How to Enlarge a Hole in Wood: Techniques and Tools
In most cases we focus on just one topic: how to make a hole in wood. But a related topic that can make a difference is never addressed. Namely how to enlarge a hole in wood. Why is it important to address the topic?
The answer is simple: attention is always focused on choosing the best wood bits and making precise holes. For example, you can achieve this with the Step+ from Krino, a bit designed specifically for these jobs. But what happens if you just want to enlarge wood holes? Can you simply use the same bit and use a rotatory motion or do you need countersinks?
Mistakes to avoid when enlarging holes in wood
You need to enlarge a hole in wood and you only have the bit that you used for the first drilling job? The mistake that is often made - especially by beginners - is to use the same tool to achieve the desired result.
The method: rotating the bit while the drill is in motion. The goal would be to consume the wood but the result will be terrible. It could be a solution to use a slightly wider bit but this can work fine if it's a small correction. For more structured work you need different tools: the countersinks you'll find in the Krino catalog.
How to enlarge a hole in wood
There are many reasons to enlarge a hole in wood. In some cases the operation involves the presence of a decentered or eccentric hole. In others, however, the installation of handles or the passage of cables, not forgetting the insertion of joints or the housing of screws and the installation of locks: these are operations useful for drilling wood with a larger diameter.
But how do you do it? You need to choose the right tool (in the next section we see which one), then you need to pay attention to the procedures: the wood grain tends to tear when enlarging, so always proceed with moderate speeds: lubricate the cutting edge for hard woods to avoid the burning effect and position a block of wood at the exit to avoid splintering.
Tools for enlarging wood holes in carpentry
What happens if you don't need to enlarge a hole in wood but just countersink it? That is, if you need to give it a conical shape to accommodate a screw? The answer lies in the wood countersink: there are both bits for the drill and hand tools.
You have the option to use tools that work on existing holes or you can choose bits that end with specific blades useful for countersinking and thus enlarging the hole with an inclination that matches your needs.
If you need to drill a piece of wood to enlarge the hole you have specialized tools available: hole saws. These tools are cylinders with a toothed profile and a guide tooth that allow you to make holes with a larger diameter or at any rate above-average diameter. The solution proposed by Krino in these cases is the bimetallic hole saw in HSS. Here's a reference diagram.
The variable tooth pitch improves the performance of the toothed profile and the type of metal allows operation on any surface without fear of hard material, overheating or wear. HSS is indeed the high-speed steel that allows excellent results (here you can find a guide on the subject). Here you can find the essential tools for working with wood:
Remember that Krino bimetallic hole saws are always in HSS with variable tooth pitch and positive rake for highly professional cutting of any material at thin thickness: it starts with wood but continues with aluminum, plastic, drywall, PVC.
There is another fundamental tool for enlarging wood drilling: conical bits, tools made with a series of steps that allow you to make increasingly larger holes. All without splintering, burning or damaging the wood. This way it's easy to countersink a hole in wood without damaging the base you're modifying.
