My journeyman said to never use a 12-inch bit for a 10-inch run, but I tried it anyway

He told me it was a waste of time and money, and that a 6-inch bit would do the job just fine. I was working on a retrofit in a tight crawlspace last month and thought the extra length would help me avoid a joist. I bought a specific 12-inch Irwin Speedbor bit for about $25. It ended up binding hard in the wood and the torque almost broke my wrist. Now I have a bent bit and a sore arm. Has anyone else had a bad time trying to use a bit that was way too long for the job?

3 comments

3 Comments

jordan_webb2d ago

Classic case of not listening to the guy who's been doing it for twenty years... you basically built a giant lever for your drill to try and break your arm with. That Irwin bit is now a modern art sculpture. Bet you won't ignore the old timer's advice next time.

hunt.nora2d ago

Disagree completely, sometimes the old way is just the stubborn way. New tools and longer bits exist for a reason, to reach spots you can't get to otherwise. That binding issue sounds more like a problem with drill speed or pressure, not the bit length itself. Calling it a "lever to break your arm" is just fear mongering over a simple learning curve.

sandra_taylor2d ago

Ouch, that sounds rough. I did something similar trying to drill through a double top plate from an awkward angle. The long bit just flexed and wandered everywhere. What saved me was using a shorter pilot bit first to get a clean start, then following with the right length bit for the actual hole. It kept everything straight and stopped the binding.