I have a beautiful post of reclaimed wood and I'd like to make it into a lamp. Not sure how to do this but I know the first step is to drill a hole all the way through it lengthwise. What is the tool and technique for this job and might I find a woodshop that could help me with it?
Wood – How to drill a long hole lengthwise all the way through a post to make a standing lamp
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Related Solutions
It is great to begin woodworking with a custom made project that fits your needs. Often doing it yourself can result in a significant savings, but I think you may find that purchasing the components for the lamp may well cost more than the amount they are asking. But your version will be the size and finish you want.
For the linen panels, you could try mounting the linen on thin plastic, such as acrylic, cut to size. You could use spray adhesive, such as this one, or you could tension the cloth and glue the edges with a thin bead of a general adhesive. Just make sure it will stick to the type of plastic you select and do a small test to make sure it does not discolor the fabric.
Screw length should be enough to go through the first piece and 1/2 to 2/3 of the way through the second. You need to pre-drill all holes. Glue will stabilize the piece.
Finally, be sure to leave the top of the lamp open to allow heat to escape, and be careful when stapling over wire not to nick the insulation. You should consider attaching the wire with a bead of glue along the length instead. You can hold it in place with tape until it dries.
The punch suggested by SpectralGhost is a good idea.
If that doesn't work, you can make a jig with three pieces of 2x4.
Screw the pieces together and drill a pilot hole for the drill bit (the dotted line) using the same size bit you intend to use on the pipe.
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Best Answer
Long (18" and longer) drill bits do exist. If the hole is wide enough, bit extensions are also usable.
However, there's also a simple-but-elegant cheat. Cut the piece lengthwise, rout a channel in one or both sides, glue back together. If you make a thin-kerf cut, and are careful during reassembly, the glue line can be nearly invisible -- especially on straight-grained wood with the cut aligned with the grain lines.