Drilling holes in ancient oak timbers

[JohnW2]

Hi there,

I'm a stranger to this forum, but certainly not to DIYnot!

I need to drill a few 10mm holes in some ancient (~125 years) oak timbers. I've tried various types of drills/bits, some previously unused, and am achieving little more than heating them up and rapidly blunting them, with only slow/little progress through the wood! I don't think they make wood like they used to

Any suggestions/advice?

Kind Regards, John

 

[big-all]

ptfe dry lube spray
4mm/6mm/8mm then 10mm
will be as hard as iron

 

[JohnW2]

ptfe dry lube spray .... 4mm/6mm/8mm then 10mm .... will be as hard as iron

Thanks. Yes, as I said, I've already discovered that it is hard as iron (but at least with iron, I know how to drill it!!)

What sort of drill bits would you suggest? Of those I've tried, and somewhat to my surprise, 'flat' bits seem to struggle the least, but 'going up the sizes' in them would be a bit of a problem.

Kind Regards, John

 

[big-all]

no dont predrill for a flat bit unless its a bit smaller than the point[ about 3mm] otherwise it will be uncontrollable and give random shaped holes

 

[JohnW2]

no dont predrill for a flat bit unless its a bit smaller than the point[ about 3mm] otherwise it will be uncontrollable and give random shaped holes

That's what I thought, and the reason why I would really think of doing it. About the only sort of bit which would seem to facilitate 'going up the sizes' would be 'basic' ('HSS') drills - is that what you had in mind?

Kind Regards, John

 

[big-all]

dont drill many holes in oak so use what i have and yes hss bits
on new oak hole saws work fine for 40mm teelight holders but require removal and reinserting about every 5-7mm spraying with ptfe spray helps take the heat out off the metal as well as lubricate

 

[JohnW2]

dont drill many holes in oak so use what i have and yes hss bits ... on new oak hole saws work fine for 40mm teelight holders but require removal and reinserting about every 5-7mm spraying with ptfe spray helps take the heat out off the metal as well as lubricate

OK, all understood. Thanks for your advice.

Kind Regards, John