plug help

ReelCrazySportfishing · 03-17-2007, 07:58 AM

yesterday i did about 12 pencil poppers. all 8 inches long. most of the plugs i do are 6 inches long.

well out of the the 12 pencils i did I missed on the through wire hole on 11 of them.
with the longer wood should I be doing something different?

Charleston · 03-17-2007, 09:21 AM

Before we can help you hit those holes correctly we need to know what method you are using.
I drill my through holes on the lathe and I hit them right on the money. By hit I mean; coming in from both ends and meeting mid plug somewhere.
What type of drill are you using?

ReelCrazySportfishing · 03-17-2007, 10:17 AM

Im useing a drill press. it has the laser sights also. I turn the wood on the lathe. then I move to the press. i start the holes on the marks from the lathe. I figure that is as close as im going to get to the center. my first drill is with a 1/8 bit about 3 inches long. then i flip the wood and do the same. next i move to the long bit. i believe its 8inchs. i do about an inch at a time. flipping the wood each time. what gets me is im not even close. some of them the bit came right out the side. i have no problem with wood up to 6 inches. ill miss maybe 1 out of 30. but in 2 days i missed 17 out of 18 times. all on 8 inch blanks.

Bob & Mag · 03-17-2007, 10:35 AM

Could it be that the bit is flexing?

H'Islander · 03-17-2007, 11:21 AM

Take your drill press an bolt or otherwise secure a 4/4 bd under the chuck. Make certain that the table is locked down secure also. Go to HD, get a package of dowel centers (that's the name of them) Counterbore a hole into the board on your drill press to accept the dowel center - insert the dowel center so it seats firmly up to the flange (you'll see what I'm talking about)

Now you have a positive alignment between the two center marks from your lathe. This is absolutely vital. Go S-L-O-W when deep drilling. Clear the flutes of the drill often. A loaded-up drill will walk immediately.

If you have to move the table, use a piece of rod, straight wire, something to re-align the chuck to that dowel center.

The trick is 100% alignment, High speed, slow feed...

-K

ReelCrazySportfishing · 03-17-2007, 05:35 PM

The dowel centers come in different sizes. looks like up to 1/2 in
what size should I get?

H'Islander · 03-17-2007, 06:54 PM

Doesn't matter - if fact the poor man's versoin is to drive a 10p nail (i'd pre drill it if I were you) through the board from the bottom up till it just penetrates - then just cut off the excess nail from the bottom and line it up on-center with the chuck - it's the point that you will use to register the points on the plug that you want to the thru hole to travel. Remember, this works with off-center holes as well, you're just lining up the points where the thru-hole enters and exits.....

fishdoc · 03-17-2007, 10:30 PM

Kev, Post that drawing you sent me over a year ago up for Pat. The diagram that you sent me was right on the money! Off centers are just as easy as dead centers. The only problem that I have is that I use a bench drill press with not enough travel to reach the center of any blank over 6 inches. I start with a 11/64 short bit and drill each end twice giving me about a 2 inch start from each end. I then insert a 6" 1/8 bit into the 11/64 hole and put it back into the chuck and drill as far as it will go from both ends. I then finish with a hand drill. Like you said SLOWLY. On a 6 inch plug I probably have no more than 1/4 inch total to hand drill and on an 8 inch plug about 1 inch from each end. When I remember SLOWLY I usually get 'em all. However a drill chuck for the lathe would make a big difference...ONE OF THESE DAYS!

ReelCrazySportfishing · 03-17-2007, 11:33 PM

im going to pick up the dowel centers on sunday.
what really gets me is every thing was working out fine then all of a sudden I cant drill $hit. I checked evey thing on the press and its all ok. I havent changed anything. all the same type of wood. the bit is straight.
I tried some smaller plugs tonight and the same crap happened. out of 8 I got 2. these were 4 in ones. I know my shoulder still isnt right but Im using the tools without any pain.
If i could have lifted the press up i would have thrown it out in the street

it turning at 640 rpm should i speed it up?
next speed on it is 1100rpm

Jnski · 03-18-2007, 07:28 AM

Something definitely isn't right there. Maybe time for a new bit, it may be dull.
Try a brad point, it may help some. Unfortunately, I won't be much help with the drill press, I do everything with a dremel and hand drill. Clamp in bench vise, start each side with a dremel(bit doesn't wander) then drill both ends with a 8" bit. Something That I find that makes it easier for me is drilling the belly hole first. I then drill each side to the belly holle. If it's off a little, you can still coax the wire through.
Lot of good tips here, let us know how it's working out. Good luck

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