I really haven't read all the replies and I don't think I need to....

Foggy, you are talking to the boys and not SWMBO... buy that bigger lathe or at least a chuck/cole-jaws that will fit.

Now if I loaned you my bigger lathe and all my chucks, I'd probably have to try this way,


along with a prayer to the wood nymphs.

I would be drilling with a 9.525mm Viking Norseman Vortex Point Step Drill Bits (to be reviewed so I'm leaving the links/close-ups to 'ron).

If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD