Long wood auger + extensions

[88v8]

I need to drill some 16mm holes a little over 4ft long.
Oak cross-grain.

I can see some 39" auger bits, but am struggling to find extensions. I've asked Timberfixings, UKtools, Famag, but no useful replies.

It would surely be simple enough to go into the warehouse, get hold of an auger and see if it fits an extension, but apparently not.
Perhaps they can't be arsed, or perhaps none of them actually have these things in stock, they just order them in.
Grrr.

Anyone know of an auger/extension combo?

It doesn't have to be cheap.

 

[foxhole]

You can get 1250 x 10mm , then open it up from each end with a 16mm bit .

 

[88v8]

You can get 1250 x 10mm , then open it up from each end with a 16mm bit .

Gosh, would have thought it would twist like a banana at that length.
Can only get at one side of the wood... it's a tree on a slope....

UK Tools came up with the 16mm Famag Lewis 1000mm auger and a 400mm extension - neither on their website, I had to ask.

Then I wanted an auger file for sharpening this one and others.
There seems to be no one making them any more. The throwaway society n'all that.
I managed to find one in the US, on Amazon.

Gong to be pricey holes, one way and another.

 

[stevie888]

Opening up with an auger bit?

 

[foxhole]

Inherited a long drill , someone had taken a threaded rod and welded it to the end of a 16mm HSS bit , came in handy when I had to drop power cable down into stud wall from the loft .

 

[88v8]

Inherited a long drill , someone had taken a threaded rod and welded it to the end of a 16mm HSS bit , came in handy when I had to drop power cable down into stud wall from the loft .

Ahh, there's a local boat restorer who can do that.
I think the 400mm extension has foundered, from what I read on another site the od may be 22mm.
Hmmm.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

May we ask what the purpose is, just interesting is all.

 

[opps]

Ahh, there's a local boat restorer who can do that.
I think the 400mm extension has foundered, from what I read on another site the od may be 22mm.
Hmmm.

Sometimes, they are (incorrectly?) called black smith's bits. The shank is designed to fit into a 13mm drill chuck.

I honestly do not know if a tradition auger will work, because of the amount of torque required.

Augers tend to pull themselves into the wood to drill through the wood, In your case you are potentially looking at wet wood. A spade bit or oversized drill bit, you can pull it back and forth to clear the waste.

I have never drilled through a living tree.

Perhaps someone with experience will be able to give you better advice.

Edit- perhaps a forstner bit might be better. I don't know though.

 

[88v8]

Sometimes, they are (incorrectly?) called black smith's bits. The shank is designed to fit into a 13mm drill chuck.

I honestly do not know if a tradition auger will work, because of the amount of torque required.

Augers tend to pull themselves into the wood to drill through the wood, In your case you are potentially looking at wet wood. A spade bit or oversized drill bit, you can pull it back and forth to clear the waste.

I have never drilled through a living tree.

Perhaps someone with experience will be able to give you better advice.

Edit- perhaps a forstner bit might be better. I don't know though.

I need to drill the tree to put in some stainless tie bars as the trunk is splitting.

Augers can be de-chipped, if one reverses enough to disengage the lead screw then one can pull it out, and indeed one will have to do that freotherwise it will jam.

The problem with live wood is that it can tear out and jam the hole.