Recently, I've been working with a client getting her shed frame ready for the raising this coming Saturday.
We have been doing some frame fit up and boring all the holes for all the pegs.
Her bit for the one inch pegs was one that goes into a standard brace. This bit was dull and wouldn't bore a hole worth beans at all.
We then used her boring machine and she had a one inch bit for that and it worked great.
I took her bit over to my partner Tom Perkins house and asked him to sharpen it for me/her. So we could use it today.
While there, I had him sharpen one of mine as well, so that I'd have a back up.
I brought my camera and took some pictures of him doing it.
First of all, I took pictures of his file he uses to sharpen bits.
This file only has cutters on one side. The back side is beveled and it is a different file then I have ever seen before.
Here is this file:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10095/DSCF4892.JPG)
And here is the cutter side view:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10095/DSCF4893.JPG)
Next he put the bit into the vice and held it firmly there.
And then he filed the slope of the cutter:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10095/DSCF4889.JPG)
After he did both cutters, he re-positioned the bit so he could sharpen the spurs that hang down:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10095/DSCF4891.JPG)
We used this bit today and it cut the white pine like butter.
I hope this has helped you to understand how to sharpen your bits.
Jim Rogers
Jim
Can you locate what the file is called, and where the file can be purchased?
In the last pic, the camera picked up the edges that were still not sharp.
Do you have pics showing those edges after filing?
This is the bit file that we used in my telephone company pole climbing days. It has teeth on two edges and smooth on the other two.
http://www.fine-tools.com/G-augerbitfile.html
I get the files magic posted from Midwest....
The file in the OP looks like a Swiss Pattern Barrette file.
http://www.simonds.cc/files/sws-barrette.php?menu=mnuPFiles
http://www.brownells.com/.aspx/pid=5190/Product/SWISS-PATTERN-BARRETTE-FILES
This is it, as Magicman said:
http://www.simonds.cc/files/sws-barrette.php?menu=mnuPFiles
Jim Rogers
Might even be able to use Arkansas or Japanese stones or water slip stones. I know they can be used on forstner bits. Most times I think a good honing is about all that is needed unless the bits have been chipped/dented from abuse.
Now, I'm no sharpening expert. Just a suggestion.
True SD. Sometimes keeping something sharp with regular touchups is better than getting something sharp. Of course like you said, unless you hit something, then bring out the big guns.
Quote from: beenthere on January 11, 2012, 08:19:13 PM
Jim
Can you locate what the file is called, and where the file can be purchased?
In the last pic, the camera picked up the edges that were still not sharp.
Do you have pics showing those edges after filing?
Here is one of the two bit he sharpened:
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10095/DSCF4895.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10095/DSCF4896.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10095/DSCF4897.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10095/DSCF4898.JPG)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/10095/DSCF4899.JPG)
The spurs that hang down from the bit, are just to score the wood so that the bit can cut the wood cleanly.
I hope this has helped you to see where to sharpen your bits.
Jim Rogers
Honing that rough filed edge there would throw the chips better. Notice how the rest of that bit is polished smooth/honed. A little wax helps to.
files and sharpening tips can also be found at www.leevalley.com
Lee Valley has great tools.
Mike
Quote from: mikerat on January 14, 2012, 08:51:53 PM
files and sharpening tips can also be found at www.leevalley.com
Lee Valley has great tools.
Mike
Amen to that! Love Lee Valley.
X 2. Can't buy nothing worth a spit around here that even comes close to their quality. 8)
We used big long "ship augers " to drill through power poles with a 3/4" Milwaukee arm breaker drill. I think the longest I have is around 36".
I've used both a triangle file as well as a knife file to dress them .
Those or the auger bit by the OP do just fine if you keep them sharp. You're better off if you "peck drill " a deep hole. Meaning take a bite then pull it out repeatedly to clear the chips on a deep hole. If you don't you'd better have a reversible drill because they will hang as tight as a bulls' behind in fly season.
I spent over 40 years in machine shops so I like good files but I have sharpened a few bits with the little diamond coated file on my Leatherman Wave because it was what I had when I needed it.
When I was drilling holes through utility poles, the only power was "man power". :-\ We always had sharp bits.
Father had an inverter under the hood of the pickup to use power tools like drills out in the field to fix harvesting equipment and to weld. ;)
Quote from: Magicman on January 15, 2012, 08:53:20 PM
When I was drilling holes through utility poles, the only power was "man power". :-\ We always had sharp bits.
Oh no ,brace and bit ,ugh . :(
'Fraid so. :-\
Auger bit file seems to be available from Nickolson. I saw it on Amazon. Maybe I should try one?