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How closely together may I drill 1/2" holes in a 1" thick poplar board?

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November 20, 2021, 06:08 PM
ChuckFinley
How closely together may I drill 1/2" holes in a 1" thick poplar board?
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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NRA Endowment Member
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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
November 20, 2021, 06:20 PM
architect
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.
November 20, 2021, 06:23 PM
hrcjon
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.”
November 20, 2021, 06:45 PM
ChuckFinley
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.



_________________________
NRA Endowment Member
_________________________
"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
November 20, 2021, 06:57 PM
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?
November 20, 2021, 07:43 PM
flashguy
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
November 20, 2021, 07:52 PM
ChuckFinley
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



_________________________
NRA Endowment Member
_________________________
"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