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drilling in brick

updated sat 9 aug 03

 

mel jacobson on mon 4 aug 03


if you have not tried the 1/2 inch brass tube...give it a try.
it is the best yet.

the reason is:

not many drill bits come 10 inches long...so you can get
through nine inches of brick in one bite.

get a 12 inch tube, chuck it...takes at least an inch,
and you have a full 10 for drilling.

over length drills are much more expensive.
and spades (as phil said) wander all over.
hate them.
for over and inch, that is all most folks have.
so, slow is the word.
try the tube, you will love it.
mel
From:
Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots
new/ http://www.TICK-ATTACK.COM

dalecochoy on tue 5 aug 03


Mel,
You certainly are right if going through 9" of brick. I'd not considered
that thickness in my question since I figured the questions originally asked
were your average store-bought kilns 3-4" thick brick.
But, you know, years ago I bought ( and still see them often) several real
long , slightly used, bits at flea markets and surplus-type stores. Really
cheap, only a couple dollars for a 12"ish drill bit. . I used them back then
for drilling spike holes in treated timbers for landscaping. Many are large
dia. with 1/4" chuck shank . Also masonry bits that are fairly large dia.
with 1/4" or 3/8" shank ends are often easily found at the same places.
Regards,
Dale

----- Original Message -----
From: "mel jacobson"
Subject: drilling in brick


> if you have not tried the 1/2 inch brass tube...give it a try.
> it is the best yet.
>
> the reason is:
>
> not many drill bits come 10 inches long...so you can get
> through nine inches of brick in one bite.
>
> get a 12 inch tube, chuck it...takes at least an inch,
> and you have a full 10 for drilling.
>
> over length drills are much more expensive.
> and spades (as phil said) wander all over.
> hate them.
> for over and inch, that is all most folks have.
> so, slow is the word.
> try the tube, you will love it.
> mel
> From:
> Minnetonka, Minnesota, U.S.A.
> web site: my.pclink.com/~melpots
> or try: http://www.pclink.com/melpots

Vince Pitelka on fri 8 aug 03


> over length drills are much more expensive.
> and spades (as phil said) wander all over.
> hate them.
> for over and inch, that is all most folks have.

Mel -
I am intrigued by your method using the brass tube, and will give it a try,
but I have never had any problem at all with spade bits "wandering." I get
very clean, precise holes, and as I said, if I make the spade bit from a
piece of allthread, I can use the threaded shaft like a file, to carve out
the hole to the desired size and shape.

Regular drill bits or masonry bits work great as well, and regarding extra
length drill bits, it is a very simple matter to weld a lengh of 3/8" steel
rod onto any drill bit. Wrap the business end of the drill bit in wet rags
while welding to keep it from overheating and loosing its temper. That is
especially true if you are using a masonry bit, because the carbide cutters
are silver-brazed to the steel drill shaft, and will fall off if overheated.
Best wishes -
- Vince

Vince Pitelka
Appalachian Center for Craft
Tennessee Technological University
1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
615/597-5376
Office - wpitelka@tntech.edu
615/597-6801 x111, FAX 615/597-6803
http://iweb.tntech.edu/wpitelka/