Taper length drill bit...diy?

[PipesByDesign]

Has anyone made their own tapered drill bits for stem drilling? I just bought the 5/32 one from McMaster, with a 5 inch-ish length that works fine for normal length stems, but I'm interested in being able to make churchwarden stems, 8 to 10 inches long.

I figure it's just a matter of getting an aircraft bit and grinding it down, but I wasn't sure how to go about that without totally screwing up a ten dollar bit. Any tips on keeping the right angle, etc?

Thanks,

Jonathan

[taharris]

Your best bet may be to get multiple bits in different sizes and drill step-wise.

[PipesByDesign]

Won't that create turbulence in the airflow? It also seems like it would create crevasses for gunk to build up on and make cleaning impossible...

[RadDavis]

I'd buy a longer drill bit from McMaster Carr.

Rad

[PipesByDesign]

And then just grind it down? It seems that the longest taper point drill bits that are out there aren't over 6 inches long. Any tips on grinding it down?

[KurtHuhn]

WL Fuller is, to my knowledge, the only manufacturer that makes extra long taper point drill bits.

This is a 8" overall length 5/32" bit:
http://www.amazon.com/Speed-Steel-Taper ... 033&sr=1-1

[PipesByDesign]

Thanks Kurt. $25 for one drill bit. Ouch.

I know this has been said before, and this won't be the last time, but dang this is an expensive enterprise. It seems like every time I turn around I'm dropping a hundred bucks on something.

If I didn't love it so....

[e Markle]

I buy all my bits from these guys: http://www.buydrillbits.com/products/hss/gp2.php?c=AIR
Never had any issues. That link will take you to a 12" 5/32 for $5.19. I'd slap it in the lathe in reverse, and grab some decent sandpaper and shape it how you want it.

[PipesByDesign]

Thanks markle. Good price and good tip.

I'm thinking I'll buy several and progressively drill out the holes, finishing with the taper. I've made a bunch of wooden stemmed churchwardens, and the amount of bit creeping is really annoying. I'm also about to devote a homebuilt lathe entirely to long stem drilling. Up till now I've been eyeballing it as my metal lathe isn't large enough to accommodate everything. One step further toward "perfection"...

[RadDavis]

And then just grind it down? It seems that the longest taper point drill bits that are out there aren't over 6 inches long. Any tips on grinding it down?

Hmmmm, maybe I didn't get it at Mcmaster, but the last tapered bit I bought was 8 inches long.

Maybe it was Fuller. $25 is about right though.

Rad

[Alan L]

I made my 12" taper by brazing a 5" taper onto a piece of drill rod, but then I'm also a smith...

[pereu]

Hallo pipemakers,
I use these drills, they works very well and the dimensions are ideal for stems:

http://www.feinewerkzeuge.de/konischebohrer.html
They are produced in Japan (Star-M) and might be also available in America.
Peter