call makers please help

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i just received all the things to make a cowhorn howler. I bought 2 horns a stick of delrin and a few toneboards. I took the first cowhorn (the one i liked the least) and made my first howler /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif it caught on the dirll bit a few times and almost ripped my hand off and one time it cracked the horn /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif not bad though so i just cut it a little shorter and continued it then came out great (used a toneboard from steve) feeling good i took the sick of delrin and made me a custom toneboard for the next one. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif all was good, then i went to drill out the cowhorn for the custom toneboard and it also cought /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif and ripped out of my hand taking a small peice of my nuckel with it. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/angry-smiley-055.gif but worst of all it cracked the horn from one end to the other making it useless. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif How do you get the hole through the horn with out tearing it up?
 
i use a step drill to 5/8 then i dremel out to fit steve's toneboard. are you using a bit with a brad point i have dewalt no good on horn. they grab use a regular bit go slow. Rick
 
Also, start with a small drill bit and work up from there. Sounds like ya tried to drill a large hole to start with. Even when going up in drill bit sizes, you still have to drill slowly, don't push the bit into the horn too quickly!
 
yes what songdog said. i bought some snakewood same with black wood if you dont start small will crack. learned the hard way. Rick
 
i did start with a small hole and went to the next size then on the third hole (1/2 bit) that is the one that ripped it out of my hand, I think i will try a step bit next time, but i need to buy some more horns first.
 
I'm no real call maker though I have drilled a couple of horns for howlers, however I've done a lot of woodwork. The greatest words of advice when anyone would ask me about woodwork was #1- Have your tools sharp. #2- be able to hold your work solid (clamp it).
I would venture to say that the horn caught on you better than half way down the hole because you moved it slightly.
I also noticed that a lot of speed isn't needed to drill the holes in horn. It cuts similar to plastic.
You need to put the horns in a vice or some contrivence that'll hold it solid while you drill.
My $.02's V.V.
 
My guess is that you are stepping up in bit size too slowly. It sounds like the bit is catching in the material and basically screwing itself into the horn without cutting the hole. This wedges the material apart and causes the crack.

My suggestion would be to first drill a 1/4" pilot hole and then follow that with your 1/2" bit. The bit should naturally drill more slowly because it is removing more material and have less of a tendency to catch.

Good luck,
Paul
 


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