Replies

1. 
   vanderpooch_ | Mar 06, 2002 07:02pm | #1

   *
   the best i have tried are the weldon style. they have a single flute and are designed for metal working, but work very well on wood. i believe both lee valley and garrett wade sell them,as well as any machinist supply house (mcmaster-carr or grainger...) the standard for wood screw is, i believe, 82 degrees? someone will come along who knows more....

1. 
   Steve_Schefer | Mar 06, 2002 07:08pm | #2

   *Mike, I use a 5/8 82 in the drill press. This is designed for metal work so I run it at high speed and feed slow. It does a very nice job. The one I got as an experiment I bought at Ace Hardware, the brand name is Vermont America. It worked and I'm still using it. If you need a 5/8 - 60 then just use a 5/8 high speed drill bit, I think its pretty close to 60 deg.Steve

1. 
   Stephen_Shepherd | Mar 06, 2002 07:13pm | #3

   *The old style snail countersink for a hand brace won't chatter. If you are using a drill press, go to the highest speed to reduce chatter.Stephen

1. 
   a_jepson | Mar 06, 2002 07:25pm | #4

   *I hope you guys don't use your countersinks at high speed when your working with metal. the slower the speed in metal the better. i think the most important thing to getting good results when your countersinking is to use a sharp bit and to take a final light pass that just shaves a little bit of wood off. a heavy feed rate combined with runnout is usually the cause of chatter.

1. 
   Steve_Schefer | Mar 06, 2002 07:33pm | #5

   *ajepson.. Ahhh but they put off such a lovely red glow..S

2. 
   rob.kelly | Mar 07, 2002 03:28am | #6

   *Mike, I often use rotary files as countersinks. If they are "double cut" they don't chatter. The single cut ones grab the wood. Carbide or high speed steel work the same.

3. 
   Don_Stephan | Mar 07, 2002 04:33pm | #7

   *Ditto on the weldon style. Leaves a very smooth surface.

4. 
   Scott_Braun | Mar 07, 2002 04:48pm | #8

   *Mike, this may sound overly simple, but try this: countersink BEFORE you drill the hole. the reason it's chattering is because the point has nowhere to grab, and it's moving around in the already drilled hole. SB

5. 
   Ed_Okie | Mar 07, 2002 05:47pm | #9

   *Much of the problem can be solved by using a bit that has variably-spaced cutting teeth. I bought one from Lee Valley (German made) and it works very well (product # 45J11.05 priced at $13.50).Scott's prior message of countersinking before drilling well may have merit; never thought of it that way.

6. 
   Bill_Duckworth | Mar 07, 2002 06:24pm | #10

   *Here's the best, chatter-free countersink I ever bought and used--solid carbide, lasted forever until it hit a concrete floor on a fall from the workbench:http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/cgi-local/SoftCart.exe/store/product_pages/CS6034.html?L+scstore+lhzy8619ff438443+1029210981

7. 
   Mike_Taylor1 | Mar 07, 2002 07:08pm | #11

   *Okie - I just ordered a couple of the Lee Valley bits. Thanks!Scott- due to production requirements, I have to drill the center hole first. Long story.Bill - WOW! $92 for a countersink is a bit high for me!Thanks all!

8. 
   Bill_Duckworth | Mar 07, 2002 07:19pm | #12

   *Mike--Understood, $92 is way more than I'd pay for a countersink, too. The one I had (3/4-in.) I bought in about 1984 from an industrial tool supplier and paid about $20 for it. I posted the Jamestown Dist. address because they had a great photo to illustrate what I was talking about.