Hollow Drill Question

A technique I've found handy with wide head pallet nail is to drill out
the head and then pull apart. A friend of mine use a soldering iron
which in my opinion seems a stupid idea but he claims the soldering
iron expands the metal, which, when it cools makes it shrink and making
it looser in the pallet. Personally I think he's burning timber.

I too like working with pallet wood. I've used it on a lot of outdoor
projects and currently saving enough to build a shed.

TR

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 15:50:41 -0500, [email protected] (J T)
wrote:

> I like pallet wood. Free wood is always popular. Been thinking on
>getting nais out of pallet wood. Problem is, considtency in getting the
>nails out. I hate wating wood, cutting pieces short, just to get rid of
>the nails that broke off. So, figured on using a hollow drill bit, then
>plugging the hole with a piece of dowel.
>
> I checked a few sites for prices on hollow drill bits. they're going
>for around $20+ for one. Too rich for me. OK, no biggie, steel tubing,
>file teeth on one end, have at it.
>
> But, then another think. The nail, and a bit of the surrounding
>wood, is gonna stick in the bit, and probably won't come out by shaking.
>Which means, drill the nail out, take the bit out of the drill, push the
>debris out, put the bit back in the drill, repeat. Reliable, but slow,
>and a PITA.
>
> Offhand, about the only thing I've come up with is, make the bit
>over long, with a slit in one side so I can insert something, and slide
>the debris out. No tubing yet, so not tried any of it, but I'm thinking
>this might weaken the tube too much to use - we're talking around 1/8"
>ID here, with a nail 2-3" long. So, maybe the slit not completely to
>the end.
>
> So, the questions is:
>Does anyone have any realistic ideas on making a hollow drill bit that
>will allow getting the debris out, without removing the bit from the
>drill?
>
>
>
>JOAT
>Intellectual brilliance is no guarantee against being dead wrong.
>- David Fasold



if you're planning on drilling from the head end of the nail, you'll
need something more like 3/8" inside diameter, probably a bit more to
allow for slightly bent or crooked nails. your outside diameter is
gonna be something like 1/2"- which is a standard plug diameter.

high speed stees tubing can be had, but I don't think it's gonna be
particularly cheap.

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 15:50:41 -0500, [email protected] (J T)
wrote:

> I like pallet wood. Free wood is always popular. Been thinking on
>getting nais out of pallet wood. Problem is, considtency in getting the
>nails out. I hate wating wood, cutting pieces short, just to get rid of
>the nails that broke off. So, figured on using a hollow drill bit, then
>plugging the hole with a piece of dowel.
>
> I checked a few sites for prices on hollow drill bits. they're going
>for around $20+ for one. Too rich for me. OK, no biggie, steel tubing,
>file teeth on one end, have at it.
>
> But, then another think. The nail, and a bit of the surrounding
>wood, is gonna stick in the bit, and probably won't come out by shaking.
>Which means, drill the nail out, take the bit out of the drill, push the
>debris out, put the bit back in the drill, repeat. Reliable, but slow,
>and a PITA.
>
> Offhand, about the only thing I've come up with is, make the bit
>over long, with a slit in one side so I can insert something, and slide
>the debris out. No tubing yet, so not tried any of it, but I'm thinking
>this might weaken the tube too much to use - we're talking around 1/8"
>ID here, with a nail 2-3" long. So, maybe the slit not completely to
>the end.
>
> So, the questions is:
>Does anyone have any realistic ideas on making a hollow drill bit that
>will allow getting the debris out, without removing the bit from the
>drill?

We've got some hollow carbide bits at work (for drilling metal) that
have a spring-loaded pin that pushes the waste out. The bits are
mounted in a morse taper, so you'd likely have to set up the spring a
little differently (maybe a pop-rivet would work?), but if a spring
can push out a 2" x 5/8" dia. steel plug, it's likely to work with
wood.
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam

"J T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I like pallet wood. Free wood is always popular. Been thinking on
> getting nais out of pallet wood. Problem is, considtency in getting the
> nails out. > So, the questions is:
> Does anyone have any realistic ideas on making a hollow drill bit that
> will allow getting the debris out, without removing the bit from the
> drill?

I went through the remove-the-nail-with-the-hollow-drill proceedure several
years ago. I couldn't get the thing to work as advertized. I only managed
to burn a hole and smoke up the room. What I now do, if my metal detector
says there is metal down there, is chop it out with one of my discount
chisels. I then square off the hole, squirt in the glue, insert the
plug/insert and finally smooth it off. Sometimes I just leave the hole.
IMHO all those hollow drills do remove is the green stuff from your wallet.
Larry

--
Lawrence L'Hote
Columbia, MO
www.llhote.com

[email protected] (J T) wrote in news:9451-420FBDA1-61@storefull-
3157.bay.webtv.net:

> I like pallet wood. Free wood is always popular. Been thinking on
> getting nails out of pallet wood. <snip>

I'm always amazed at how far folks go to reclaim pallet wood. Looked at it
a couple of times, and it just seemed to cause more problems than it was
worth, to me at least.

What's really nice, though, is doing things for other folks, and having
them bring you free wood, or pointing in the direction of cheap and/or free
wood. My wood racks are overflowing.

Tree trimmers. Builders. Freight dunnage. Folks retiring from woodworking,
one way or another. Scrap/overstock from cabinet, millwork and moulding
shops. Folks who want to say thank you, somehow. Seems wood does grow on
trees, at least for hobbyists.

Patriarch

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 18:34:56 -0700, [email protected] wrote:

>On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 15:50:41 -0500, [email protected] (J T)
>wrote:
>
>> I like pallet wood. Free wood is always popular. Been thinking on
>>getting nais out of pallet wood. Problem is, considtency in getting the
>>nails out. I hate wating wood, cutting pieces short, just to get rid of
>>the nails that broke off. So, figured on using a hollow drill bit, then
>>plugging the hole with a piece of dowel.
>>
>> I checked a few sites for prices on hollow drill bits. they're going
>>for around $20+ for one. Too rich for me. OK, no biggie, steel tubing,
>>file teeth on one end, have at it.
>>
>> But, then another think. The nail, and a bit of the surrounding
>>wood, is gonna stick in the bit, and probably won't come out by shaking.
>>Which means, drill the nail out, take the bit out of the drill, push the
>>debris out, put the bit back in the drill, repeat. Reliable, but slow,
>>and a PITA.
>>
>> Offhand, about the only thing I've come up with is, make the bit
>>over long, with a slit in one side so I can insert something, and slide
>>the debris out. No tubing yet, so not tried any of it, but I'm thinking
>>this might weaken the tube too much to use - we're talking around 1/8"
>>ID here, with a nail 2-3" long. So, maybe the slit not completely to
>>the end.
>>
>> So, the questions is:
>>Does anyone have any realistic ideas on making a hollow drill bit that
>>will allow getting the debris out, without removing the bit from the
>>drill?
>>
>>
>>
>>JOAT
>>Intellectual brilliance is no guarantee against being dead wrong.
>>- David Fasold
>
>
>
>if you're planning on drilling from the head end of the nail, you'll
>need something more like 3/8" inside diameter, probably a bit more to
>allow for slightly bent or crooked nails. your outside diameter is
>gonna be something like 1/2"- which is a standard plug diameter.
>
>high speed stees tubing can be had, but I don't think it's gonna be
>particularly cheap.
Have you considered using a push rod from an old engine. They are
hollow, a fair grade of metal, cut the ends off and it's easy to heat
treat, dirt cheap at the junk yard, also a number of sizes.
david

On Sun, 13 Feb 2005 15:50:41 -0500, [email protected] (J T) wrote:

Being lazy, I always go for the easiest way..
I think I'd try using a conduit hole cutter to cut a 1/2" circle around the
head, maybe 1/4" deep.. break off the inside of the circle with an old
screwdriver or chisel and pull the nail with a "wonder bar"..

> I like pallet wood. Free wood is always popular. Been thinking on
>getting nais out of pallet wood. Problem is, considtency in getting the
>nails out. I hate wating wood, cutting pieces short, just to get rid of
>the nails that broke off. So, figured on using a hollow drill bit, then
>plugging the hole with a piece of dowel.
>
> I checked a few sites for prices on hollow drill bits. they're going
>for around $20+ for one. Too rich for me. OK, no biggie, steel tubing,
>file teeth on one end, have at it.
>
> But, then another think. The nail, and a bit of the surrounding
>wood, is gonna stick in the bit, and probably won't come out by shaking.
>Which means, drill the nail out, take the bit out of the drill, push the
>debris out, put the bit back in the drill, repeat. Reliable, but slow,
>and a PITA.
>
> Offhand, about the only thing I've come up with is, make the bit
>over long, with a slit in one side so I can insert something, and slide
>the debris out. No tubing yet, so not tried any of it, but I'm thinking
>this might weaken the tube too much to use - we're talking around 1/8"
>ID here, with a nail 2-3" long. So, maybe the slit not completely to
>the end.
>
> So, the questions is:
>Does anyone have any realistic ideas on making a hollow drill bit that
>will allow getting the debris out, without removing the bit from the
>drill?
>
>
>
>JOAT
>Intellectual brilliance is no guarantee against being dead wrong.
>- David Fasold



mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

J T wrote:
>
>
> Offhand, about the only thing I've come up with is, make the bit
> over long, with a slit in one side so I can insert something, and slide
> the debris out. No tubing yet, so not tried any of it, but I'm thinking
> this might weaken the tube too much to use - we're talking around 1/8"
> ID here, with a nail 2-3" long. So, maybe the slit not completely to
> the end.
>
> So, the questions is:
> Does anyone have any realistic ideas on making a hollow drill bit that
> will allow getting the debris out, without removing the bit from the
> drill?

Probably not. When you think about it your description, sans diameter,
is a description of a Milwaukee, or just about any other, hole saw.
They have slots and holes in the top of the bit (in Milwaukee's case, at
least), the el cheapos have a spring steel saw affair with the slot in
the side. In either case it's a PITA to get the wood plug out of the
damn bit. It will only get harder with the smaller diameter of your
hollow drill bit.

Bottom line: after all this time I suspect if there was a better
mousetrap to be had, Milwaukee or some other tool maker would have come
up with it.

Nail broken off? Why not just take a stout nail set and drive it on
through? Would certainly work with the 1 by stuff on the pallet. The
rails might be a different story.