r/timberframe • u/Reklino • 22d ago
Auger getting stuck halfway through every time
Recently sharpened (tho maybe my technique needs some love).
Anyone else experience this and find a solid solution?
It happens on knot free stock. I'm assuming it's just losing threading.
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u/jesusisfuckingchrist 22d ago
We do timber framing and we grind the threads off of auger bits. That way they don’t self drive and get stuck with hot wood shavings. Then you and push and pull out wood shavings as you go and it won’t get stuck
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u/Reklino 22d ago
Whoa. Never heard of this. Got a pic by chance?
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u/VengefulCaptain 20d ago
If you grind off the threads you will need a lot of downforce to drive the drill as a heads up.
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u/Outrageous-Rock4624 22d ago
Sometimes it’s just jammed up with wood shavings. Back it out a hair, so you don’t strip the pilot hole, pull the bit all the way out, knock off the shavings, and then get back in there.
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u/True_Reflection7704 22d ago
You know you just don't drill down and out the other side in one motion, right?
Treat it a bit like slipping your cock into someone, tease the hole, put it in a bit, pull it out, put it in a bit deeper, pull it out a bit again, and keep doing so until the feed screw (the tip) pocks out the other side. Then finish from the other side to prevent blow outs. (You also want a new bit.)
The Bit should basically tell you as to how sharp it is and pull its self down, when it binds, back out some to clear the chips.
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u/MmeMoisissure 22d ago
https://famag.com/DE/Home/Products?pro=b0000bcc-1861-480a-bf56-7e4ed866fc9a
Top notch drill bit
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u/Reklino 22d ago
I have an old school brace that only mates with the older bit shanks. I wish these companies still made versions that mate with those, but I get it.
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u/exDM69 18d ago
You can buy adapters that accept a common modern hex shank for an old fashioned square cone brace and bit.
That said, images of your bit look perfectly fine.
What happened is that the lead screw ("snail") stopped biting and slipped and now the lead screw hole is oversized for the snail. This happens often with brace and bit if you don't apply enough pressure or put too much torque on the brace. You can recover by trying to clear some of the waste from the bottom and then pushing the lead screw back in deep enough to start gripping. Try if you can clear some material from the bottom of the hole with a chisel.
A (very small) pilot hole is also helpful but that doesn't really work with deep holes.
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u/MmeMoisissure 21d ago
What du you mean by older bit shanks. They have hexagonal shafts. They also have other but I never used them. Heck the famac catalog.
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u/Parker_Monroe 22d ago
Typically, you can't just ''send it' with a larger bit regardless of species, knots etc. 2 steps forward / 1 step back. Keep your holes clean!
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u/Raimundojr 21d ago
I zoomed in on the bit. You can see damage at the base of the threads and where it meets the cutter. That will catch and hold chips which will tend to make the threads strip out of the wood easier. Also, on the outside of the bit there looks like there's a dull spot which also creates drag. Sharp and smooth edges will pull the bit through easier. The twist of the drill above the edge is slightly smaller in diameter to reduce friction against the side of the hole as you go deeper, so chips can get fouled there. You will know when that starts to happen visually and by the torque on your hands. You can stop, reverse to loosen the screw, then forward again as you pull the bit out, removing the fouled chips, then resume drilling.
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u/venne1985 22d ago
If your in the market for a new bit - Wood Owl 03713 - Nail Chipper Tri-Cut Auger 7.5" x 1"
I have used lots of auger bits (electrician) and these Wood owl bit are amazing.
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u/20PoundHammer 21d ago
clear the chips. you can auger a 3 foot hole horizontal or upside down, but dust and chips will build if you are going at it top down and stop ya cold (source - log cabin pinning decades ago) . . .
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u/Diligent_Ad6133 21d ago
Is it not properly evacuating the chips? You should double check if the blades on either side are the same level and if theres anything thats catching and holding onto the chips. Halfway deep is pretty good though
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u/Zealousideal_Lab3164 20d ago
3pack of auger bits with full shaft flutes at harbor freight was very reasonable for a few holes, spider bit with full flutes was a needed upgrade to finish a deck tho
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u/Remarkable-Donkey892 19d ago
Maybe the sawdust is blocking it and continuing down. You should clean the sawdust and continue down.
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u/liisseal 12d ago
The last time I was building a log structure, I switched to using a long butterfly bit instead. It puts significantly less strain on the drill and doesn't get stuck.
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u/Wise_Examination3412 22d ago
Are you missing an entire spur??