Advice on auger bits
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So, I’ve been building my workbench (from spruce I believe) over the past couple of weeks and had been planning on putting round dog holes into the bench top.
With that in mind I bought a couple (8mm and 20mm) power auger bits from Wickes this weekend and used them to drill and counter sink the bolt holes for attaching the leg frames to the skirts. To put it bluntly (no pun intended but appropriate), they were terrible and shredded their way into the wood. The cutting spur is about as sharp as a wooden spoon!
I knew there was a risk buying something like this from Wickes and paying not too much for them (£10 for the pair) but I wasn’t sure what that money would get me.
Anyhow, I’m after advice on what to buy instead. I used the Wickes ones in a Makita cordless drill on low speed setting, which the drill handled OK.
I see that Workshop Heaven sell FAMAG auger bits, which are a deal more expensive than the Wickes ones but I can’t find any reviews so I don’t know if they’re any good. I’m also unsure whether to get a brace as well, or if better auger bits will solve the problem.
Any advice very gratefully received.
Thanks,
Nick
13 January 2015 at 7:53 pm #123467I think you will find that as long as the e-bay bits are in good shape and are sharp( Follow Paul’s Video) they will drill good holes using the hand brace.
I have come to the opinion that cheap new drills of any type are next to useless. I have a case of twist drill I bought off QVC a few years back supposedly good for drilling metal, which are not capable of drilling holes even in wood.
More recently I bought a pack of 5 Forstner drill bits (cheap)15mm to 30mm Using a power drill it is impossible to get them to cut , not sure if they would work in a drill press13 January 2015 at 9:54 pm #123470I have some vintage Jennings and Irwin style Augar Bits that I learn to sharpen watching Paul’s U Tube video along with my 12″ North Brothers Brace I had no problems drilling through a 3 3/8″ thick pine top.
Having said that I made sure when I was coming out the bottom I did not go all the way through, just the tip of the spur and drilled back up from the bottom.
My bench top had not been permently fastened at the time so I could flip the top very easily.
Steve
Thanks for the advice guys,
My eBay bits have arrived and seem better than I was expecting, but I’m still waiting for the brace, which will be the real test of them.
Incidentally I notice Workshop Heaven sell new Clico Jennings pattern bits that are pretty expensive. Does anyone have any experience with these (not that I have £160 to spend on set)?
Cheers,
Nick
The brace and bits have arrived now and are working beautifully.
Incidentally I tried the Wicked bits in the brace (in case I had been doing something wrong when I first used them) and at the slower speed I can see the spur is making contact first, but is shredding. I will try sharpening it and see how that goes.
Thanks again for all the help.
Nick
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