How to Drill Really Big Holes?

[raycon]

If the holes can be square holes a chain mortiser would work.
I cut mortises with a 2" bit (white pine) takes a minute to drill them since you're not concerned about accuracy you could got that route. Drill on a circle pattern and then knock out waste with a chisel/gouge.

[Furby]

I don't know if anyone remembers, but Jeff did some log burning like what CK was talking about (not the torch part ).

Mark, I've tried to find good, cheap, and easy ways to do this myself in the past. The burning will work, with a lot of work.  
The spoon bit sounds like the best idea for end grain.
Now, I'm guessing you have "special" logs you plan to do this with? If not, are there ANY pallet or other mills around you? They sometimes have small "empty" logs out back that you may be able to get. Or, how about the dump?  

[Tom]

Br'er Noble,

'Cause that's how partnerships work.

Split it right down the middle.   50:60 ....uh ...60:30   er.......80:20  

I think I got that right  That's what Harold told me I was supposed to say, anyway.

You get half, I get half and Harold get's half.  

I still haven't figured out why Harold gets half. :-/

[Fla._Deadheader]

  Cause the holes I got have been underwater for 100 years, so, we KNOW they won't rot away

[SwampDonkey]

The clay pots would be cheaper than all that work. And last longer to. Cut the pieces to length and hollow them out with the DanG lathe. Or take the chain saw and split the log and hollow  the halfs with an adze or wood chizel as suggested before.

Some of my folks took cedar rails and augered them out for piping from the spring house to the house. Most folks locally had hand pumps in a shed or outside. Or a shed over the well house  or spring where they got water. There are alot of old spring wells here, come to think of it.

[Mark M]

I intend to split logs in half lengthwise with my sawmill and then hollow them out like a canoe or just make holes to hold the pots. Thanks everyone for the ideas, you've given me some things to think about. I take pictures when I finally make one.

[beav]

you could saw the center out by milling slabs off large enough that the edges can be fastened back together, leaving the log with a square hole down the length of it. hth

[Tom]

.....Or....  instead of slabbing,  quarter the log, turn the barkside down (bandmilll) and the pointed side up (pith) and cut the pith out of it.   Ahem!!

When you put the four pieces back together you have fflat surfaces to mate together for glueing or doweling or nailing or whatever.

You made me think of that Beav

[beav]

same exact end product, but with my process you end up with a cant to deal with as opposed to four triangle peices

[Tom]

Yep, that might make some more money.  I guess I was just thinking of short logs.

[beav]

i always wanted to build a float boat that way. couldn't find two large logs close enough to the same size