# How to avoid (topside) tear out / chipping when drilling wood?

**URL:** <https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161>\
**Category:** Discussion\
**Created:** [24 August 2017 20:58 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161 "2017-08-24T20:58:56Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 10\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![afshind](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/user_avatar/discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/afshind/32/981_2.png) [@afshind](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/afshind)\
**Post date:** [25 August 2017 14:34 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161/21 "2017-08-25T14:34:30Z")

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I bought this augur kit, first time using it. Too cheap , too low quality? If so whats a good brand to got for?

[http://www.screwfix.com/p/auger-wood-drill-bits-15-piece-set/84757](http://www.screwfix.com/p/auger-wood-drill-bits-15-piece-set/84757)

@Dermot hole size needs to be 3/4in (=19mm)

I’ll try the spaces forstner bits on some offcuts…I’m drilling 2in deep holes, how do forstner bits excavate the shavings?

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**Author:** ![Twm](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/user_avatar/discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/twm/32/3067_2.png) [@Twm](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/Twm)\
**Post date:** [25 August 2017 16:22 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161/22 "2017-08-25T16:22:22Z")

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Forstner shave away on usually two blades set into an incomplete/ fenestrated circumfrence which aids in evacuation. But you usually have to stop and tap out the dust as you go.  
They do get seriously hot due to friction so don’t yank the bit out with your bear hands until cool.

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**Author:** ![joeatkin2](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/user_avatar/discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/joeatkin2/32/15352_2.png) [@joeatkin2](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/joeatkin2)\
**Post date:** [25 August 2017 16:28 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161/23 "2017-08-25T16:28:28Z")

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There is a 3/4" for the brace in the box , give it a quick sharpen

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**Author:** ![afshind](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/user_avatar/discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/afshind/32/981_2.png) [@afshind](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/afshind)\
**Post date:** [29 August 2017 20:43 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161/24 "2017-08-29T20:43:53Z")

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The left is augur and brace, the right forstner with electric drill.

The augur stopped extracting 4/5th’s down the 2in plank. I cleaned the screw tip several times and blew out debris but couldn’t get it to re-engage again. I drilled a pilot hole all the way through, reversed the timber and used august and brace from reverse side. Overall, I had to.put huge amount of pressure to make it work…I’m short and lightweight and benches are high so tricky to get ballast weighing down on the brace! I’m rectifying this by eating lots of ice cream…any other solutions to use the brace from a lower height welcomed.

The forstner hole was clean but slow, not sure I could get through 2innin one go…needs several stop starts…is a pilot hole all the way through helpful or redundant when using forstner for 2in deep hole?

Timber is sapele.

 ![](https://slms-discourse.s3.dualstack.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/original/2X/5/5665175fe3f0b072d4a38c740ff4d359e675a13d.jpg)

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**Author:** ![lewisss](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/user_avatar/discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/lewisss/32/3210_2.png) [@lewisss](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/lewisss)\
**Post date:** [29 August 2017 20:55 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161/25 "2017-08-29T20:55:44Z")

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once you have the seat for the forstner bit as above you can drill through with a spade bit slightly smaller .

remember to stop before yo break through the other side and reverse drill it. also once inner hole is cut use the drill press on slow speed to ensure a straight hole

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**Author:** ![AndyPaine](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/user_avatar/discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/andypaine/32/3739_2.png) [@AndyPaine](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/AndyPaine)\
**Post date:** [29 August 2017 21:02 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161/26 "2017-08-29T21:02:28Z")

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The forstner bits in the space are blunt as anything - I’ll have a crack at sharpening them a bit next time I’m in. Which size was it? Sapele should drill nicely.

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**Author:** ![afshind](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/user_avatar/discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/afshind/32/981_2.png) [@afshind](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/afshind)\
**Post date:** [29 August 2017 21:08 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161/27 "2017-08-29T21:08:30Z")

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Good idea.

I’m not inducted on the drill press so trying to find alternative solutions to drill 2in deep holes straight.

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**Author:** ![afshind](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/user_avatar/discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/afshind/32/981_2.png) [@afshind](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/afshind)\
**Post date:** [29 August 2017 21:11 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161/28 "2017-08-29T21:11:44Z")

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Sapele drilled beautifully. First time using it, liked it a lot.

To be honest didnt check Forstner bit size. It’s the only one I could find, was sat on top of pile of various drill bits in a small box/tray.

I’d like to see how you sharpen it, are you coming to the hand tools meetup Saturday? Could we do it then?

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**Author:** ![joeatkin2](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/user_avatar/discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/joeatkin2/32/15352_2.png) [@joeatkin2](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/joeatkin2)\
**Post date:** [29 August 2017 21:28 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161/29 "2017-08-29T21:28:54Z")

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I have heard on the grapevine that @AndyPaine is doing a special talk on sharpening the bits for the brace .  
He is good like that.  
😀

On a serious note Andy is the man to listen to on this one , he really knows his shit when it comes to this sort of thing.

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**Author:** ![Barnaby\_Coote](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/user_avatar/discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/barnaby_coote/32/2698_2.png) [@Barnaby\_Coote](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/u/Barnaby_Coote)\
**Post date:** [29 August 2017 22:26 UTC](https://discourse.southlondonmakerspace.org/t/how-to-avoid-topside-tear-out-chipping-when-drilling-wood/7161/30 "2017-08-29T22:26:29Z")

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> [@joeatkin2](#):
>
> I have heard on the grapevine that @AndyPaine is doing a special talk on sharpening the bits for the brace .  
> He is good like that.

Did we end up getting the files for that?

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