Help with drilling pen blanks

[smitty10101]

Need some help/insight.

1st off I don't do pens, the wife does. BUT occasionally I get drafted into it and refusal is not an option.

 

the set up:

Craftsman bench top drill press

a dedicated vice to hold the blank

the proper sized brad point drill bit for the desired hole.

 

the problem/question:

when drilling the hole 8 times out of 10 the hole will be angled through the length of the blank. Both in wood & acrylic. Same result while drilling using the lathe.

 

Is that a problem with my 

technique?

the grain direction?

the set up?

the equipement?

 

I try to clear the chips while drilling----she doesn't-- NORMALLY.

 

So do you turners use a press or do you drill while on the lathe. How do you, if it can be done, cure/alleviate the bit from wandering?

 

More questions to follow as I think of them.

 

thks

smitty

 

 

[lew]

I was going to suggest the lathe for drilling but you already tried that.

 

I can never get a "straight" hole on my drill press. I think the quill guide is worn. Did you check the lathe setup to be certain the headstock and tailstock are coplanar (straight in line)? Also, how are you holding the work in the head stock? 

[John Morris]

2 hours ago, smitty10101 said:

a dedicated vice to hold the blank

What kind of vise is it Smitty?

[HandyDan]

When drilling on the lathe finding center is the important part.  Watch the first 2 minutes of this video which has the best way to find center in my opinion.  He says to put just a little dimple but he is using a pointed bit.  I use high quality regular bits and make the dimple at least half the size of the bit being used.  Works very well for me.

 

 

 

 

Edited January 22, 2020 by HandyDan

[Gerald]

It can be done on DP but make sure 

    1. table is level

    2. sharp bit, Brad point preferred

    3. clear chips maybe every 1/4 to 1/2 inch

Even the some woods (mesquite) will still not drill due to grain.

 

For lathe I use the Nova pen jaws and I think some other manufacturers have them also. For this setup nothing else is needed just take it easy.

[Gunny]

20 minutes ago, Gerald said:

It can be done on DP but make sure 

    1. table is level

    2. sharp bit, Brad point preferred

    3. clear chips maybe every 1/4 to 1/2 inch

Even the some woods (mesquite) will still not drill due to grain.

 

For lathe I use the Nova pen jaws and I think some other manufacturers have them also. For this setup nothing else is needed just take it easy.

The table being level and square to the drill bit is important to check, and a sharp bit is a must.  For a jig I made my own to hold the blanks.  Will do square or circular objects.  

 

 

[smitty10101]

2 hours ago, John Morris said:

What kind of vise is it Smitty?

@johnmorris

john very similar to this

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/DRILLCENT3.html

 

her's is probably last years model though.

1 hour ago, Gerald said:

It can be done on DP but make sure 

    1. table is level

    2. sharp bit, Brad point preferred

    3. clear chips maybe every 1/4 to 1/2 inch

 

Gerald

#1 table is as level as you can get with a Craftsman benchtop DP that's about 40-50 years old.

#2 brand new bit--I broke it in

#3 clearing often but no less than every 1/2"

 

 

@Lew

 

3 hours ago, lew said:

Did you check the lathe setup to be certain the headstock and tailstock are coplanar

Truthfully--- only every so often  -- when turning. Since I don't normally use the lathe to drill--not recently. But when I did it was as good as a Harbor Freight will allow

3 hours ago, lew said:

Also, how are you holding the work in the head stock? 

Lew a "pen drilling chuck"

https://www.pennstateind.com/store/CSCPENCHK.html

 

@handydan    interesting video, interesting  ideas 

 

thks to ALL. Will keep trying. Will cut up some scrap blanks and try to eliminate my "errors".

 

smitty

 

 

[smitty10101]

2 hours ago, John Morris said:

What kind of vise is it Smitty?

BTW thanks for the spelling correction. Don't know how that got past me---must be getting old----"vice-vise"

[RustyFN]

I also drill all of mine on the lathe with the Nova pen jaws.