Plug cutters

bromleybysea

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I bought a set of cheepo Chinese plug cutters from Machine Mart. there are short ones that seem to work quite well, and there are some longer ones to a different pattern, but the same size- what are they for? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif- they don't seem to cut very well.
 
I think you will find that the longer type produces plugs with parallel sides whereas the shorter one gives plugs with a slight taper.
The tapered plugs are for inaccurately drilled holes ...
I find that it is not worth buying cheap cutters, unless of course you only need a handful of plugs.
The other problem with Chinese stuff is that it is made for the US market and in Imperial sizes.
You cannot , for example, use a 12mm drill bit and then put in 1/2" plugs - they are too big and they really rattle around in a 14mm hole.
You have to find imperial bits of the right size and this can be a problem at short notice.

Good luck
 
Use the chamfered cutters to produce a smooth chamfered plug for easy starting in counterbored hole.

Use standard wood plug cutters to remove imperfections from wood projects

At a push you can use the standard cutter freehand, but the pronged chamfered cutter is almost impossible to use without a drill press
 
[ QUOTE ]
in Imperial sizes.

[/ QUOTE ] Thats true if I am looking at the right ones on the machine mart site.

Ive got 2 sets of imperial size drill bits plus a few spares. I must look after those!
 
thanks boatbuilder - I have good memories of Millbrook -
I'm way behind the times ...... retired....
10 years ago I was in Minehead with the 12mm - 1/2" drill bit problem and it took me 2 weeks to get one on 'special order' and at a price.

I'm glad to see that times have changed - 12.5mm didn't seem to exist for the general public then.
 
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