I'm trying to drill a 1/8" diameter hole, 5" deep axially through a 1/4" dowel rod. I'm using an aircraft bit which I trimmed down to 6". I tried the drill press, both conventionally and lathe-mode (work chucked, bit stationary) but still, too much slop. Even after making a jig with a drill guide bushing, I can't get more than 3" in. No matter how centered and squared up I get it, the inherent flex of the bit seems to make the hole wander off course and bust out the side. I guess drilling endgrain makes it even tougher. I can't help but think that even on a metal lathe this would be difficult because of the bit deflection.
I'm thinking that running a bit in a tube/sleeve that follows the bit would help but that seems awfully involved for something like this.
Any ideas?