I never bother making sticks but for all of you who do, why not use a copper tube to make the hole. After it gets hard, put a hose on the end of the copper tube and make a fitting for a hair dryer or heat gun on the other end. Blow hot air through the tube until the lube softens and pull out the tube.
A fitting on the end of the tube could be made to take the end of a propane torch too. Just blow some flame through the tube.
Don't ask me if it will work, just a thought.