Newbie question: Cutting big holes in mahogany

[Tom & Ada Campbell]

I'm cutting 1", 1 1/2", and 2" holes in 1/4" in 1" thick mahogany. It's
taking a really long time. Obvious question, but--is this right? I'm using a
brand new Makita 6233D cordless drill with a 3/8" chuck, which the guy at
Eagle recommended for this purpose. I'm not used to mahogany, but I'm
beginning to suspect I know why it's called a hardwood! Is it right that
this just takes a while, or am I doing something wrong?

Thanks.

[R.J. Hoppe]

Best bet is a drill press for holes that large... And the mahogany I have used
has all been rather soft. Just a piece of useless knowlede by the way, but you
know that balsa is a hardwood?
--
Robert Hoppe
Copperas Cove, TX

"Some things are better left unsaid....NOT!"

[Kim Whitmyre]

I'm cutting 1", 1 1/2", and 2" holes in 1/4" in 1" thick mahogany. It's
taking a really long time. Obvious question, but--is this right? I'm using a
brand new Makita 6233D cordless drill with a 3/8" chuck,

With a cordless drill? Not a good idea, for holes of that size. Does it matter if the holes are perpendicular to the material's face? If so, either a drill press or a jig of some sort for a hand drill will be necessary. You can buy a good portable drill guide from General for around $30: recommended.

Kim
 

[FEngelman]

I find that I have better luck if I go in 1/4 inch increments, lift the hole
saw out of the work, and clear the saw dust out of the saw, then go in for
another 1/4 inch or so, keeps the saw cooler, and dloesn't clog up as fast

[Raul da Silva]

You don't say what kind of bit(s) are you using? This will make a big
difference.
--
Raul da Silva
Rankshift, Inc.

(remove XXX from return address to respond via eMail)

Tom & Ada Campbell wrote:

> I'm cutting 1", 1 1/2", and 2" holes in 1/4" in 1" thick mahogany. It's
> taking a really long time. Obvious question, but--is this right? I'm using a

[Jeffrey Klob]

[turner.m...@zetnet.co.uk]

On Thu, 18 Feb 1999 03:08:57 -0800, "Tom & Ada Campbell"
<tom...@sprynet.com> wrote:

>I'm cutting 1", 1 1/2", and 2" holes in 1/4" in 1" thick mahogany. It's
>taking a really long time. Obvious question, but--is this right? I'm using a
>brand new Makita 6233D cordless drill with a 3/8" chuck, which the guy at
>Eagle recommended for this purpose. I'm not used to mahogany, but I'm
>beginning to suspect I know why it's called a hardwood! Is it right that
>this just takes a while, or am I doing something wrong?
>

Are you tallking about Brazilian mahogany or African? My experience
has been with Brazilian and it is generally pretty soft and easy to
cut and drill. It sounds as if your hole saw is blut or otherwise no
good. You don't state the power of your drill, but it may not be
powerful enough. Why not use a normal mains drill?

Yours

Dick Turner
Wales, Britain

[LssBob]

Tom & Ada Campbell wrote in message <7agqu1$pv$1...@juliana.sprynet.com>...

>I'm cutting 1", 1 1/2", and 2" holes in 1/4" in 1" thick mahogany. It's
>taking a really long time.

I've cut 2" holes in mahogany with a Porter-Cable 14.4V with no problem at
all...the trick is to use a carbide tipped hole saw. These hole saws have 3
teeth per inch and (really important) a lot of chip clearance.

You can do it with a 6 tooth or 4/6 vari-tooth hole saw, but you'll need to
pull it out and clear the gullets constantly.

Good luck...Bob Gale

[Tom & Ada Campbell]

Very cool! I had no idea balsa is considered a hardwood! What's the scoop on
that?

R.J. Hoppe <half...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:36CC4331...@hotmail.com...

> Tom & Ada Campbell wrote:
>
> > I'm cutting 1", 1 1/2", and 2" holes in 1/4" in 1" thick mahogany. It's

> > taking a really long time. Obvious question, but--is this right? I'm
using a
> > brand new Makita 6233D cordless drill with a 3/8" chuck, which the guy
at
> > Eagle recommended for this purpose. I'm not used to mahogany, but I'm
> > beginning to suspect I know why it's called a hardwood! Is it right that
> > this just takes a while, or am I doing something wrong?
> >

[Eric Jacobson]

This may seem beyond obvious, but I watched someone spend an entire
TV show installing a lock set and complaining about how much muscle
it required to use a hole saw, only to confess the real error at the
end.....

Are you sure you don't have the drill in reverse (maybe due to being
left handed and intersecting a reversing switch....)??

Eric

[Robert Lee]

I assume when you say that you are "cutting holes" you mean you are drilling.
Something's wrong if you're having trouble. Mahogony is not a very dense wood
and consequently with a good sharp drill you should be able to go right through
them. If you're using a spade bit I can't help you there. I do it all the
time; but I use a forstner bit. Nice clean holes with no tear out. I also use
a drill press as often as I can, but occassionally I have to resort to a hand
held drill.

[Raul da Silva]

The terms hardwood and softwood refer to the botanical grouping rather than the
physical properties of the wood. Softwoods come from coniferous trees
(Gymnospermae) and hardwoods from broad-leaved trees (Angiospermae). The terms
generally match the physical properties of the wood in each grouping with the
notable exception of woods like Balsa which is the softest of all woods and is
an Angiospermae.

--
Raul da Silva
Rankshift, Inc.

(remove XXX from return address to respond via eMail)

Tom & Ada Campbell wrote:

> Very cool! I had no idea balsa is considered a hardwood! What's the scoop on
> that?
>
> R.J. Hoppe <half...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:36CC4331...@hotmail.com...

> > Tom & Ada Campbell wrote:
> >
> > > I'm cutting 1", 1 1/2", and 2" holes in 1/4" in 1" thick mahogany. It's
> > > taking a really long time. Obvious question, but--is this right? I'm
> using a
> > > brand new Makita 6233D cordless drill with a 3/8" chuck, which the guy
> at
> > > Eagle recommended for this purpose. I'm not used to mahogany, but I'm
> > > beginning to suspect I know why it's called a hardwood! Is it right that
> > > this just takes a while, or am I doing something wrong?
> > >
> > > Thanks.
> >
> >