Ram Rod Drill Bit

[büchsenmacher64]

What kind of drill bit do you use for drilling the ramrod hole? Purchased or homemade? Thanks

 

[rchas]

Homemade from 3/8 and 5/16 steel rods. I filed cutting edges similar to paddle bits without the points on the ends. I've been happy with the results.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Home made, if you clear chips often it drills straight.
IMG_0502 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

 

[büchsenmacher64]

Home made, if you clear chips often it drills straight.
IMG_0502 by Oliver Sudden, on Flickr

Cold Rolled steel?

 

[büchsenmacher64]

Cold Rolled steel?

Did you temper the tip? Thanks

 

[64Springer]

A long 3/8" drill bit. A piece of straight steel rod. A 3/8"x1/4"x1" steel coupler. A 3/32" steel pin. Split pins would work too.

Reduce end of drill shank to a 1/4". Reduce end of steel rod to a 1/4". Push everything together.

Drill a 3/32" hole through the coupler and cross pin with the 3/32" pin.

Drill 1/2" deep, clear chips. Drill 1/2" deep. Etc.

 

[Phil Coffins]

Did you temper the tip? Thanks

Cold rolled with no temper, a light sharpening makes it ready for the next project. I’ve done six or eight with this one so far.

 

[HighUintas]

Cold rolled with no temper, a light sharpening makes it ready for the next project. I’ve done six or eight with this one so far.

Did you use a mill to cut that flute or use something else? Wonder if it would be very hard to cut the flute with a Dremel and then clean it up with files

 

[Sean E Bug]

I bought mine from jedediah starr trading company. 48 inches long and have a brad point. will drill straight as long as you take care making the ramrod groove as a guide and clear the chips out.

 

[Vaino]

My RR drills were made when I was working in a toolroom. The shank of the drill was ground down for a suitable length and pressed into a drilled hole in the end of a length of drill rod and then high temp silver soldered. The other end of the drill rod was drilled for a length of Allen Wrench which chucked nicely in a hand brace. ....it also was soldered in. The drill point was a flat bottom so the drill didn't wander. .....Fred

 

[Phil Coffins]

Did you use a mill to cut that flute or use something else? Wonder if it would be very hard to cut the flute with a Dremel and then clean it up with files

I used a mill for the flute then hand ground the cutting edge and relief.

 

[billraby]

https://www.drillbitsworld.com/Extra-Length-Drill-Bits-High-Speed-Steel-248.html
They have them up to 6 feet long.

 

[Rob M.]

Just welded a drill bit to a piece of 3/8 " rod I bought at the hardware ...

 

[TDM]

Just welded a drill bit to a piece of 3/8 " rod I bought at the hardware ...

That’s my method too. My old mig welder gets cheeky if I don’t use it.

 

[oldwood]

Use a bit 1/16" larger than the published size , your 5/16" , and 3/8" , and 1/2" , r/r's will fit with ease , with out sanding to size.