When to core?

[Belford]

When during the "turning down" process would be the best time to core a shaft? When its a dowel, final cut or somewhere in between?

 

[Kim Bye]

Coring how? Do you want to drill out the front like Predator or do you plan on having some sort of core running through the whole shaft?

 

[Sheldon]

Depends on your coring process.

 

[RidgeRaider]

Whenever in the process allows you or is most likely to bore the straightest hole you can.

In my experience, I bore holes when the object is as thick as it's going to be in round shape. I won't core a square, but as soon as wood is round, I bore it and plug it.

I imagine boring a close to final size shaft would be a nightmare if you aren't dialed in to bore the PERFECT concentric hole, relative to the axis of the piece. Sometimes when I core out forearms and handles, if I get lazy, I'll have the drill wander micro amounts and by the end of the piece, it's off center a couple thousandths. When I am working with 1 3/8" round, this obviously matters very little when the tapering cuts out any imperfections, then the piece is centered on the core. But if I was to core a finish tapered anything and get lazy with my guide hole or my feeding of the drill, there's a good chance I am gonna blow out a collar or nose.

 

[Belford]

Coring how? Do you want to drill out the front like Predator or do you plan on having some sort of core running through the whole shaft?

Like a predator

 

[Kim Bye]

Like a predator

You can do that at fairly close to final size. If you're using a lighter wood as a core or a carbon fibre tube, just be mindful of hydraulic preassure. You want a tight fit, but you want the wood or CF dowel/tube to easily slide down the hole you bored.

 

[SSDiver2112]

I do mine at final size, but I don't add the Carbon fiber.