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How closely together may I drill 1/2" holes in a 1" thick poplar board? Login/Join 
Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici
Picture of ChuckFinley
posted
I'm making a rack out of poplar board and walnut dowels. Of course, the more dowels I include the mode capacity the final project will have, but I don't want the poplar to split from hole to hole.

If this splitting is likely to happen then it will be when I am drilling. The loads it will be bearing overall are quite light.

So, basically, across a 12 inch long section of 1 inch thick poplar board how many 1/2 inch holes may I safely drill?




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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C.S. Lewis
 
Posts: 5725 | Location: District 12 | Registered: June 16, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Optimistic Cynic
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Consider locating the holes in a zig-zag pattern, you can maintain sufficient spacing hole center-to-center, and have tighter spacing on the horizontal axis.
 
Posts: 7072 | Location: NoVA | Registered: July 22, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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Not tested but if I was doing this project I would use a fostner bit and leave 1/2" between holes.


“So in war, the way is to avoid what is strong, and strike at what is weak.”
 
Posts: 11344 | Registered: October 14, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici
Picture of ChuckFinley
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I'll be able to do it diagonally across the board, so that helps.
1/2" was the minimum I was considering as well. About to measure to see if I can leave more than that.




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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C.S. Lewis
 
Posts: 5725 | Location: District 12 | Registered: June 16, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Savor the limelight
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Are you gluing the dowels in place? If so, wouldn't the glued in dowels essentially replace the drilled out poplar eliminating the potential for splitting?
 
Posts: 12376 | Location: SWFL | Registered: October 10, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Muzzle flash
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quote:
Originally posted by trapper189:
Are you gluing the dowels in place? If so, wouldn't the glued in dowels essentially replace the drilled out poplar eliminating the potential for splitting?
I think he's mostly concerned with splitting occurring when the holes are drilled, not after the dowels are inserted.

flashguy




Texan by choice, not accident of birth
 
Posts: 27911 | Location: Dallas, TX | Registered: May 08, 2006Reply With QuoteReport This Post
Vi Veri Veniversum Vivus Vici
Picture of ChuckFinley
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Correct. Drilling went fine, able to give a shade over an inch on center in distance. Went perfectly fine.

Thanks for the thoughts and being there, SF




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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." -- C.S. Lewis
 
Posts: 5725 | Location: District 12 | Registered: June 16, 2012Reply With QuoteReport This Post
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