Drilling Out a Broken Dowel, What Kind of Bit

[junquecol]

Friend broke the dowel which serves as axle in a rolling pin. Dowel is no problem (probably going back witha SS rod) but removing broken dowel, and the one that isn't broken from the handles is the problem. Can build fixture to hold handle in drill press, but need to know which kind of bit to use to drill out dowel. Any experiences?

 

[Dave Richards]

I'd use a small bit to start and center drill it so a larger bit will want to follow the hole. Is there anything of the dowel still sticking out of the handle? If so, you could make a drill guide from a scrap of maple or cherry that just fits over the dowel and use that to align and guide the bit.

 

[Mike Davis]

I usually start with 1/8 inch bit and work up. Most times the dowel will turn loose when 3/4 of it is gone.