Plug cutters.

[undergroundhunter]

Good evening to the wise collective,

I'm trying to find some plug cutters that can go in a handheld drill as I am lacking in the pillar drill department. I have seen the Hitachi ones but these seem to only be available in the US, any ideas before I pay a ridiculous amount for shipping.

Thanks

Matt

 

[marcros]

I don't really see why any are more suitable than others in a handheld drill. I would buy a cheap one, try it and see if it works. I seem to recall that the tapered cutters are said to be better- not necessarily in any drill type.

 

[undergroundhunter]

Thanks for the reply,

I was looking for something like http://paulsellers.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/DSC_00302.jpg as tehy are self centring and will not wander when used in a drill/driver. I don't really want to spend money on something that may have no use to me (tight wad) as its probably only going to be used for one job (hammer)

Matt

 

[blackrodd]

I bought a set of disston plug cutters and screw sinks. They were on special offer at the time, I'm not aware if they are still available. They'd be fairly expensive now i guess.
These stay in my workshop and I bought a cheap set for site use so lost ones are easily replaced.
They work all right, had no problems so far HTH Regards Rodders

 

[eezageeza]

These work well in a cordless drill - i bought one a few months ago, and it's very good (blimmin expensive tho!).

http://www.axminster.co.uk/fisch-plug-c ... hex-shanks

 

[hanser]

Don't be tempted by the cheapo Toolstation ones........

 

[Preston]

Something like these.

 

[undergroundhunter]

http://www.tool-me-up.co.uk/plug-cutter-set-4pce-6---16mm-151219-61268-p.asp any good to you ?

Will these work with a cordless drill though, I have only seen this type used in a pillar drill????

Matt

 

[tool-me-up]

Work - yes if you have arms like Arnie, actually now i read your posts back they would be quite hard to control in a cordless drill - I guess they will just want to spin off and scuff up your work piece.

With out a drill press you have few options really.

Combine them with some thing like a tile drilling guide so they don't want to fly all over and mess your work up.

Start the hole with a drill bit so the plug cutter has a recess to sit in and cant skew off to the side.

Scrap piece of wood with a hole drilled through the same diameter as the plug cutter, clamp the two together and plug cutter cant move as the scrap timber will stop it spinning off in whichever direction it wants. Like a tile cutting guide only free.

Get a cheap press drill ( budget ones are around £60 )

Persevere looking for a set that have some form of self centering action.

 

[Student]

As an alternative to a drill press, you could use something cheaper like this

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-drill-guide

I do when I am cutting plugs when doing refurbishment work at my daughter's house in France. However, the collar on the drill has to be 43mm which may rule out some cordless drills and, as it happens, Axy are out of stock at the moment!

Martin

 

[xy mosian]

Used free hand, under power or otherwise, plug cutters tend to have a mind of their own. Anyone who has attempted using them in that manner will recognise this. Of course what is needed is a centre, preferably one that does not leave a hole.
During an idle moment recently I was watching a program about a Landrover re-build. When the presenter came to drilling out spot welds he centre popped the spot and used a small hole saw with a centre spike. The centre spike was sprung loaded, that was not going into the weld area, this centred the saw which then cut around the spot.
I wonder if anything, larger diameter of course, similar is available for plug cutting.
xy

 

[xy mosian]

Me again, found them. Now I think these are probably too small, but you get the idea.
http://www.pelicanparts.com/catalog/Sho ... 52_pg6.htm
xy

 

[tool-me-up]

Those are for cutting welds out and wont be much good at making a plug.
I know what you mean though and I do think it would work, trouble is finding a plug cutter with a spring loaded centre pin.
Also this means the top of your plug will now have a pop mark in it, which may not be ideal.

The show you where watching is called a 4x4 is born, and the guy is mark evans lol - love his workshop series, have most of them on the PC

 

[tool-me-up]

Honestly I think the best thing to do would be make a guide out of scrap timber - it would take about 30 seconds to make, grab scrap, drill hole, done
Then you can use any plug cutter and dont have to mess around finding a certain one.

If its something you want to repeat over and over then invest in a pillar drill.
these are the cheapest I know of ebay link

I have one myself although being more into metal work than woodwork I tore the 1/2HP motor off the back and fastened on a 1HP 3 phase with control unit.

As Standard it struggled with a 120mm holesaw even on the lowest gear but it coped just fine with a 16mm drill bit and mild steel so I would safely assume it WILL drill those plugs in its standard trim.

 

[hanser]

A couple of suggestions

Maybe a local forumite could help out with their bench press

or....buy ready made plugs http://www.plugitdowel.co.uk/

 

[xy mosian]

tool-me-up, you are right about the pop mark of course.
Thanks for reminding me about the Mark Evans shows, I too like his presentation style and his careful explanations of tricky bits.
I would think most plugs, for wood, would be less than 18mm. As for your guide hole jig thingy, why didn't I think of that.
xy

 

[tool-me-up]

tool-me-up, you are right about the pop mark of course.
Thanks for reminding me about the Mark Evans shows, I too like his presentation style and his careful explanations of tricky bits.
I would think most plugs, for wood, would be less than 18mm. As for your guide hole jig thingy, why didn't I think of that.
xy

Most of them are floating around the net, planes, helicopters, bikes, trikes, a few cars and of course the 4x4 hes built allsorts on those shows - wish i had a workshop comparable to that lol

Anyways back on topic

I've made similar jigs before for drilling glass, as the glass cutter was a similar design to the plug cutter.