Stretch that drill bit

[Frank S]

Sometimes I need a longer brill bit
Today was one of those times. I needed to frill through a 2x4 laminated table plus 2 6x6 s and 1/8" steel to mount the table in my machine shop van
I torch welded a 36" piece of 3/8" 1018 round rod to a 13/32" bit
I only needed a bit about 18" long but if anything is worth doing it is worth over doing, besides I can always cut it off later.
After grinding both pieces to a point

I welded them together with a torch with a slightly carbonizing flame IE a long center feather instead of a shorter oxidizing flame
the filler was a 1/8" 7018 rod with the flux removed

I kept the torch on the weld area slowly allowing the weld to cool as I moved the torch farther away

As you can see the bit is plenty long