Drilling holes i Baltic Birch

[scrollingforsanity]

looking for any ideas on drilling the small holes in my stack cut I/8in Baltic birch ornaments. Not the blade entry holes but the small holes that would be left in the finished product. Sometimes the holes are small and several of them so its easier to drill them than cut them but I always seem to get a blowout on the bottom piece. Doesn't look good. Maybe its the drill bit or I am going through to fast. Any of your input would be appreciated. been doing it that way for a long time but finally decided to ask advice.

grizz

Oregon 

[OCtoolguy]

11 minutes ago, scrollingforsanity said:

looking for any ideas on drilling the small holes in my stack cut I/8in Baltic birch ornaments. Not the blade entry holes but the small holes that would be left in the finished product. Sometimes the holes are small and several of them so its easier to drill them than cut them but I always seem to get a blowout on the bottom piece. Doesn't look good. Maybe its the drill bit or I am going through to fast. Any of your input would be appreciated. been doing it that way for a long time but finally decided to ask advice.

grizz

Oregon 

Maybe a pic of what you are doing Grizz.

 

[bandaideman]

I think slowing down how fast you are trying to push through and I usually will put a sacrificial board under it so the bit will go into a waste board less chance of blow out. 

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

You should always back up your project with a scrap piece when drilling any holes. Prevents blow outs as long as the piece is secured to the backer. 

[kmmcrafts]

I use a scrap board for drilling.. a real good sharp drill bit helps some too.. also.. take it slow.. especially going through the last ( bottom )of the stack.. When drilling wood.. I find that if you are making a small pile of fine sawdust on the top board.. your probably going the right speed... if not then you end up with the drill clogged and as you bring the drill back up it unclogs and leaves you the packed sawdust strings rather than a sawdust.. if that's the case.. pushing to fast through the wood.. I push through most times if its away from the line into a waist area.. otherwise I go slooooow, LOL..   

[rdv464]

There are two things you can do, (1) use a backer on the bottom, (2) put painter's tape on the back of the bottom piece!!

rdv

[Scrappile]

Waste board underneath and good brad point bits. 

[kmmcrafts]

40 minutes ago, Scrappile said:

Waste board underneath and good brad point bits. 

brad point bits are awesome.. I had a set several years ago and never had any ripping or push through splinters.. I doubt they have them in the small numbered sizes though do they?  Don't think I've ever seen them smaller than 1/8.. 

[Paladin]

7 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

brad point bits are awesome.. I had a set several years ago and never had any ripping or push through splinters.. I doubt they have them in the small numbered sizes though do they?  Don't think I've ever seen them smaller than 1/8.. 

If someone has a supplier of brad point bits in the smaller sizes I would love to know about them.  Never been able to find the really small ones.

[tomsteve]

the drill speed comes into play,too. not the feed speed but the rpm of the drill.i run about 1800rpm's for drilling 1/4" and smaller with brad points and speed up to about 2500 for twist drills.

[JTTHECLOCKMAN]

2 hours ago, Paladin said:

If someone has a supplier of brad point bits in the smaller sizes I would love to know about them.  Never been able to find the really small ones.

You won't. 1/8" smallest. There are some China sets out there that claim they have a 1/16" brad point bit but I would like to see it and do not believe it. Big name tool manufacturers do not make them.

[oldhudson]

I always use a sacrificial backer when drilling through. 

[Scrappile]

The smallest brad point is probably the 3mm, which I guess is a hair smaller than 1/8".  The reason I mentioned them is when I was cutting out the parts for a wooden gear clock, I needed some precise holes in several places.  I started buying good Brad Point bits, from Lee Valley, buying individual bits of the size needed.  Now I add to that collection from time to time.  If you get into things that work with gears, like the clock, robots, etc. you will need to have some good bits to drill the holes in the wood.

[scrollingforsanity]

Thank You for all the suggestions,  I will give them a try. I am sure it will help. I think I am drilling so many holes I get in a hurry and force the bit through I think.

grizz

Oregon

[Fish]

Backboard and tape. 

[WayneMahler]

I always use a piece of scrap behind what I am drilling. Prevents the blow out and helps keep things a lot cleaner.

[crupiea]

I only use a hand drill plus I put a plank under the piece I am drilling. 

[Karl S]

I find that speed also has an effect, small bits need a higher speed to clear the chips.

 

[Rolf]

The smaller the bit the faster the speed. Most big Drill presses do not spin fast enough. I Have a dedicated drill for the tiny holes from Micro Mark.

and as the others have said you need a backer. Also nibble at it as you drill. Wow has the price gone up since I bought mine.   

https://www.micromark.com/MicroLux-3-Speed-Mini-Drill-Press

 

The Dremel tool with drill press attachment and drill chuck would probably be a better choice.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Dremel-Rotary-Tool-WorkStation-for-Woodworking-and-Jewelry-Making-220-01/202263196?cm_mmc=Shopping|G|VF|D25T|25-9_PORTABLE+POWER|DREMEL|NA|Versa|LIA|71700000044136618|58700004605584227|92700039522038325&gclid=Cj0KCQiA6dLgBRDoARIsAJgoM4u38ZxQ7mLDdGrw5x3qFt8GE_-bkS7k9onoDLi8PsPoQbaqumX4TnsaAn3hEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

[OCtoolguy]

On 12/14/2018 at 9:17 AM, scrollingforsanity said:

Thank You for all the suggestions,  I will give them a try. I am sure it will help. I think I am drilling so many holes I get in a hurry and force the bit through I think.

grizz

Oregon

Take your time. No hurry. This is a hobby remember. And someone else has suggested more than once that if you have a lot of holes to drill, don't drill them all at once. Drill a few and then scroll. Sort of takes the rush out of it. Sloooooooowwwwwwwdddooooowwwwwnnnnn!

 

[scrollingforsanity]

Thanks for the advice Ray I will try slowing down and I am sure it will help. It is just a hobby.

grizz

Oregon

[NC Scroller]

Biggest problem I have seen with drilling on a drill press is most people turn the drill press on and then proceed to punch the bit through the wood.  The second biggest issue is using dull bits. So to drill properly and have nice clean holes the bit rotation should fast, the feed rate slow and use a backer board and a clean sharp bit.    

[OCtoolguy]

On 12/14/2018 at 8:11 AM, Scrappile said:

The smallest brad point is probably the 3mm, which I guess is a hair smaller than 1/8".  The reason I mentioned them is when I was cutting out the parts for a wooden gear clock, I needed some precise holes in several places.  I started buying good Brad Point bits, from Lee Valley, buying individual bits of the size needed.  Now I add to that collection from time to time.  If you get into things that work with gears, like the clock, robots, etc. you will need to have some good bits to drill the holes in the wood.

Paul, I checked out Lee Valley and they have brad point bits down to 5/64". I have no idea how they can do that but they do. They get a ton of money for their bits. I hope they are that much better than the cheaper ones. I'm going to order up the basic set of 7 I think.

[scrollingforsanity]

That's what I  have been doing Scott, turning the drill press on and pinching holes. I do use a backer board but I think I need to change it more often as it gets a lot of holes in it then I am defeating my purpose using it. I might also look intoi sme of the bits Ray found and see if that helps.

grizz

[Rolf]

5/64 brad point, I have never seen one that small. 

My normal drill bit is a #69 or 70 for my ornaments. .028 dia just enough for the blade.