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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Boring long hole in center of timber frame post?
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Kleinmk
Member
# Posted: 17 May 2020 07:11
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Does anyone have tips on how to drill a straight hole down the center of an 8 x 8 post? Have looked online and can't really find anything. I did find this YouTube video (https://youtu.be/C6OCz1g5l80), but there is no voice over, commentary, etc.

I am looking to drill 4' - 6' foot holes down center of post to run electrical wire etc in. Looking to drill 3/4 - 1 inch hole. Any tips / suggestions on how to accomplish this?

Any assistance greatly appreciated!

Kevin

Fanman
Member
# Posted: 17 May 2020 07:32
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Buy two 4x8 planks, groove one, then glue them together?

NorthRick
Member
# Posted: 17 May 2020 11:58
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Quoting: Kleinmk
I am looking to drill 4' - 6' foot holes down center of post to run electrical wire etc in. Looking to drill 3/4 - 1 inch hole. Any tips / suggestions on how to accomplish this?


I don't quite understand what you are looking to do. You want to go long-ways down the post? If so, you probably have to get creative. Weld a drill bit to the end of a 6' rod kind of creative.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 17 May 2020 17:23 - Edited by: paulz
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I'm thinking put the post in a V, either against a wall and floor or make a V out of 2x8s. Mount the drill at one end with the bit 4 inches away from the sides and parallel. Turn the drill on and slide the post down the V. Use a 4' bit and turn the post around to go from both ends. Like this, if it's understandable.

Red is the bit, blue is the post.

Oops, just realized your post is probably already in place. In that case perhaps you could build a similar jig that would slide down the post.
dsaf.PNG
dsaf.PNG


darz5150
Member
# Posted: 17 May 2020 18:54 - Edited by: darz5150
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Look up MAGBITS 777 on amazon. 72 inches by 3/4.

DaveBell
Moderator
# Posted: 17 May 2020 22:10
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Use a circular saw or table saw with a ripping blade and cut out a 1 or 2 inch section end to end. Use a chisel to clean out the channel. Put a 1x1 inch wood spacer with wood screw in the center (to pull it out) on each end of the channel. Test fit the filler board. Glue in a filler board. Pull out the spacers before it sets.

old243
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 09:28
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If you are boring , the length of a timber. You will have to be sure to clean cuttings out, as you go. other wise you will end up with the bit jammed in the post.Much better to create a channel in the post. You also must maintain , a suitable distance from a nailing surface. to comply with electrical standards. Perhaps a conduit down one side , would be another solution. especially if you are feeding the circuit from the bottom. There are also boxes and receptacles floor mounted, designed for mounting on floor, sometimes used in offices, etc. old243

LittleDummerBoy
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 09:56
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Glue, clamp, and screw lumber together to assemble an 8X8 with a hole in the middle.

Atlincabin
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 10:40
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And, unless you're really good or really lucky, any drill bit that long that is going parallel to the grain will wander and may come out the side of the post. The only alternative I can think of is a gun drill, designed to bore holes for rifles etc. I'm not aware of anything like this designed for wood. Even so, I would worry about drilling parallel to grain.

I agree with other suggestions as better alternatives.

hueyjazz
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 12:22
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I had to bore a three inch hole into a side of a 10' x 10" timber to install a mini split. I had a brand new bore with extender and a very HD drill. Just doing that was a major PITA. I constantly had to blow out the wood chips or the drill would bind. And when it did it hurt

I don't think you could possibly do a bore down the center as you suggest with any confidence.

ICC
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 14:36
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As Atlincabin mentioned the biggest problem with boring a hole lengthwise, with the grain, not across, is drift. It can be difficult to drill 12" in many woods let alone several feet.

Q?
Is the post already in place? Is the post structural?

I would build a post as was suggested. Maybe a 6x8 with a 2x8 cap. Rout or cut and chisel a groove.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 19 May 2020 20:57
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Easy, router to cut groove, then wrap it with wood.

OR, zig zag all the way down. Drill at an angle where it comes out the side, then drill from there down and out the other side. When done, plug holes with wood plugs, saw flush and sand.

old243
Member
# Posted: 20 May 2020 08:42
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Is there any reason , than you could not feed the receptacle from underneath, the floor. Then you could either bore up a short distance and mount your receptacle. Or mount it on the surface. It would eliminate a lot of problems.. old 243

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