DRILLING EYE HOLES

[Justin Harrison]

i'm struggling a bit to get a clean hole that's the proper size........any pointers into a bit that'll get the job done would be MUCH APPRECIATED.

thanks, justin

 

[mikebrosey]

try a regular drill bit of the right size but run the drill in reverse

 

[David Connolly]

Get eye hole drill bits from John Walls at Knotts Knives. I'm sure other suppliers carry them too but I'm not sure which ones. Get a 8mm and 10mm - they'll do everything you need with absolutely perfect edges. Couldn't live without them!

 

[Capt Rich Geminski]

Drill over sized and set in water putty and yellow glue. Makes good eye lids too.

 

[Lee L.]

I use a Forstner bit that is one size larger than my eye.

 

[Chuck J]

I use a Forstner bit that is one size larger than my eye.

Ditto, I have quite a selection of these

 

[Roy Weatherby]

I drill a pillot hole threw the head while the head cut out still has flat sides. Then I use a forstner bit and drill the eye sockets to a proper depth. All this is done before I start carving the head.The forster is a tiny bit larger then the actual size of the eye.

 

[Terry Desilets]

Go to a production tool supply house and get a STRAIGHT SHANK COUNTERBBORE. It has a pilot hole to guide you. (I drill the eye location the same size of the pilot when the head is still square). This will give you a clean hole with a flat bottom. Depending on how anal you are, you can get them in metric sizes. I usually choose a drill 1 mm over the size of the eye.