How to drill hole in Wood without splintering? Use the appropriate bit for Wood and Place your Wood on top of another before drilling to avoid splintering.
Most people will advise you to drill in one end and turn the other face to drill in that same direction, targeting The same hole, but mistakes can occur at any time.
In this article, I share my experience that works fast and easy for experts and beginners. I suggest you see how to drill Wood without damaging it.
Also, I have an article that will show you how to cut Wood without splintering them. Click here to read [Link]
How To Drill A Hole In Wood Without Tearing Basic Precaution
How to drill hole in Wood without splintering. If possible, drill along the wood grain for the best results. It is how you do it:
- Secure the workpiece with clamps so that it does not slip while drilling.
- If drilling on a worktop, place an old wooden board underneath to avoid causing damage. It means that no fiber tears occur when drilling through.
- Work at medium speed for a clean hole without burn marks due to excessive friction.
Click here to read more about the correct speed for Wood when drilling [Link]
- If you want to create a screw connection between two wooden elements, drill the part to be screwed first about half a millimeter larger than the screw diameter. The second part is then drilled about a millimeter narrower.
I have an article for you if you want to know how to screw Wood correctly. Click here to read now. [Link]
Why Does Wood Crack Or Splinter When Drilling Holes?
When drilling holes, the Wood cracks or Splinters because The problem mainly occurs with soft coniferous woods such as spruce, pine, or fir. You can achieve clean drilling results with hardwoods.
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When drilling Wood, it is common to see it damaged under the tool’s pressure.
It splits, crumbles, etc., because Wood is made of fibers aligned against each other in the same direction to form a whole.
When the Wood is drilled, pressure is exerted and disrupts the whole.
The fibers are then separated. It is where the Wood can splinter, shatter, or crumble as the fibers run off in different directions.
However, this is not inevitable; with the proper technique, it is possible to overcome this problem and not damage the Wood.
What Are The Right Tools To Drill A Wood
1. A clamp [ optional ]
2. Additional Wood [offcuts plank or board]
3. Pencil for marking
4. Tape for measuring
5. A drilling machine
6. A drill bits, special for Wood,
It is essential not to use just any drill bit to avoid damaging the Wood when drilling. Here is the type of drill wicks you can use:
Twist Bits
They are the most suitable and frequently used for quickly and efficiently drilling Wood.
To recognize them, know that they are steel colored, the metal from which they are made.
They come with two types of tips, which are;
A). a spiral tip that allows you to make pretty deep holes.
B). 3 tips for drilling with precision. In addition, this type of drill bit allows good evacuation of wood shavings, often a source of problems.
Spade Bits
They are less efficient than spiral bits but will allow you to drill your Wood at a lower cost.
To learn more about drill bit, click here to read the Types Of Drill Bits and Buying Guide.
How To Drill Hole In Wood Without Splintering Step By Step?
When drilling Wood, the area that splinters is the ending surface of the Wood where the bit bursts out last, but I will show you two drilling methods without splintering.
When drilling Wood, the problems do not arise at the start but towards the end of the operation, when the Wood is weakened due to the loss of part of its fibers.
It is, therefore, appropriate to seek to increase the resistance of the Wood by reducing the pressure exerted by the drill on the Wood.
How To Drill Wood Without Damaging By Using Offcut Wood For Support Method 1
When drilling the Wood or board, you want to drill through, you will need offcut Wood.
I always prefer this technique when drilling because it is fast and easy.
Step 1: Mark The Point For The Drill
How to drill wood without splitting by using offcut Wood for support: the first thing you have to do is pick up a pencil and Mark where you want to work so you will get it appropriate.
Step 2: Choose The Right Bit.
We have different types of bits and different Sizes. Some bits are larger in diameter than others, while Some are for walls.
Click here to read How to drill through a wall
Conventional twist drills are cheap. They are considered universal and designed for Wood, metal, and plastic drilling.
For this reason, we will use pointed twist drill bits, special for Wood, since they will clog less than the normal ones.
Click here to read 📖 The Types Of Drill Bits and Buying Guide
Step 3: Support Your Wood With Offcut Wood
Place your Wood on top of another wooden surface that we do not mind damaging and fasten it with clamps or support the Wood With your hand.
Please make sure the Wood you want to work on is on top of the offcut Wood so that When drilling, the bits will open the wood and punch the Wood that is placed under
We want the Wood to Stop the Wood from splintering and prevent Force from acting on the lighter parts of the Wood when drilling.
Step 4: Positioning You’re Drilling Bit
Place your Drilling bit exactly at the point at which you want to make holes. Make sure your hand is straight to get accurate results.
Some drilling machine has a Spirit level that Will Indicate when your hand is straight.
Step 5: Start Drilling
Once your hand Is Straight, press the machine button. Allow it to move slowly so it won’t damage the surface of the Wood.
Once your drilling bit has made a hole in the Wood, start increasing the speed of your machine By pressing the button harder or adjusting the speed level.
If you notice Your bit Is about to burst out, Reduce the speed of your drilling machine so the final part will be smooth.
But with the help of the plank, place under will help smooth the other surface of your Wood so there will be no crack or damage.
Method 2: How To Drill Wood Without Splintering By Using The Two-Sided Drilling Method
Alternatively, try this variant to prevent the Wood from tearing out.
Drill through the Wood but with caution. It would be best if you didn’t drill through the Wood.
The two-faced drilling method, which I will explain in this section of this article, requires a bit of calculation.
So, if you do not want to work with tape, this method is not for you.
When I say calculation, it doesn’t mean mathematics; I mean marking the right point at the two surfaces so the holes can meet together.
For this method to be carried out, start by measuring the point where you want to drill at both surfaces A -B.
For example, if the front measurement is 36 by 28 cm, let the exact measurement correspond with the back to ensure the Mark meets at the same point.
Now start drilling the front where you have Mark, but make sure you start with a low speed before increasing.
Also read my Bosch GSB 24-2 review
Once you have drilled to the middle, turn the Wood over and drill the point you Mark to meet with the front hole. It will prevent our Wood from tearing or splintering.
What Should I Do To Prevent My Wood From Splintering Or Damaging
Selecting The Right Tool To Prevent Your Wood From Splintering
Choose a drill bit suitable for the type of Wood you are drilling. A standard wood drill bit is ideal for softwoods, while a carbide-tipped drill bit is used for harder woods.
Prepare Your Wood To Prevent Your Wood From Damaging
The first step is to prepare the Wood for drilling. Mark the precise area where you want to drill with a pencil.
I advise placing your piece of Wood on another board to prevent the Wood from splitting.
Placed The two pieces on a flat and stable surface. For example, clamps can be used to hold everything on a workbench.
Use The Right Drilling Technique To Prevent Your Wood From Damaging
When drilling, start slowly to ensure accuracy, then increase the speed once the bit has been set. Be sure to apply constant, controlled pressure.
When the bit approaches the bottom of the Wood, decrease the pressure on the drill, allowing the bit to nibble the Wood gently.
Also read Is A Cucumber, A Citrus Fruit
Sand The Edges After Drilling
After drilling the hole, you can clean the edges with sandpaper to remove any rough edges.
Do this gently to not scratch or damage the surrounding surface.
Conclusion
How to drill Wood without splintering is as easy as ABC. I always recommend giving your attention when drilling or screwing Wood.
Make sure you choose the right bit for your construction. I have a tutorial that covers the types of bites and how to choose them. Click here to read.
I will always advise you to go for the first method. I hope you enjoy this post and share it with your friends. 🤣
