Drilling holes in battletop

[traumadoc]

I am new to this so some basic issues I am sure,, I am building Amati Vanguard (first real build) and so far getting by okay. But I built the mast and now need to get holes drilled in the upper battletop for lines to go through. I tried and split a few already, had extra parts so was able to reconstruct the battletop, but now afraid of splitting these. Any thoughts on how to drill these holes? I have been using a fine twist bit.

 

[Uwek]

I am new to this so some basic issues I am sure,, I am building Amati Vanguard (first real build) and so far getting by okay. But I built the mast and now need to get holes drilled in the upper battletop for lines to go through. I tried and split a few already, had extra parts so was able to reconstruct the battletop, but now afraid of splitting these. Any thoughts on how to drill these holes? I have been using a fine twist bit.

Are you drillling with a power tool like Proxxon or Dremel?
Try a small hand drill like this one


and do not forget to make a small dott with a scriber to keep the drill in place


No preassure on the drill - the drill should make the work and cut the wood only by the turning and not the preassure.

It take some time, but you will have everything much more under control

If everything is not helping, you have to change the timber (use a hard type like pear) and make it out of scratch - you will paint it later on black, so you can use every timber whith better behaviour for such drilling

 

[Sea Burd]

I have a small set of these. Ive used them to drill just with my fingers For fine drilling.

https://www.grainger.com/product/414J34?ef_id=CjwKCAiAlfqOBhAeEiwAYi43F1_F_I2lkLQSfdtq8RxiK22hJTHPUIFDGEtrnpJjWlRik8_sV8GG3RoCJNUQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!281698275567!!!g!472545890388!&gucid=N:N:pS:paid:GGL:CSM-2295:4P7A1P:20501231&gclid=CjwKCAiAlfqOBhAeEiwAYi43F1_F_I2lkLQSfdtq8RxiK22hJTHPUIFDGEtrnpJjWlRik8_sV8GG3RoCJNUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[Uwek]

I have a small set of these. Ive used them to drill just with my fingers For fine drilling.

https://www.grainger.com/product/414J34?ef_id=CjwKCAiAlfqOBhAeEiwAYi43F1_F_I2lkLQSfdtq8RxiK22hJTHPUIFDGEtrnpJjWlRik8_sV8GG3RoCJNUQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!2966!3!281698275567!!!g!472545890388!&gucid=N:N:pS:paid:GGL:CSM-2295:4P7A1P:20501231&gclid=CjwKCAiAlfqOBhAeEiwAYi43F1_F_I2lkLQSfdtq8RxiK22hJTHPUIFDGEtrnpJjWlRik8_sV8GG3RoCJNUQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

such drills (I am using the same) are fitting into the vice I showed - with this I guess you have a better chance to keep the drill in 90° angle

 

[wmgrimball]

Try clamping (lightly) the area you are drilling to hold the wood in place so it won't split.

 

[fourseas]

While the wood is still raw eg. no stains paint or varnish, I apply a small drop of CA glue to hold the fibers together and let it dry before drilling. This has always worked well when the hole you are drilling is almost as wide as the timber.