Looking for 1 5/8" spade bit to drill through treated 4x4's

[Jeff Sudmeier]

My dad and I have a business selling storage sheds and to secure them to our trailer we drill 1 1/2 inch holes through the 4x4's. However, they are extremely tight for our chain.

We would like to drill 1 5/8" holes but can only find forstner bits which don't work that well in wet green treat 4x4's.

Any sources?

[Aaron Wingert]

I'm sure that Irwin and similar companies probably make the spade bit you're looking for. McMaster-Carr is a good source for stuff like that.

A ship auger would be even better!

[Cliff Holmes]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#spade-drill-bits/=5dwq3y

Brace for the sticker shock ...

[Jeff Sudmeier]

Ouch, yeah those are a little pricey to be drilling through construction lumber.

We have looked at the self feeding bit's but haven't been able to find the right size. If we go with 1 3/4" it's a little too large..

[Aaron Wingert]

I guess I lied....Irwin stops their spade bits at 1-1/2".

Here's a self-feeding forstner-type bit like the ones plumbers use for boring through joists. Might work...1-3/4". Very agressive and will run as fast or faster than a spade bit through dimension lumber. Kind of short though.
http://www.irwin.com/irwin/consumer/jhtml/detail.jhtml?prodId=IrwinProd310004

Here's what I'd use...
http://www.mcmaster.com/#2818a25/=5dwyf7

[Aaron Wingert]

You replied while I was typing. None of what I posted is 1-5/8"...All 1/8" bigger.

[Lee Schierer]

Try an Irwin 47326 Ship Auger (http://timberlinetools.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=IRWIN%2047326&click=1680) or 1-5/8 ship auger (http://www.wlfuller.com/html/wood_augers.html) or Power Plus Annihilator (http://www.advantage-drillbits.com/auger.html)

There may be others as well.

[JohnT Fitzgerald]

My dad and I have a business selling storage sheds and to secure them to our trailer we drill 1 1/2 inch holes through the 4x4's. However, they are extremely tight for our chain.

We would like to drill 1 5/8" holes but can only find forstner bits which don't work that well in wet green treat 4x4's.

Any sources?

Jeff - what about drilling 4 smaller holes (maybe 1/2) that would be the corners of a square (whatever size you want), and use a sawzall or jigsaw to cut out the hole?

[brian c miller]

What about slightly smaller chain?