Tapping bits

[Lance]

I've been using one of those $16 gold tapping bits I got from Glenn Goodrich. Problem is, it's so aggressive it sucks the whole drill into the hole to the point where the motor bogs down and stalls. It drains the power out of the battery pack to where I can only drill 75 or so tapholes on each 18 volt Ryobi battery. Am I doing something wrong? What other kinds of bits are you guys using to get clean round holes? Thanks!

[mountainvan]

lance I use a irwin bit with a piece of 1/2 copper pipe and 5/16 tubing inside it over the bit to act as a kind of brake. the pipe is 1.5'' shorter than the bit, but wider. the bit drills into the wood until the copper hits the tree, reams the hole out good, and real easy to pull out. I crimped the copper a bit so it would'nt fall off in the woods. making something that this should solve your problem.

[Fred Henderson]

I use a block of wood over my tapping bit, its on tight and will not fall off in the woods. An Irwin wood auger does leave a nice clean hole.