you've got to do is "peck" slowly with the drill and always clear the chips to keep the drill from loading up and walking. IF the drill is overpowered and is forced to walk in a spinning part the drill will break. Worst case if your not quite on center but good enough to get through straight your jole would be slightly oversize. In other words if you are "TOO" far below center then you only cutting with one side of the drill , like a boreing bar. Also when drilling on a lathe you should not just drop the drill in and go. It should be positioned like I said, First , slightly below center and (this is important) with the flutes of the drill horizontal to you, straight across if not perfectly then at least with the flute (cutting edge) closest to you being higher than the other side. When you get in "the groove" it will become second nature and you will find it every time. It is also a good idea to start off the hole with a "jobber" or at least a much shorter and ridged bit to ensure your not walking right off the bat. Watch the bit as you retract out of the hole when you clear the chips. Does it come straight out or kind of "flick" in one direction? I little is fine if it looks like any more than 1/8" then something is off. With a wood lathe you don't have much adjustment so you'll have to beleive your dead on the first time. Try to incorporate as much as you can with what I've said and you should be swell. ME? well without a lathe that will drill I have my centers already there from the lathe so its a simple matter for me to start my hole on the tail side on center with a short and stiff drill while I hold the plug stock in my left hand. As soon as I get enough bite I SLIGHTLY release tension holding the wood and let it spin in my hand and observe the wood. Is it wobbling? Try to center the drill a little better until that wood looks as straight as yer P*cker on a windy day. When that say 2" deep hole is complete I can now follow it with the long drill and the predrill hole will (should) act as a guide to keep the long one straight. Keep pecking at high rpm and clear yer chips. Last night I did three 8" 2x2 slugs in a row and that drill came out through the center on the other side! When I say Peck the drill Im saying push slightly till you feel it cut then back out and clear. You really should be cutting no more than .25 with each peck before clearing chips. Whichever you prefer good luck and be carefull! Hope some of this makes sense. Hard to put into words what I do without thinking much.
	Hank LIBBA 1838 MSA 905