mortise and faceing tools

[pipeguy]

Ive seen the mortise and facing tools online as well as there prices My question is would a step drill bit say 5/32x1" do the same for alot less??? Your thoughts would be appreciated thanx Bob Clark.

[ToddJohnson]

Ive seen the mortise and facing tools online as well as there prices My question is would a step drill bit say 5/32x1" do the same for alot less??? Your thoughts would be appreciated thanx Bob Clark.

Bob,

I'm not sure we're thinking about the same sort of bit here. A step drill--at least every one I've ever used--is a tapered conical bit that starts at a small diameter and ends in a large diameter. It's great for cutting clean holes in steel (or other metal) sheets where standard bits would fail miserably. Are you thinking of a different sort of bit than the one I've described?

TJ

[JHowell]

Many tools seem expensive at first, but become much more reasonable when the cost is spread over a number of pipes. The mortise face is one of the first places buyers look, once they get past an overall visual attraction, for the quality and care of workmanship. Not a good place for half-measures.

I agree with Todd, though, that what is normally called a step drill would be no good at all for drilling a mortise. The steps are too shallow, and the step to the next size is beveled, not square.

Jack

[caskwith]

Take a look at this thread.

If you cant get your own Im sure Steve would make you one for a small fee. He is a nice chap and is making me one to use for repairing some of my own pipes.

viewtopic.php?f=46&t=4262

[Ryan]

If you buy a counter bore with the same size guide pin as your mortise(ie 5/16) you can use a drill blank to keep the counter bore perpendicular to the mortise...it is the same thing Chris showed, but with a larger guide pin(that one is 3/16).