The new house is FINALLY started......

[JimN]

Originally Posted by JohnE

I prefer these to the irwin that Jim linked.

http://www.rakuten.com/prod/wood-eat...203892929.html

Those are good, too, but I don't buy much from Vermont American- too many bits/cutters dulled too fast, IMO. I got really tired of the paddle bits breaking, getting dull fast and the long shanks bending too easily. The ones you linked to are good for changing directions in a stud or at a corner when wire/cables need to be fed.

[JohnnyB]

Originally Posted by JimN

Rather than paddle bits (also called 'spade bits'), check these out- they're a lot better and can be filed sharo if you hit a nail. You can buy them as single bits or in a set.

http://www.irwin.com/tools/drill-bit...max-speed-bits

For holes larger than 1-1/2", look at these and the Milwaukee Electric Tool Switchblade-

http://www.sears.com/milwaukee-48-25...&blockType=G11

Switchblade-
http://www.sears.com/milwaukee-elect...&blockType=G18

For the last two, don't even try it with a drill that doesn't have a handle- if one of these grabs something and the drill is high-torque, you'll tear your wrist up.

Home Depot and other places that sell Milwaukee tools have these- doesn't have to be Sears.

For holes larger than 1-1/2" Irwin makes a great forstner style bit....to Jim's point, easy to resharpen. Have done central vac installs where you chew through some nails boring through bottom plates

[JohnE]

Originally Posted by JimN

Those are good, too, but I don't buy much from Vermont American- too many bits/cutters dulled too fast, IMO. I got really tired of the paddle bits breaking, getting dull fast and the long shanks bending too easily. The ones you linked to are good for changing directions in a stud or at a corner when wire/cables need to be fed.

The woodeaters are the only VA product I've used. The are much better than the Irwins. My guys all have the irwins because the VA are hard to find. And I've been using them for 20 years beating the he// out of them.

For the larger holes over 1 1/2" I use the Milwaukee self feed bits that you linked earlier.

[jkski]

Thanks for the tips on the best bits to use, I actually have a few of those and they work great for chewing thru studs.

Well, the siders are hard at work in the cold as you can see from the picture but things are taking shape. I will get more pics when I get over to the place but for now this is the one the builder sent me from earlier today.

[76S&S]

Originally Posted by JimN

http://www.sears.com/milwaukee-48-25...&blockType=G11

Switchblade-
http://www.sears.com/milwaukee-elect...&blockType=G18

For the last two, don't even try it with a drill that doesn't have a handle- if one of these grabs something and the drill is high-torque, you'll tear your wrist up.

Talking about drills with handles, some time back my dad (God I miss him) was telling me about a three phase drill that they used on a crane. It had a 4 foot bar (side handle) and would pick a 200lb man off of the ground. I want one

Back on topic...

[JohnE]

Originally Posted by 76S&S

Talking about drills with handles, some time back my dad (God I miss him) was telling me about a three phase drill that they used on a crane. It had a 4 foot bar (side handle) and would pick a 200lb man off of the ground. I want one

Back on topic...

Not me. I've nearly broken my hand and wrist and watched my dad get hit off the head when a holesaw got bound up with the trigger accidently locked while drilling overhead on a ladder.

That was around 15 years ago. I now use the superhawg from milwaukee which has a clutch on low speed/ high torque setting.

[SkiDog]

Originally Posted by jkski

Thanks for the tips on the best bits to use, I actually have a few of those and they work great for chewing thru studs.

Well, the siders are hard at work in the cold as you can see from the picture but things are taking shape. I will get more pics when I get over to the place but for now this is the one the builder sent me from earlier today.

Your guys that installed the Tyvek did a NICE job on that!

[jkski]

Well, we now have a little more siding up and the electric panel is all wired-up. Spent some time today pulling the cat 5 cables and smurf tubing (thanks again for the tips guys) and tomorrow is insulation and basement concrete prep.
For now we have a temp furnace in place suspended from the I-joists so the concrete guys can get in there on Friday. This weekend will be some additional plumbing and garage insulation.

There is a pic below of the mock-up for the stairway and handrail. The mock-up is in poplar but the finished product will be in red oak.

[thatsmrmastercraft]

It's even starting to look like a house now!

[Footin]

Great lookin crib Jeff.