Another lesson

[WV Sawmiller]

   Might should be obvious but it takes more torque to get a 3/8" auger bit through a similar sized/thickness green hickory than the metal will tolerate.

    I have a green 4" thick hickory mantel on stickers and it is starting to split from both ends so I came up with another brainstorm - drill through at each end, run a piece of all thread through and tighten nuts and washers on each end to stop the splitting. That may still work but something bigger than a 3/8" bit and rod will be required. I got about half way through. It was cutting like a champ then it stopped and twisted and snapped in two when I tried to reverse the bit.

[Ox]

Ouch.  Now what?  Stuck bits, taps, etc. really suck to get out.  They're harder metal than most things used to get them out!

[WV Sawmiller]

  Nothing that drastic. Only a couple of inches from the end. I'll just saw off the affected section. I had left plenty of trim on the log so other than the cost of the bit no real loss. Just another learning experience to add to the rest. If I try again I'll use at least a 1/2" auger.

[DFILER2]

Would wrapping a 2" ratchet strap around the ends and tightening them help stop the splitting?

[Magicman]

Taking smaller bites and fully extracting the bit often to remove the chips is a necessity.

[WV Sawmiller]

DF2,

   Yes but the all thread would be more permanent. Of course they also make the plates you can hammer in the end which helps. I think US Coatings who make Anchorseal sell them but I have not used any yet. A decorative wrought iron strap would stop the splitting and add character if I could find the right ones.

MM,

   Yes, that would have worked too. I really just undersized my plan originally.