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Question regarding use of drill press

3K views 11 replies 11 participants last post by  dangee 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello everyone!
I'm having a problem using my drill press. Let's start with a photo…
I take two pieces of wood a half inch wide and tape them together.
Then I place them under the drill bit and drill out 3 holes.
The inside of the wood is rough and sometimes it chews up the sides.
What am I doing wrong? I have replaced the bit with a new one and
it does the same thing. The wood is Select Pine. Thank you for any advice. Danette
Furniture Rectangle Wood House Armrest


Wood Rectangle Flooring Table Beige
 

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#2 · (Edited by Moderator)
#3 · (Edited by Moderator)
If the "sometimes it chews up the sides" is shown in the first picture above, it's blow out resulting from the bit exiting the hole at the bottom of your pieces. Put a piece of junk wood / a sacrificial board under your good stuff and drill through the good stuff normally, but stopping in the junk. If the good is held down firm, that trick should minimize blow out.

Inside hole roughness may be the type of bit you're using, not sure.

EDIT: Another way to prevent blow out is to drill through until the bit just peaks through the piece, then flip it over and cut from the other side…
 
#5 ·
Looks like there is a few things going on. The first is that perhaps the tape isn't holding as tight as needed. It looks there is a lot of chatter as shown in the tear out within the hole being drilled. You may want to consider drilling into a wider piece the rip it down the middle. Or glue the two pieces together sandwiched between brown paper (like that of a brown paper bag). Drill the wholes, separate the two pieces, and then sand off the paper/gule.

The tear out at what was likely the bottom was caused by not having a backer board under the work piece. Finally, make sure your drill press speed is adjusted for the size and type of drill bit you are using.
 
#8 ·
What speed are you operating the DP at? If you haven't already, move to a Forstner or a saw tooth bit and use the recommended speed for the bit. Speed can make all the difference in the world depending upon which bit, size, etc. There are several good charts offered by Wood Magazine that shows the types of bits and the various speeds for various diameters. I would double down on Andy's advice.
 
#9 ·
I agree with all the above also. Especially, a forstner bit, and a backer board. Be sure to let the bit do the cutting. In other words, maybe slow down your plunging a bit. good luck
 
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