should I drill or should I saw? - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Dee Rogers · 06-24-2012, 11:27 PM

I'm working on tweaking our gear puzzle.This puzzle has many 1/4 holes in it and up till now we have used a high powered punch that makes a great hole but leaves tear out of the paper on the top surface (not the bottom) of the puzzle. I have thought about drilling, and cutting the holes with my saw. Cutting the holes with my saw will take forever, so does anyone know of a drill bit that will not tear out the paper on top or the wood on the bottom?
How do you avoid tear out?
Thanks.
Dee

Scrolling Days · 06-25-2012, 12:48 AM

Hi, Dee.....I went through this problem pretty extensively in the past when trying to develop a technique to countersink the gems I like to place in some of my puzzles. I ultimately settled on a technique which does not use drill bits, but in your case, if you are trying to drill all the way through, you have to use a bit. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a bit out there which will not leave some tear-out of the paper. In the very best situation, there will be some mushrooming of the paper near the drill hole. I tried many types of bits, and even considered trying to use tiny Forstner bits (which I ultimately learned did not come in the small size I needed).

In the end, I think paper disruption is inevitable when trying to drill. Your best bet might just be to drill a tiny pilot, then scrollsaw a larger hole. Bummer, I know.......if you find a bit which works, though, let us know!

Bill Wilson · 06-25-2012, 01:03 AM

Perhaps a 1/4" Forstner bit would work.

wood-n-things · 06-25-2012, 03:48 AM

I would try a 1/4" forstner as well.

Scrolling Days · 06-25-2012, 04:00 AM

If I recall when I was experimenting, the Forstner bits definitely had the best results.....the problem is they are hard to get under 1/4".

If you don't need to go smaller, I agree that the Forstner will be the best bit to go with......I think even those left a bit of fraying however. I'm sure, as always, much will have to do with the type of paper being used as well.

Dee Rogers · 06-26-2012, 11:46 AM

Thank you Shawn, Bill and Mike, I will try the Forstner bit!

Forester21 · 06-26-2012, 12:07 PM

to keep the tear out on the bottom to a minimum, attach another layer underneath your wood. It can be cardboard even - doesn't have to be wood.
T

Dee Rogers · 06-27-2012, 09:48 AM

So I went shopping last night and got the Forstner drill bit, tried it out ,Fantastic! It worked great.
Thank you

06-24-2012, 11:27 PM	#1
Dee Rogers jigsaw puzzle scroller Join Date: May 2008 Location: NH Posts: 103 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	should I drill or should I saw? I'm working on tweaking our gear puzzle.This puzzle has many 1/4 holes in it and up till now we have used a high powered punch that makes a great hole but leaves tear out of the paper on the top surface (not the bottom) of the puzzle. I have thought about drilling, and cutting the holes with my saw. Cutting the holes with my saw will take forever, so does anyone know of a drill bit that will not tear out the paper on top or the wood on the bottom? How do you avoid tear out? Thanks. Dee

06-25-2012, 12:48 AM	#2
Scrolling Days Vulcan Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Manning the First Officer station Posts: 3,188 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 42 Thanked 96 Times in 81 Posts	Hi, Dee.....I went through this problem pretty extensively in the past when trying to develop a technique to countersink the gems I like to place in some of my puzzles. I ultimately settled on a technique which does not use drill bits, but in your case, if you are trying to drill all the way through, you have to use a bit. Unfortunately, I don't think there is a bit out there which will not leave some tear-out of the paper. In the very best situation, there will be some mushrooming of the paper near the drill hole. I tried many types of bits, and even considered trying to use tiny Forstner bits (which I ultimately learned did not come in the small size I needed). In the end, I think paper disruption is inevitable when trying to drill. Your best bet might just be to drill a tiny pilot, then scrollsaw a larger hole. Bummer, I know.......if you find a bit which works, though, let us know! __________________ Shawn Ferguson Come visit at The Ferguson Puzzle Company !

06-25-2012, 01:03 AM	#3
Bill Wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 1,889 Thanks: 2 Thanked 82 Times in 69 Posts	Perhaps a 1/4" Forstner bit would work. __________________ Homer : "Oh, and how is education supposed to make me feel smarter. Besides, every time I learn something new, it pushes some old stuff out of my brain."

06-25-2012, 03:48 AM	#4
wood-n-things Staying Positive Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Hamilton, Montana Posts: 18,583 Thanks: 51 Thanked 384 Times in 284 Posts	I would try a 1/4" forstner as well. __________________ "Montana MIKE" There is a very fine line between “hobby” and “mental illness.” As You Slide Down the Banister of Life, Pray That All The Splinters Are Pointed The Other Way... "Don't worry about old age--it doesn't last that long." Mike's Wood-n-Things

06-25-2012, 04:00 AM	#5
Scrolling Days Vulcan Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Manning the First Officer station Posts: 3,188 Blog Entries: 5 Thanks: 42 Thanked 96 Times in 81 Posts	If I recall when I was experimenting, the Forstner bits definitely had the best results.....the problem is they are hard to get under 1/4". If you don't need to go smaller, I agree that the Forstner will be the best bit to go with......I think even those left a bit of fraying however. I'm sure, as always, much will have to do with the type of paper being used as well. __________________ Shawn Ferguson Come visit at The Ferguson Puzzle Company !

06-26-2012, 11:46 AM	#6
Dee Rogers jigsaw puzzle scroller Join Date: May 2008 Location: NH Posts: 103 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Thank you Shawn, Bill and Mike, I will try the Forstner bit!

06-26-2012, 12:07 PM	#7
Forester21 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,799 Thanks: 5 Thanked 9 Times in 9 Posts	to keep the tear out on the bottom to a minimum, attach another layer underneath your wood. It can be cardboard even - doesn't have to be wood. T __________________ Theresa http://WoodNGoods.weebly.com http://woodngoods.blogspot.com

06-27-2012, 09:48 AM	#8
Dee Rogers jigsaw puzzle scroller Join Date: May 2008 Location: NH Posts: 103 Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	So I went shopping last night and got the Forstner drill bit, tried it out ,Fantastic! It worked great. Thank you

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