[Woodcarver] drying a 10" log

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Ray F.

This problem, drilling a straight hole through a 12-foot log, is exactly why
I held a boring contest about 6 years ago. Alex Bisso won by drilling an
11/16-inch hole from one end of a 4-foot long one inch diameter, using hand
tools, clear through without breaking out. His system was repeatable as he
took a video of the process. He brought several that he drilled completely
through successfully. I took my hat off to Alex and haven't wore one since.
hehehe. Alex's system is genius and there may be some of the concept that
could be adapted to your problem. The main part of his system was that he
assumed that the drill would wonder off center so he kept rotating the
fixturing so the wonder would average out.

I think your best bet is to get a drill like was used to drill wooden water
pipes. They had a long straight body, the same size as the hole, to keep the
drill running straight guided from behind. The cutting end was like a
spoon-shaped gouge. Once you started the hole straight the stiff body of the
drill would keep it runing straight.

I thought about it but never tried to use a pressure washer for drilling a
hole. Imagine taking a 2-inch pipe and using it to guide a pressure washer
nozzle.

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552
(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.com
jdillett at thecarvingshop.com
http://www.carvingmagazine.com Carving Magazine web site and Readers Forum
**************************************************

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Fishley, Ray (IS - Municipal Engineering)"
<Ray.Fishley at City.Saskatoon.Sk.CA>
To: <woodcarver at six.pairlist.net>
Sent: Monday, June 21, 2004 4:27 PM
Subject: [Woodcarver] drying a 10" log


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>
> I would like to carve a 10" x 12 foot log.
> I am looking for away to dry it so that it does not crack or check.
> I was thinking of drilling a 1" hole through the center of it and
connecting
> a vacuum to it for a few weeks.
> Does anyone know how I might go about drilling the hole or does anyone
have
> a better idea?
>
> Thanks in advance
> Ray F
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