Using the Woodcut MillDrill
1. Drill a 1” or 25mm hole down the middle of your pepper mill body to a depth of at least
70mm. This hole can be drilled the entire length of the body or half the length. It can be
drilled either on a pedestal/bench drill or on the lathe using a forstner bit secured into the
10mm end hole of the Woodcut MillDrill.
2. Insert the Woodcut MillDrill in the tail stock of your lathe and give it a gentle tap with a
hammer or mallet to seat it tightly in the morse taper.
3. Mount the timber securely on the lathe with the 1”/25mm hole facing the tail stock.
4. Ensure the nose of the MillDrill (the 25mm shaft) is in line with the 1”/25mm hole by
sliding the tailstock and MillDrill up to the timber.
5. When the two are aligned lock your tail stock and wind the MillDrill into the 1”/25mm
hole a short distance (5 –10mm) making sure the cutter is NOT in contact with the wood. By
doing this the first 5 -10mm of the MillDrill’s shaft will act a ‘dead centre’.
6. Adjust your lathe to a slow speed (approx 500rpm) and turn it on.
7. Wind your tail stock in. The front cutter will start to cut while the nose of the shaft is
acting as a guide.
8. Keep winding the shaft until the back cutter starts to cut and keep winding until you have
drilled in the correct distance.
NB If you find the winding of your tailstock starts to get difficult it may be due to a build up
of woodchips and dust (the swarf) in the holes you are drilling, that cannot escape. If this is
the case, TURN OFF YOUR LATHE and wind the MillDrill out to clear the swarf. Before the
lathe is turned back, on wind the MillDrill back in to where it was ensuring the front shaft of
the MillDrill is in the 1”/25mm hole. You can now resume drilling. This procedure also
needs to be followed if you find your quill has not got the travel needed to drill the entire
length in one movement.
9. You need to drill the 45mm hole to a depth of 20mm. The Woodcut MillDrill has a line
engraved on the shaft 20mm past the tip of the back cutter to indicate the depth you need
to drill to. Drill to this line, STOP THE LATHE and retract the tail stock.
In drilling the 45mm hole to the correct depth the 38mm hole will also be at the correct
depth. The Woodcut MillDrill has been designed in such a way to ensure the difference in
the depths of the two holes is according to the dimensions of the CrushGrind® mechanism.
Once the body of the mill has been finished, the ‘fitting up’ of these mechanisms is a simple
process.
Using the Woodcut MillDrill to cut other hole sizes
Using the front cutter only the Woodcut MillDrill can be used to drill a variety of hole sizes
from 26mm to approx 50mm. The depths that these holes can be drilled will vary according
to the size of the hole but any size greater than 35mm can be drilled up to 70mm plus the
length of your quill deep. Hole sizes less than 35mm can be drilled up to 30mm deep.
Setting the cutter
You will need to set the front cutter only using the same procedure described earlier on.
(see ‘Setting cutters for making CrushGrind® pepper mills’)
The Woodcut MillDrill was designed to make the production of pepper grinders that utilise
the CrushGrind® mechanism, easier and quicker. However, it is versatile tool and with some
adjustments to the cutters it can be used to cut a wide range of hole sizes making it
unnecessary to buy a number of drill bits.
The Woodcut MillDrill incorporates a No2 morse taper so it will fit into the tail stock of most
lathes which means the drilling process can be done on a lathe.
The Woodcut MillDrill has been pre-sharpened ready for immediate use but will need to be
sharpened again when the cutters become dull or blunt. How regularly you sharpen the
cutters will depend on the timbers being used.
Woodcut’s Scraper Tool Holder (SCTH) will aid you to hold the small cutters for sharpening
on a bench grinder, however regular touch-ups can be done with a diamond lap stone.
Setting the Cutters for making CrushGrind® pepper mills
The Woodcut MillDrill will accurately cut the first two holes (45mm and 38mm) at the correct
depths for the fitting up of a CrushGrind® mechanism after the cutters have been set.
Setting the cutters is a simple process. All that is needed is the Allan key provided and either
a set of vernier callipers or an accurate ruler.
1. Set the front cutter first. This cutter is located on the shaft that has a diameter of 25mm.
You want the cutter to cut a 38mm diameter hole so the tip of the cutter needs to protrude
6.5mm from the shaft (see diag. below). To set this cutter loosen the grub screw and slide
the cutter out from the shaft. Use vernier callipers or a ruler to measure 6.5mm from the
shaft to the tip of the cutter and then ensure the cutter is at the correct cutting angle (see
diag. below) before tightening the grub screw.
2. Next set the back cutter. This cutter is located on the shaft that measures 35mm. You
want the cutter to cut a 45mm diameter hole so the tip of the cutter needs to protrude 5mm
from the shaft (see diag. below). Set this cutter using the same process used to set the front
cutter.
NB Because the back cutter is on the opposite side of the Crush Cutter to the front cutter it is
very important the rear cutter’s cutting edge is set upside down in relation to the front cutter
(see diag above).
6.5mm Depth Line
5.0mm
Front Cutter
Rear Cutter
