new tone channel drill bit

[Aaron at Wingerts Woodworks]

Just thought I'd share something that seems to be working really well for me.  I've always used 1/4" aircraft length jobber-type drill bits for drilling my duck calls' tone channels.  They don't always drill straight, especially if you don't back them out and clear them constantly. 

I was poking around at Woodcraft the other day and found this Colt pen drill in 6mm diameter.  That's pretty darn close to 15/64", which is just 1/64" less than 1/4".  I've been wanting to get a 15/64" bit to try to cut down the air it takes to run my calls and this thing is just the ticket.  Not to mention it clears the chips like crazy and so far is running really, really straight without having to back it out all the time.

Here's a link if anybody's interested:
http://www.amazon.com/Colt-Star-Pen-Makers-Bit/dp/B0035YD8W0

[Andre's Wood Works aka: TheDecoyDude]

KC this might be the answer to my prayers I agree with 1/4 being a bit tough on the lungs for some folks and this sounds pretty promising for fixing that problem... do you have to change the depth of the cannel any? ~Andre

[Wade@WEBFoot]

Its called a Parabolic Drill - at least that fast spiral flute type is called a parabolic drill.  Sometimes they can be found in  "tapered length", as well as plain.
They arent as stiff but they clean better.

That will likely help ya find other sizes more easily.  You can get em up to pretty big too.

Wade

[Aaron at Wingerts Woodworks]

Yup Wade, there's a 1/2" version somewhere that's fixin' to get ordered....It is just what I need for boring out my duck whistles.  The stubby little jobber bits that I use now don't clear chips worth a darn, so they heat the wood up quick no matter how slow I drill.  Not to mention that you have to back out a few times per whistle and clean the flutes. 

[Wade@WEBFoot]

I hear ya cluckin big chicken!  :D
I smell what yer steppin in :D

That are handy little critters... same with a 19/32 followed up by a 5/8 reamer :D  Just plain ole serious off the hook.  Its money in da bank!  :D

Wade

[Jon Kennedy Custom Calls]

15/64 ths works well! thats what I use  I also have been messing around with tapperd bits!