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planetor bits - long hole boring

H

harperra

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Feb 15, 2006
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After a looking around online I can't find any sources nor many references (last rec.woodworking reference was in 1998) for planetor bits. When still in production (and available) they were used to bore long straight holes in
the ship building, electrical and pipe fitting trades. I once saw a set on Ebay, but that was months ago and haven't seen any since.

My intended use is to bore a hole in the endgrain of a piece of wood (maple, cherry, cocobola) about 20-24" long to make a wooden flute. The final inside diameter could be 11/16" up to 1" It is very important that the
hole is straight.

Anyone out there had any experience with these bits? Know of a source? Have an alternative for boring holes like this? Thanks.
 
Gun Drill

I watched a demo at SWAT a couple of years ago where the demonstrator made bagpipes using a gun drill to do the boring. Suggest you search the internet for "gun drill".
 
Irwin has a newish series of triple flute high speed auger bits. Uses the name "speedbor (R)", but these aren't spade bits. I got a set with 5/8, 3/4, & 1 inch, but they have other sets and might also have individual bits in many sizes. Hex shank, and 6in & 12in extension bars, snap fit. I haven't used the extensions, so I don't know how bad wobble might be. Available at Lowes and Home Depot, likely others too.

Another possibility would be ship auger bits, usually up to about 18in long. These have full-length flutes and are thus self-aligning, so an extension bar shouldn't affect wobble.

Joe
 
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