recommendation for 1 1/2" auger bits

[Max sawdust]

Hello,
I am having difficulty with my wood owl 1 1/2" bit with my boring machine in Red Oak.  (Tip spins out)

I can not seem to find an old boring machine bit in this size, and have been using the wood owl with some success in pine but not in oak or aspen.

Any recommendations on brand of 1 1/2" auger bits?  I do not care about clean entry holes because I score all my layout lines anyway.  What I am looking for is a bit with an aggressive screw tip and a moderately aggressive cutting action.

Any suggestions appreciated.

Max

[Raphael]

Real boring machine bits work the best, anything with down turned cutters leaves a lot of fiber to cut out at the bottom unless you overbore in which case you are reducing the strength of the timber slightly more.  I did find some large 'universal' augers online once, they have down turned cutters but are pitched for low speed boring...  If I can find them again I'll post a follow up.

  I've had pretty good luck on eBay (got a 2" still encased in it's original protective 'japaning').  eBay can go for months w/o any then several will appear at once.  Have you checked with Jim Rogers, he had a couple left that were slightly under 1.5" last I knew.  You can always bore a staggered line of 1.25" holes.

  There's also Martin J. Donnelly Antique Tools On-Line, but I do warn you that his prices are a bit steep for catalog items.  They basically charge highest expected auction price and ship for free.  Last time I looked it was $75 for a near mint used 1.5" bit down to $40 for a real dog with almost nothing left to sharpen.

[MSU_Keith]

Here's a good list of dealers that's been in my browser favorites forever:

Electronic Neanderthal Tool Sources

Don't get lost in there looking for tools or your project will fall way behind.  :