Advice required: Drill power.

[MorrisWoodman12]

One of the tasks I undertake is to help maintain and restore an early open trestle post windmill. Currently I am replacing some rotten wood and have to drill several 1" diameter holes through 12" of extremely well seasoned oak. So I have a 1" auger bit of suitable length but the power tool the mill has is somewhat knackered and I'm looking for a new, replacement power drill.

Some manufacturers give a maximum hole size for steel and wood but others simply give the power rating of the drill. What power rating do I need for this task? Does anyone have any recommendations re suitable tools please? Cost is a bit of an issue as funds tend to come from visitor donations.

Thanks. Martin

 

[old]

https://www.toolstation.com/shop/Power+ ... ill/p17425

Wattage gives power to 240v drill so the above with suitable bit and adapter is good price and its other features, hammer and rotary with hammer could be useful for other aspects of your job.

 

[Mike G]

Brace and bit. Seriously........ Pennies, and no danger of breaking your wrist.

Whereabouts are you? And we'd love to see some photos of this.

 

[Coley]

Brace and bit. Seriously........ Pennies, and no danger of breaking your wrist.

Whereabouts are you? And we'd love to see some photos of this.

+1 on both counts, particularly the second comment.

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

 

[Malc2098]

Is that the former Lowfield Heath mill? My wife used to live at LH in the early 60s.

 

[Rod]

Maybe this one?

https://www.eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk/ ... mill-lane/

Rod

 

[MorrisWoodman12]

Maybe this one?

https://www.eastgrinsteadmuseum.org.uk/ ... mill-lane/

Rod

Shall I tell you or leave you all aguessin'? Oh OK then. No it's not the East Grinstead one Rod, especially as I don't think there is anything left there but a mound and anyway the East Grinstead mill wasn't an open trestle as it had a roundhouse. A good guess though. Our mill is about 7 miles further south just off the A22; it' s the mill at Nutley. Anyone is welcome to visit. Unfortunately there are no more open days at weekends until well into next year but us volunteers are there most Wednesdays from 10 ish to 3:30. Our tame mill expert can tell you all about the mill starting with the dendrology report stating that the main post was felled in 1529!

Thanks to all for your comments and advice.

Regards
Martin

PS Mike G and Coley: Yes I'll try and get some photos together when we're finished - may be a month or two though.

 

[AndyP]

Here’s a little info on the aforementioned windmill.

http://www.bridgecottageuckfield.co.uk/ ... storation/

 

[RogerS]

I second what Mike said regarding the drill. If you do go down the power drill route then ideally get one with a good clutch because if you don't then, with a powerful drill with loads of torque, when the drill bit gets stuck, you're in grave danger of breaking your wrist DAMHIKT.

Also a reverse is essential ....I don't have one on my SDS drill, tried drilling with it using an auger, got it stuck with no easy way of getting it back out.

 

[Deejay]

Hello Martin

Have you considered a tommy bar auger?

I've used them in the past to drill cable holes sideways through floor joists. You can put twice the effort in when you use both hands.

http://footprint-tools.com/Augers

Cheers

Dave

 

[HappyHacker]

I agree with DJ. Used them many times, not the fastest but low cost and last nearly forever and can often be found second hand.

 

[MorrisWoodman12]

Thanks for your advice everyone; it is appreciated. I'm still not quite sure which way to go but your comments will form the basis for discussion back at'mill.

Photographs of the work as it progresses are being taken so I'll try and remember to post some here.

Regards
Martin.