Hey all. I have a few pipes I'd like to open the draft a bit on but don't trust myself with a powered drill. Any good hand turned drills that would do the job well?
Hand Turned Drill Recommendations
- Thread starter anthonyrosenthal74
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I would think you would need something like a T-Handle tap wrench.
Neerup also makes a 3.5 mm and 4.0 mm tool for opening up drafts in the shank.
I use them on occasion, but they seem a little large to be honest.
I use them on occasion, but they seem a little large to be honest.
Enlarging the stummel airway is one thing, enlarging a stem's airway is quite another.
Which do you have in mind?
Which do you have in mind?
I’ve enlarge the airway on straight stems with a regular drill bit, chucked into a handle. go slow, removing small amounts with a progression of bits. It helps to have a set of bits in 1/64th increments.
I use the bit from one of my reamers, forget which and am unable to lay my hands on it as I type this. A pair of pliers used in line with the bit seems to be all I need when opening a draw. A bent bit, all of my pipes are, requires reaming from both ends and hoping that'll suffice. So far over the years it has. I count myself lucky as I like a tighter draw than some here do.
Always small "bites" and constant testing.
Always small "bites" and constant testing.
I put the drill bit in a vicegrip & do it slow & it works for me. About 2 minutes.
There are hex end drill bits incrementally sized in 64ths so you’ll just need to determine the size. And there’s all kinds of hex hand drivers out there. Earlier in the thread someone posted a T handle driver which would be a great choice.
That is what I used to open up the airway on two shanks. I bought a set of hex drill bits, 1/16 to 1/4 inch in 1/64 increments, specifically for the job. I don’t think I even needed to use a handle, just turned the hex end. It worked great.
I was in the garage when I read this thread so I snapped a pic.
The drill bits like the Neerup ones above are great. I have some that a similar, but not Neerup.
They are nice because like a ratcheting screwdriver, the top stays still in your palm, while you turn the bit with your fingers. This really helps with keeping it straight and gives great control.
They are nice because like a ratcheting screwdriver, the top stays still in your palm, while you turn the bit with your fingers. This really helps with keeping it straight and gives great control.
A straight flute 5/32 hand reamer in a tap T-handle, to open up a stem from the tenon end a 2/0 straight flute pin reamer in a tap handle will do it.