Drilling Holes in Long Wood Dowels Without a Drill

The video “Drilling Holes in Long Wood Dowels…without a drill” is by Newton Makes. In this intriguing woodworking adventure, Billy takes on the challenge of drilling a hole in the center of a long dowel without using a traditional drill. This task might sound daunting, but with some creativity and the right tools, it’s more than achievable.

Traditional Methods and Their Challenges

Drilling a hole in the center of a dowel can often be tricky. The most accurate way to do this is typically using a drill press. The process involves securing a piece of scrap material like MDF on the drill press, clamping it down to ensure stability, and using a Forstner bit to match the size of the dowel.

Once the dowel is secure, the bit is replaced with one that matches the desired hole diameter. This method should, in theory, drill perfectly in the center. However, as Billy points out, sometimes things don’t go as planned.

Setting up the drill press to drill a dowel

Innovative Solutions with a Router Table

Rather than sticking with conventional methods, Billy decides to use a router table. By cutting a board in half and aligning it perfectly, he creates a seamless surface. With a core box bit – essentially a half-circle shaped router bit – he crafts a precise, centered hole in the dowel.

Using a router table to drill a hole

Perfect Alignments and Creative Outcomes

The result is impressive, with the hole perfectly centered and the grain aligning seamlessly. Billy notes that this technique could be ideal for projects like lamp posts or even for creating dowels. By trimming the workpiece to size and rounding over the edges, a square piece is transformed into a cylindrical dowel.

Perfectly aligned dowel with a hole

Conclusion

This method not only allows for precision but also creates a dowel with thin walls, something that could easily break if drilled traditionally. Billy’s approach showcases how thinking outside the box can lead to innovative solutions in woodworking.

Video

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