tear out

[Len]

Hi everyone hope you are all in good health.I would like to know how to prevent tear out on back side of my work after I drill the starter holes.Some of them are pretty deep for sanding,and I don't know what my planer would do to the work piece after it is cut out. Any help would be most welcome.

Thanks
Len

[julief]

Len, To prevent tear out on your drilled holes, use a board under your workpiece to keep the bit from tearing out the bottom of the hole.  A scrap piece of anything will do.

[Len]

I have been using a board and still get the  same thing mostly in pine,but also in oak.

[newfie]

try taping the back side up before drilling and see what happens

[Len]

I never tried the tape idea will try it  ;)Thanks

[mrsn]

you will also get more tear out if you have a dull drill bit. You might get better results if you try a new bit.

[dgman]

Hey Len, There are three important steps to help prevent tear out when drilling holes.
One, You must use a sharp bit.
Two, Use a back up board.
Three, Use the correct speed for the wood and size of bit you are using.
For a speed chart click here: http://images.meredith.com/wood/pdf/drill-press-speed-chart.pdf

[TripleB]

I just wanted to add about backer boards, it's important that they are flat to the back of the work piece. A warped or un-flat board will leave a gap between the work piece and the backer, that gap will allow for tear out as the bit passes through the gap. For the same reasons, you can't drill a smaller hole into a larger hole that has been made in the backer. Anytime the bit leaves the hole being drilled tear out will occur. I use a couple pieces of good, flat 3/4" plywood glued together as  backer and replace it once there is no more room for new holes.

Dan that's a great chart.

[Len]

Thanks to all of you for your help, I did all that was suggested and it worked . One of my many new bits made a big difference,my wife said she was wondering when I'd use them .Got them on sale and forgot I had them .
Again thanks ,
Len

[dgman]

Another happy customer!!!

[oohlookitsarabbit]

Thanks for the chart! I have a variable speed drill press and no clue how to use it properly!

[GrayBeard]

Higher drill speed will decrease the 'tear out' problem as will using a  good flat backer under the piece being drilled.

~~~GB~~~

[spiderman]

use an good old fashioned hand crank drill when using one of these you'll get in to really good shape and lose a few pounds...