Replies

1. 
   user-64052 | Jul 06, 2011 07:26pm | #1

   split rod

   just take 1/4 or 3/8 rod or dowelling and cut a slot it it and wrap a strip of sandpaper around it and mount it in a drill.

   ron

2. 
   roc | Jul 06, 2011 09:57pm | #2

   Or You Could . . .

   OK Ron  beat me to the flap sander idea.  Here is another idea.  This is the way a metal machinist would  smooth the hole and as long as you keep the cutters sharp it should work for wood.

   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reamer

   I have several of these adjustable reamers and also smaller nonadjustable ones.  Some of the nonadjustable ones have straight blade edges rather than the spiral.  A bit of candle wax would be a good idea here.  Turn them by hand rather than chuck in a drill.  Is easy to turn once you get the right size figured out and goes fast.  It just skims the hole wall.  It doesn't really cut the hole larger.

   Pre , tell why do you need the entire length of a long narrow hole smooth all the way through ?  Can you just smooth the first inch or so that is visible on each end ?

   
1. 
   user-64052 | Jul 09, 2011 08:53pm | #7

   was that not

   proper etiquete Roc;  speaking before you.

   I don't know how  or with what that he is drilling those holes, but maple usually drills pretty clean. perhaps it is punky and tearing out and that can be fixed too.. I think that he should fill us in why it is so rough. sand paper on a shaft like I mentioned shouldn't be a problem.

   if he wants to spend a little money he more than likey could buy some small flap wheels and a mandrel from merit abrasives

   ron

1. 
   user-64052 | Jul 09, 2011 04:16pm | #6

   ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

   and by now Roc; I thought that I would have heard one of your witty (or witless, how ever one looks at them) retorts.

   I see that you pulled that zzzzzzzzzzzzzz trick  on someone  on another thread. perhaps you presumed to much in your reply and you imtimidated him. maybe that is why he didn't respond to you

   ron

2. 
   johnprose | Jul 10, 2011 07:36pm | #11

   The maple is not punky and the holes are being drilled with a spade bit through 8" end grain of maple. Flap wheels might work if I can find them in sizes from 1" down to 1/2" in steps of 1/8".

1. 
   user-64052 | Jul 10, 2011 07:57pm | #12

   that is why

   they are tearing; you are using a spade bit. use a better bit and you won't have that much of a problem. Sand paper on a stick will do just as well as a flap wheel (I did give you a brand name, allyou had to do was google it, to find where they are sold). they will plug up at the same pace. you jusy pay more for a manufactured one is all

   ron

1. 
   user-64052 | Jul 10, 2011 08:08pm | #13

   what are the dimensions of the objects

   that you are trying to drill or bore.  end grain does also set another parameter esp with end grain as it will tend to rip the long grain instead of cutting.

   9 out of 10 times people never give enough info when they are asking questions when they have a problem

   ron

2. 
   joinerswork | Jul 11, 2011 07:39am | #14

   John,

   A spiral bit with a lipped cutter (like an auger bit) will make for a cleaner hole than a spade bit. The spur at the outer edge of the lip severs the grain fibers, and the spiral body is more rigid, so the bit will not be inclined to whip like a spade bit with its thinner stem.

   Ray 

3. 
   johnprose | Jul 07, 2011 11:21am | #3

   The entire length of the hole has to be smooth, not just the first inch or so.

   I've tried the sandpaper on a dowel idea and it really doesn't give quite enough sanding ability.

   I clamp the work piece to the bench, insert a 12" dowel into my drill with some sandpaper wrapped around it and insert into the hole. I have a block of wood with a hole cut into it that I use to hold the other end of the dowel and allow me to put some pressure on the sanding.

   So far, this is the best idea I have, but I was hoping for a little better.

   John

4. 
   user-231958 | Jul 07, 2011 01:43pm | #4

   John,

   How are you now cutting the holes?  Are you using a drill press?  How do you hold the workpiece?  Why aren't the holes "smooth" enough as cut?  What do you mean by "smooth" anyhow?

   If you are cutting with a dull cutting tool (or running the cutter at the wrong speed), you may pushing and tearing the fibers rather than shearing them.  The tearing will occur on the portion of the circumference where your cutting tool is running tangent to the grain even though you may be getting decent cutting on the portion of the circumference where your cutting tool is running perpendicular to the grain.  This may also give you a hole that is out of round.  Is that what you mean by not "smooth" enough.

   I would suggest using a cutter that is capable of shearing the wood fibers.  One thing that may work is first drilling the hole a bit undersized -- perhaps 1/64 or 1/32 undersized.  Then change drill bits without disturbing your setup and drilling the hole with a sharp, finish size drill bit.  You may also find it helpful to experiment with the drill speed and feed rate.

   The reamer idea is not a bad one.  You can buy sized chucking reamers as well as adjustable reamers.  They have a "lead in" and will naturally center themselves and follow a drilled hole.  However, be sure to consider the length of the reamer with respect to both the length of the drill you are using to drill and the depth of the hole.

   For reamers, check out Enco and MSC.

5. 
   roc | Jul 07, 2011 09:17pm | #5

   John, Oh you'er welcome . . .

   don't mention it

6. 
   roc | Jul 09, 2011 08:53pm | #8

   Hi Ron !

   How are things going ?

   I suppose I didn't understand some of your post; the etiquette thing. Some of your post didn't make sense to me because I read it too fast. So I was lazy and just let it go.

   Now that I looked at it again I believe you meant to say the opposite of what you wrote:

    >sand paper on a shaft like I mentioned should be a problem.<

   Then when I clicked on the link it took me to your beautiful turned work.  I was expecting to see the sanding wheels and mandrel so I just got all quiet and confused.

   Intimidated  hmmmm

   you mean like when Arnold  Schwarzenegger says "I'll be back " ?

   Wow I didn't know I could be like that.

   COOOOOOOL !

   I can't wait to try it out on some big biker dudes  ! ! ! !

   So all I gotta do is talk about taps and stuff and SHAZAM they will get all scared and ride or run away right ?

   That is soooo cool !

   Hang on.  I'm gonna go find some . . .

1. 
   user-64052 | Jul 09, 2011 08:55pm | #9

   thank you Roc

   that should, should have been a shouldn't and I corrected it  It should now make sense.

   ron

1. 
   roc | Jul 09, 2011 09:49pm | #10

   I keep saying that about life but

   It doesn't always help.

   It should make sense. It should make sense. It should make sense.

   but

   quite often it doesn't.