Hamlet HCT160 Long Hole Boring Tool for Woodturning

The Hamlet Craft Tools HCT160 is a specialist woodturning tool designed for boring long, deep holes through turned wooden workpieces.

It is particularly useful when making wooden lamp stands, where a long axial hole is required through the centre of the workpiece to accommodate the electrical cable.

Drilling a straight, deep hole through a long piece of timber can be difficult with conventional drilling methods. The HCT160 has been specifically designed to make this operation easier on a woodturning lathe.

Designed for long and deep boring

The Hamlet Long Hole Boring Tool combines features of a twist drill with those of a fluted cutting tool.

This special geometry allows the tool to cut the wood and help clear waste as the bore progresses.

Efficient waste removal is particularly important when boring deep holes, as chips and wood waste can otherwise accumulate inside the bore and make cutting more difficult.

The HCT160 is therefore particularly useful for woodturners regularly producing long workpieces that require a central bore.

Ideal for boring wooden lamp stands

One of the main applications for this long hole boring tool is the production of turned wooden lamp stands.

When a lamp stand is turned from a solid piece of timber, a long central hole is required to allow the electrical cable to pass through the workpiece.

The Hamlet HCT160 is specifically designed for this type of operation.

For this application, the manufacturer recommends using the tool in conjunction with a suitable hollow revolving centre, allowing the boring tool to pass through the centre while the workpiece remains supported on the lathe.

The HCT160 is particularly suitable for:

• table lamp stands;

• floor lamp stands;

• long turned columns requiring an axial bore;

• decorative turned components;

• other long woodturning projects requiring a deep central hole.

5/16" – approximately 8 mm diameter

The Hamlet HCT160 has a nominal diameter of 5/16", approximately 8 mm.

This size is particularly useful for producing a central passage through many wooden lamp projects.

As these tools are manufactured using traditional forging techniques, the manufacturer states that dimensions are approximate and slight variations may occur.

High Speed Steel construction

The cutting section of the HCT160 is manufactured from High Speed Steel (HSS).

HSS is widely used for woodturning tools because of its ability to retain a cutting edge and withstand the working conditions encountered during turning.

The Hamlet HCT160 is:

• forged;

• hardened;

• tempered;

• hardness tested.

This manufacturing process provides the characteristics required for a specialist woodturning tool designed for repeated use.

Traditionally forged woodturning tool

Hamlet Craft Tools combines traditional manufacturing techniques with modern heat treatment processes.

The tool is produced using traditional hand-forging techniques, giving it the characteristics associated with traditionally manufactured Sheffield turning tools.

Due to this manufacturing method, minor dimensional variations may occur between individual tools.

These small variations are a normal consequence of the forging process.

Hamlet stained beech handle

The HCT160 is supplied fitted with a traditional Hamlet stained beech handle.

The handle is approximately 10" (254 mm) long, providing the user with the leverage and control required when boring deep holes.

A brass ferrule reinforces the connection between the wooden handle and the steel tool.

Use with a hollow revolving centre

For boring through long workpieces such as lamp stands, the HCT160 can be used with a suitable hollow revolving centre.

The hollow centre allows the boring tool to pass through its centre while continuing to support the workpiece on the lathe.

This arrangement is particularly useful when producing long axial holes through turned wooden components.

Always follow appropriate woodturning procedures and ensure that the workpiece and accessories are correctly secured before beginning the boring operation.

Technical specifications

What is the Hamlet HCT160 used for?

The Hamlet HCT160 Long Hole Boring Tool is primarily intended for woodturners who need to produce a deep axial bore through a long workpiece.

Typical applications include:

• turned wooden lamp stands;

• floor lamps;

• decorative columns;

• long workpieces requiring a cable passage;

• woodturning projects requiring a deep longitudinal bore.

It provides a specialist solution for an operation that can become increasingly difficult with conventional drill bits as the length of the workpiece increases.

Why use a dedicated long hole boring tool?

As the depth of a hole increases, effective waste removal becomes increasingly important.

Accumulated chips can increase friction and make it more difficult for the cutting tool to progress through the workpiece.

The design of the Hamlet Long Hole Boring Tool is intended to combine cutting with effective waste clearance during the boring process.

This makes it particularly useful for woodturners producing long, hollow or cable-bored projects.

Hamlet HCT160 – a specialist boring tool for lamp stands and long turning projects

The Hamlet Craft Tools HCT160 5/16" Long Hole Boring Tool is a specialist solution for producing deep longitudinal holes in woodturning projects.

Its High Speed Steel construction, special cutting geometry and 10" beech handle make it particularly suitable for producing lamp stands, floor lamps and other long turned workpieces requiring a central bore.

Used with a suitable hollow revolving centre, the HCT160 provides woodturners with a dedicated tool for carrying out deep axial boring directly on the woodturning lathe.