Drill, baby. Drill! 5 inches?

[WildcatHollow]

What's the best way to cleanly and accurately drill a blank for a 5 inch brass tube when my drill press only has 3 inches worth of downward reach?

I thought about flipping the blank, but realized that any minor change in any one of the adjustment variables would mean the two holes would be slightly off.

Other than ordering pre-drilled blanks, are there DIY options?

Thank you for your help.

Regards,

t.

 

[Rmartin]

I have had the same issue. I will drill as deep as possible, and then raise my drill press bed. It takes time, but it can be done. Sometimes you have to lower the bed to clean the debris, and then lower and drill some more.

Also, think about segmenting bands which can be drilled seperately and then glued as one on the blank.

 

[ed4copies]

If you have a 5" bit, just put something under your blank (2x4) to raise it on the bit.

 

[Manny]

Drill on the lathe

 

[DurocShark]

Drill on the lathe

My lathe doesn't have 5" of tailstock travel. So I end up in the same boat. The difference is I can just loosen the tailstock, retract the quill, and slide it right in and go again. I've gotten pretty quick. . .

 

[dow]

My lathe doesn't have 5" of tailstock travel. So I end up in the same boat. The difference is I can just loosen the tailstock, retract the quill, and slide it right in and go again. I've gotten pretty quick. . .

Neither does mine, so I drill to the amount of travel that I do have, and then spin the chuck back into the tailstock and move the tailstock towards the end of the blank and drill further in. Works like a charm. I drilled a BOW blank for a long click last night, as a matter of fact.

 

[Chief Hill]

And mine also only has a 3" plunge as well. Simply just do the 2x4 thing raising the blank up into the bit.
Or raise the bed as others have said.

 

[mrcook4570]

The holes in the pre-drilled blanks are slightly off set because they are drilled from each end (at least the ones I have seen).

 

[ed4copies]

Wow, if THIS is difficult, wait until you do your first peppermill!!