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A lot of you guys might have seen this one already. As far as I understands it, this would not be the way to drill freehand... So don't try this at home.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dh8RBsz0 ... re=related

Alright, I'm a little confused (which is perfectly acceptable for my level of experience ). This is where I started learning to do the shape first method. Is there something I'm missing?

That video gives me a funny, tingling sensation around my testicular area.

Rad, I have a great cure for that problem. Look here:

viewtopic.php?f=15&t=6177

So alright, is there some other place I should be learning this shape first thing? Preferably a method that doesn't cause "tingling" in ANYONE'S "danger zone"....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEUirnr7iRY

Just fast forward to just before the 3:00 mark. It's a mad tv skit.

Most people would not encourage you to freehand drill the tobacco chamber with a spade bit...

But it's quite stunning to see Barbi drill.

alright, so not that I've ever tried it , but if theoretically you were drilling freehand with a spade bit... where is the danger (as opposed to a spoon bit)? I've had the stummel pulled out of my hand a few times, but that doesn't happen much anymore (the steady hand does quite a bit for that). Insights, comments, anyone?

I have no comments since I haven't tried it with a spade bit yet. Although this video make me curious...
Still, I think I'll wait for my spoon bits.

andrew wrote:alright, so not that I've ever tried it , but if theoretically you were drilling freehand with a spade bit... where is the danger (as opposed to a spoon bit)? I've had the stummel pulled out of my hand a few times, but that doesn't happen much anymore (the steady hand does quite a bit for that). Insights, comments, anyone?

Spade bits grab like the dickens especially if the stummel isn't held perfectly straight. You tilt it just a tad and that puppies gonna put the owie on you. If you don't have spoon bits, grind your own silver and demings. It's not that hard.

So, what is the advantage of a spoon bit over an SD bit? I've never used either for pipe making.

andrew wrote:So, what is the advantage of a spoon bit over an SD bit? I've never used either for pipe making.

I've not used spoon bits yet but I'd imagine they grab and chatter even less than S&D bits. I started with spade bits that grab and chatter alot if they are dull or are losing their symmetry from sharpening. I've recently been using S&D bits that are tons smoother than spade bits.

wdteipen wrote:I've not used spoon bits yet but I'd imagine they grab and chatter even less than S&D bits. I started with spade bits that grab and chatter alot if they are dull or are losing their symmetry from sharpening. I've recently been using S&D bits that are tons smoother than spade bits.

Pretty much what Wayne said here. The spoon bit is really forgiving when it comes to drilling by hand...it won't grab and snatch like other bits (though it still can...be careful!), and it allows you to shape the hole as you go; you can adjust your drilling as you go, because the spoon scoops the material away. I have attempted a couple of bowls with a standard conical bit, having learned the basics of using a spoon bit from Jeff Burt-Gracik earlier this year, and I can tell you that the spoon bit makes a world of difference, both for control and safety.

I actually got to see Jeff Gracik drill a few times last year, and talk about where he learned. His drilling from. He learned from people like Jody Davis and Todd Johnson, who learned from some Danish legends. And that's not how they did it
I won't go into exactly how the more " Danish" or "correct" method works, because its been treated elsewhere. Rainier does it the scary ass way. I have a big lump of scar tissue in my right index finger to prove it. "

Well, I did try to do this "proper freehand" method once. Everything went very blurry very quickly.