Long 1/16" Drill Bit ?

[Johnch]

I need to drill a bunch of small longer holes in wood
The short holes will be 2" long , 3" longer and longest holes up to 5" long

So I am going to order at least 2 of each bit
I looked and I see 4" and 6" 1/16" drill bits can be ordered
I would prefer 3/64"
But I didn't look if I could order 4" or 6" 3/64" drill bits
I also am not sure how durable they would be

The wood will be Willow , Birch , Popular and pine
The pine will be from 2x4's
All of the wood will be knot free

Any suggestions as to brand and where to order from ?
Would a 3/64" 4" drill bit hold up to drilling wood ?

Thanks
John

[lancem]

There was a time I used a lot of drill bits. I found this company to be quick and have a quality product.

https://www.buydrillbits.com/products/hss/gp2.php?c=AIR

[lancem]

Would a 3/64" 4" drill bit hold up to drilling wood ?



If I were doing it I would be using a drill press and have the material clamped to the table. With that done I think the only way a bit would break would be if you were trying to feed it too fast or weren't taking time to clear the chips from the bit.

[chambers]

McMaster Carr has long 6" bits. May want to look on E B A Y

[deltaenterprizes]

Make your own with a 36” piece of drill rod!

[Wayne Smith]

John, any drill bit you buy will be adequate for the work you are doing. Agreed with the idea of using a drill press if that is possible, with such a small bit. If straightness is important the press is probably essential. It is hard to hold a drill motor exactly level and plumb for a deep hole.

[alfadan]

Aircraft length drills is a good search term.

[hoodat]

Pre-drill with your shorter bit to get a straight hole started. jd

[Mal Paso]

Home Depot has 12" in bits.

"Installer's Bit" if you are asking.

[farmbif]

MSCdirect or McMaster carr- search for extended length drill bits. sometimes they are called aircraft drill bits, but now days aircraft drill bits can also mean a few different things like stepped and straight drill bits that have a 3/8 round shank with dimples for an aircraft drill and there was something else they were called but cant think of the name

[MT Gianni]

No experience with the small stuff but have had no problems using 18" long 1/4" bits. The smaller the diameter, the easier it is to get crooked.

[WRideout]

Make your own with a 36” piece of drill rod!

It's actually easy to make a bit out of steel rod. I have been making a raised garden bed by pinning together 4x4's with steel rod salvaged from metal shelving. I cut one to length, and sharpened the end to a slanted spear point. It goes right through the cedar posts.

Wayne

[nicholst55]

As stated above, look for aircraft drills online.

[BLAHUT]

Either by hand or drill press go slow and clear chips. Heat and chips are what kills your bits.

[country gent]

the high helix bits pull chips better. 1/2 dia of drill and clear chips. Break chips very often, small chips are easier to clear. Are you drilling with the grain or against it. Small drills may want to follow the grain drilling with it

[elmacgyver0]

I've made long drill bits for drilling in wood from coat hanger wire.

[Wayne Smith]

I've made long drill bits for drilling in wood from coat hanger wire.

I don't know what wood you were drilling but that will follow the grain and turn from every knot.

[chuckbuster]

An “Aircraft Drill” normally only has 2” of flute regardless of OAL or diameter.
Will be an issue with chips going deep with them. As someone mentioned above as soon as flutes are full it will bind and break. Drills this small do not have much flute volume, fill very fast. Pecking is slow process and doesn’t lend to straight holes

[technojock]

I've had good luck with the bits I get from Victor Machine but then again, I only buy American made drill bits...

Tony

[jonp]

I've had good luck with the bits I get from Victor Machine but then again, I only buy American made drill bits...

Tony

Better made or buy american first if possible?

[Bloodman14]

Lowe's has several diameters available in long bits; I have a few. Not expensive.

[DougGuy]

You want wire gauge aircraft drill bits. As stated getting rid of the chips as the hole deepens will be important. Starting the hole with a shorter bit in a drill press sounds like a good idea.

[uscra112]

Use soap on the bits as a lubricant. Ivory preferred, but in fact any bar soap will do.

[Duckiller]

Local large Home Depot has a bunch of small diameter long bits.I would check out Home Depot and Lowes, your problems may be behind you.

[Geezer in NH]

Jon buy a bunch of them. From my experience drill press or not you WILL need them.

[Smoke4320]

as mentioned several times here a drill press is nearly a must for deep holes with a small dia bit, lube bit, clear chips often and drill slowly . buy multiple bits

[elmacgyver0]

I don't know what wood you were drilling but that will follow the grain and turn from every knot.

Perhaps if you made them.:kidding:
I used them to mark the location of outlet boxes and such, usually in floors where it would be easy to find in a crawl space.
Worked fine for what I used them for.

[Johnch]

I don't know what wood you were drilling but that will follow the grain and turn from every knot.

I ordered a 4" and 6"
I have several short 1/16" bits
Grainger's had 12" 1/16" bits
As there is a Grainger's close to me I bought one of that size to try

As for the bit following the grain or moving because of knots

I am using short sections of wood
I also check and do not use any chunk of wood with knots
These chunks of wood are being converted into fishing lures
So I need 100% clean wood to carve easy and take paint

John