Drilling Hole Down the Middle of a Four Foot Long 6X6

[SPYDERLK]

My dad showed me how he did it....

Drill in from the top with a 18" long 1/2" drill bit, but angle it so it comes out one side of the post. Then drill your second hole from where the drill bit came out at an angle down across the post, then back in the other direction, then back again, etc... zig zagging down the post. For a 4' post, you'd have three holes. Run the wire down and out, back in and out, back in and out, etc... down the post. Fill the holes with wood putty. Sand and stain. Or save the sawdust, mix with wood glue and plug it with that.

thats a great method!

Well and good. ... But OP wants a lot more room:

I need a 1/2" or so hole drilled down the middle of a not installed pressure treated 6x6.

I tried drilling a perfect 1/4" hole through a hard wood chunk of 4x4, then screwing this onto the properly cut off end of the 6x6 and using it as a guide for a two foot long continuous 1/4" bit. Then a long flexible 1/4" bit, watching to make sure the smaller rod was centered in the hole.

Came out on the side, just close to the end!

I suspect the flexible drill bit wandered according to grain or whatever.

I need a pilot hole so I can then use a hole hawg and put a three inch hole down the middle.

My next idea is to make a long half inch bit using drill rod, and monitor it's angle closely.

Any thoughts?

 

[downsizingnow48]

Oh I missed the part about the 3" hole, thought it was 1/2" hole. Sorry.

I have a Milwaukee Hole Hawg used for drilling large holes in 2x material. It can be difficult to control if it jams. I would not contemplate trying to drill lengthwise 4 feet with it.

I see two options. Cut two kerfs lengthwise 3" apart and the depth you want. Then cut and chisel out the material. Then put your stuff in the recess and make a large spline 3" wide and hammer that in. Selecting similar face grains this can be pretty much invisible. Or, do what others suggested, use the 6x6 for something else and make a box out of 2x material.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Actually, I measured it, the Milwaukee bit is 3-1/2" dia.

There is also a 3/4" water line going in there. I actually intned to mill out both sides of the most for some flush electrical boxes.

I think I will clamp the 6x6 in a vice, level. Eyeball up a long 1/2" bit. Go in enough to make the bit ridged and take some measurements. Put a level on the bit. Rotate the whole affair ninty degrees and start again. Manipulate the drill bit if need be to get the right angles and go for it.

Then put a rod through end to end, as a pilot for my big auger bit.

 

[NoTrespassing]

http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...8-composite-post-sleeve/p-1938487-c-12748.htm

$27.0

oops, that's a 4x4

 

[bcp]

I could have nailed together a post out of PT planks but that kind of thing never lasts very long outdoors.

I hollowed out 6x6 won't be treated at all in the now exposed interior. I would expect a box made of un-ripped 2x material to last longer (if the treatment is of equal grade.)

Bruce

 

[STx]

Run the water line in copper and strap it to the outside of the post with copper pipe straps. It'll look very rustic once it patina's. I love the look of weathered copper.

 

[Brad_Blazer]

They do sell hollow 6x6 columns treated for ground contact.
http://www.menards.com/main/buildin...ed-square-treated-column/p-1474969-c-5726.htm

 

[Dr_Zinj]

You can also cut a slot the length of the post and then glue/tack a strip to fill it.

 

[flyerdan]

I wonder if it would be possible to rig up a forsner bit on a pipe extension and horizontal bore it. Going 2' from each end should reduce the runout by a big factor. It would take some time, but should make a pretty good bore.

 

[Bengineer]

I think I'd make up a hollow column out of 2x lumber and be done with it. You could leave a little reveal at the corners. 1x lumber + 2x2s in the corners would work too.