Extended/long reach Centre Drill Bits?

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Good morning,

A couple of years ago I purchased some long reach Centre Drill Bits from Gloster Tools.  However, they don’t appear on their new(ish) website, and two e-mails to them have failed to get a response.  I’ve tried the usual suspects without success.  Has anyone any suggestions for a supplier?

[bernard towersParticipant @bernardtowers37738]

just get a suitable length of material and centre drill very deeply then loctite centre drill in and bobs your!!!

[John HinkleyParticipant @johnhinkley26699]

Are these any good to you?

Drill Service (Horley) Ltd. Long series centre drills

I’ve never used them myself, but they get good reviews from other forum members.

John

 

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

MSC have them in various lengths and diameters both metric and imperial.

Bernards method is OK for soem jobs but not when you want to do someting like the rod guide hole on the far end of a steam chest where you only have a small entry hole.

Or on a job like this, starting a hole through a previous one that can be reamed to help guide the long bit.

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Thank you John & Jason, never used either of those suppliers before, I’ll give them a try.

Good idea Bernard, but I fear in this case I might not have the room for the increased diameter.  Worthy of future use I’m sure.

[John Hinkley]

On John Hinkley Said:

Are these any good to you?

Drill Service (Horley) Ltd. Long series centre drills

I’ve never used them myself, but they get good reviews from other forum members.

John

 

I use them for all my slot drills and end mill cutters (and a few long series centre drills). They are very reliable and give a same day service using first class mail. Locally that means getting the cutters etc next day is in the hands of the gods.

JA

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I find the MSC stuff comes just as fast.

[Phil PParticipant @philp]

Could you use a long spotting drill instead ?

I only use a centre drill when the intention is to use a fixed or revolving centre to support the work.

Phil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Although I too much prefer a spot drill the price of long series ones is a bit silly, take a look at the ones on teh Drill Services site as an example.

Some of the standard length spotting drills may get you deep enough I have a 4mm dia x 50mm long and a 6mm x 70mm long which can be handy, the 4mm gets used when a cross hole is close to a collet or the spin indexer and anything shorter will see the chuck crash unless the work is sticking out a long way.

The 4mm spotting drill here being used in a similar way to the image of a long ctr drill I posted earlier

[JuddyParticipant @juddy]

Tracey tools do them: https://www.tracytools.com/product/long-series-centre-drills/

 

 

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

Thank you Juddy, I’d completely forgot about Tracey Tools.

[Phil P]

On Phil P Said:

Could you use a long spotting drill instead ?

I only use a centre drill when the intention is to use a fixed or revolving centre to support the work.

Phil

Agreed. I very rarely have the need for a centre drill these days but use spotting drills all the time.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Recently, A friend and I bought ours, over the counter at Arc Euro Trade.

They don’t seem to be in Catalgue 11, so you’ll need to look at their website, or contact them by phone or E mail

Howard.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Are you sure Howard, ARC don’t do the long ones.

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Jason,

ARC don’t list them, but certainly within the last few months, both of us bought a couple each, at Syston.

Howard

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Ketan said they don’t do them. I’m assuming you are talking long ctr drills. Even when it comes to spot drills they only do the standard length 6mm Dormer one in a choice of angles.

[VicParticipant @vic]

I can understand the need for extra long spotting drills but why centre drills?

For occasional use, making a spotting drill from silver steel shouldn’t prove difficult for many on here?

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

As I said earlier long reach spot drills seem to be very expensive. Long reach ctr drills are reasonably priced and can be used for starting a deep drill. I have also made silver steel starting drills as you mention from silver steel but the ctr drills are convinient and being HSS a bit more durable when working on castings.

[JasonB]

On JasonB Said:

As I said earlier long reach spot drills seem to be very expensive. Long reach ctr drills are reasonably priced and can be used for starting a deep drill. I have also made silver steel starting drills as you mention from silver steel but the ctr drills are convinient and being HSS a bit more durable when working on castings.

I don’t think durable is a term I’d use for centre drills, I’ve had more than a few snap. Not something thats ever happened to any of my spotting drills.

 

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