Drilling holes into shelled nuts

[babypiggy]

hey guys i wanna put almonds and walnuts onto a string as part of a toy for my cag ajax


any suggestions on how to do so?

ive tired to drill it but it cracks and splits

:(

[Okanairda]

What size bit are you using to drill into the nuts? Only thing I can think of is trying a smaller bit like a 1mm if you didn't do that already. I don't think you could take something pointy and whack it into the nut without splitting it either.

[B CAMP]

You might try putting tape around the nut then use the smallest bit you got Then you should be able to put a larger hole if you are able to get the small one in first. This sounds kinda dumb as I read it but if you wrap tape tight and drill thru tape it might work, you only have a nut to lose

[Geri]

Hey I like your idea. This afternoon I picked up some nuts and tried to string them (mostly almonds, but also some cashews and brazil nuts) on some fine leather lace. It worked pretty well but I'm going to have to add something between and around them so all the nuts don't get eaten in one short sitting. I figure the finished product needs to present a foraging challenge.

Anyway, I'll bet you are trying to drill the holes with a standard all purpose drill bit. You're never really going to have success with this type of bit regardless of the size.

What you need is a bit designed for fine work in wood that doesn't require much pressure and will not tear the material. I used a "Brad Point" drill bit. I also experimented with tiny fluted surplus dental bits in a Dremel tool. A "zip tool" plunge bit will also work. (You can chuck any of these fluted tools in your hand drill). You can find any of them at a good hardware store. Expect to pay $3-5 for a good 1/8 brad point bit, and a bit more for the other options. I have purchased the surplus dental drills in little mixed odd lot assortments of 10-50pcs from tool discount stores for $10-20.

What ever you use run it at the highest speed you can and back up whatever you drill with something that supports what you are drilling along its contours. For almonds I used some almond shell halves and just drilled right through everything. The Brazil nuts had kind of a flat surface along one end and were really easy as I placed them on a block of scrap wood. Again I went right trough into the wood. The Cashews were really soft and gummed up the dental bits. I just put a really sharp drill in a pin vice ( a kind of small handle) and turned it through by hand. I did an assortment of several dozen in a matter of minutes.

[Cpip]

i use my dremel on the highest setting.. and it drills right through nuts :)

[babypiggy]

yeah
i was so stummped and fustrated that all these nuts were splitting
that my fiancee was like "honey why dont' u use your dremel"

DUH!!!!!!!!
i was totally flustered and stumped on how to drill it

the multi purpose biting bit worked great!

;)

[scooter254]

what about drilling holes in the shells? and letting him try to eat teh meat of the nut through the tiny hole in the shell?

I have a few toys that consist of 1" pvc pipe with 1/5" holes drilled through it, I fill it with Almonds/pecans/and hazlenuts IN THE shell and he can somehow crack the shells and eat the nuts form inside the PVC pipe, the nuts are larger tahn the holes so they have to crack them to get them out, I can try to gat apic if your interetsed?

BTW he is a greenwing macaw so I'm sure he has a stronger beak

[scooter254]

what about drilling holes in the shells? and letting him try to eat teh meat of the nut through the tiny hole in the shell?

I have a few toys that consist of 1" pvc pipe with 1/5" holes drilled through it, I fill it with Almonds/pecans/and hazlenuts IN THE shell and he can somehow crack the shells and eat the nuts form inside the PVC pipe, the nuts are larger tahn the holes so they have to crack them to get them out, I can try to gat apic if your interetsed?

BTW he is a greenwing macaw so I'm sure he has a stronger beak

[babypiggy]

yeah...
a pic would be great!