[nadcarves]

I need to inset another piece of wood in Manzanita root. Game plan is to put a router in the drill press, get a hole started, lock the press in that depth and move the root around until the hole is the right size...I was told that a router bit does not work in a drill press because the DP turns much slower than a router motor..Root will be supported by being set in plaster..Hole desired about the size of a digital camera, pack of smokes,..So flat bottom, up , down spiral,, 1/2 inch maximum depth???? What would you suggest,,,sides will be contoured, not square..Actually, I would love to be able to taper the sides to make the inset easier to fit..Possibly easier to just taper the inset???.Thanks for any suggestions ,.Cordially Nad

[mark yundt]

Just trying to hand hold it and move it around might be asking for trouble. You're right about the speed,,most DP's are way too slow.I can spin mine at 10,000 rpm,,and that's a bit slow for a router bit,,grabs like crazy.

What I have done and what I would suggest to you is to screw the root to a piece of ply for example that you could clamp to the DP table.Use a forstner type bit ( they don't squirrel around like others) and using one a bit smaller than your intended hole or slot keep repositioning the piece,,while clamped down to new positions to bore holes to the depth you need. If the overlap is correct you should have just a bit of clean up ,,and you can taper it if you wish. If you also clamp a guide for the base to follow you can control the line of your pocket you are making pretty accurately.This is similar to the way locksets and such were set into doors yrs ago,as well as how mortises are done. This I think considering the shape of most of these roots would be the safest and most accurate way to handle this job.

If by chance you have a 2 way vice for your DP you MIGHT get away with using an end mill type of bit as well and try using it as a milling machine.But for a probably one time job the previous approach should work just fine.

[nadcarves]

Mark,,,all done...here I was planning to spend six days, four months and seven minutes to get this piece ready,and along comes your advice..I had the root set in plaster..Root was WD 40'd so it would hold ,but not stick.Went in with the Forstner bits, cleaned up the walls with a cutter used to trim laminates, and it is ready , now to sit until the Christmas shows and sales are done...Thank you again, I am happy there are people in this world that have an idea what is to be done...Except, between us, you and I both know that I am going to be fitting wood, and fiddling around..I am taking sequence photographs of this project ,,It looks like it may turn out much easier to do than I had anticipated....cordially NAD

[mark yundt]

So glad it was of some help,,sounds like you did well. The laminate bit was a good idea,,especially once you had the bulk of the wood out of the way and it's purpose then was to just clean up and shear the sides.

Thanks for the update.

[Keoma]

was sounding like banged up knuckles more and more! I have tried Manzanita in my Dp before...uuugh...it is so hard! I think it even has a mind of its own! Glad all turned out well, call me if you need band aids.