Replies

1. 
   RickL | Dec 28, 2004 09:59pm | #1

   If you read the rest of the catalog listing it tells you to use a 1/2" drill to drive the larger ones. A corded drill is more powerful. Typically one should be able to get all the technical advice from where a tool is bought and this would be especially true of Lee Valley products.

2. 
   87bluejay | Dec 29, 2004 04:01am | #2

   David,

   I have used one (1.5") and using a drill press is the best method. The cutter weighs a couple pounds and keeping it "square",with a hand drill, will be tough. However, with a drill press, you'll have to build a jig to hold the legs. Also, keep the speed slow and knock off the edge at the end, this way the knife won't dig in as it contacts the wood.  Maybe someone else has another method that will work with a hand drill?

   hope this helps,

   Dave

    

    

   
   

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   Edited 12/28/2004 8:03 pm ET by Dave

1. 
   DavidxDoud | Dec 29, 2004 04:36am | #3

   using a drill press is the best method...

   hmmm - that is officially proscribed, I assume because of the difficulty in securing the workpiece - - I'm not sure we are on the same page here,  you speak of 'building a jig to hold the legs',  but the legs have the holes to recieve the tenons,  the rungs and rails(? - not sure of the terminology) have the tenons - - I could concieve of a system using a 'Jorgenson' clamp secured to the DP table to hold the work piece...

   I guess the rungs don't worry me too much, they are rather small - but the structural horizontal pieces (rails?) are heavier and as I look at the amount of wood to remove and my experience drilling holes thru framing lumber with 'HoleHawgs'....well,  it just looks like a good way to sprain my wrist using a 'pistol grip' drill...

   thanks for the feedback..."there's enough for everyone"

1. 
   87bluejay | Dec 29, 2004 07:09pm | #4

   We must be speaking of two different things. I built a Shaker Deacons bench last July. The legs for the bench were ~2x2, with the tenon at the "top" of the legs. The legs fit into the "mortise" on the bench seat. Because the legs were too long, we made a jig that held the leg vertical and square to the drill press. Worked quite well. Granted, we used the bigger tenon cutter. You very well might not need to use a drill press for the smaller cutters?

   I've attached a picture of the "pre-finished" bench.

   Sorry for confusion,

   Dave

   
1. 
   DavidxDoud | Dec 29, 2004 08:41pm | #5

   not at all...

   your example has the tenons on the verticle elements,  my job has them on the horizontal - -

   I'm thinking the small tenons won't be any big deal,  but I'm concerned about the power and torque involved with the big ones - - I don't have the job at hand,  and I'm not certain what size the big tenons are - >1" for sure - don't care to get into a job that jerks a pistol grip drill out my hands - would like to get tooled up so these chairs don't sit cluttering my shop while I wait on something - -

   thanks for your input,  DOUD"there's enough for everyone"

3. 
   biosf1 | Dec 30, 2004 03:01am | #6

   I've had a similar problem , but I never tried using a hand drill, the thought of it catching the grain and ether twisting your arm or wrist, or even letting go of it . The thought of holding it true and straight was a problem when I thought about how to set it up.  SO, I used the bench drill press, and it is made so that you can swing the motor around to any position. I swing the base so that I can clamp wood jaw clamp to both the table and the base. With the two holding what your trying to make a tenon on , it gives me a distance from the drill to the floor, a distance of 4'.

   I built a foyer bench this way and nurmours chairs, even children's chairs using both 1/2" and 1" tenon cutters.

   Need more help setting it up , I can always send you photo's of how I set this up.  E mail me@ : [email protected] 

   I'm a 20+ year furniture builder