How do I drill a 60cm hole in a tree stump, 4.4 cm wide?

Question

I want to put my washing line in the tree stump. Don't want to dig up lawn and concrete in pole, and no base which you put into the earth has been capable of holding up the rotary washing line (obv knocked about by the wind, using clothes as sails).

This means cutting a vertical hole in the stump.

Using a holesaw for the above won't work well, because it won't go deep enough - the barrel of the drill will get in the way before I even get close. Making an even bigger hole to fit the barrel of the drill in would obv defeat purpose, as the pole needs to be snug to prevent it being lifted out, or moving around and cracking the wood.

As far as I can see, even if there is a holesaw long enough, there would be no way to remove the cylinder of wood that would be cut out - the 'face' of the cylinder t would still be attached, with no way I can get at it.

Is there a way I can make this hole?

Answer 1

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Ship augur bit. This one is 44.45mm diameter, with 30cm of flutes, so you'll need an extension (and lots of pulling it out to clear chips) to drill your 60 cm hole. If you are in a metric-primary area perhaps you can find one that's exactly 44mm.

Digging a hole and pouring a plug of concrete with a wide base footing below ground around a steel pipe would probably cost less and definitely last longer than a hole in a stump, but that's your choice.

Answer 2

Update: @ecnerwal's answer to use a ship auger is a better choice. Trying to drill a hole that deep that needs to be very straight to accept a post, a forstner bit will wander, while a ship auger will make a much straighter hole.

Original answer:

You need a forstner bit of the correct diameter like this (I have no interest in this brand, it's just the first one that popped up in a search for an image):

and drill extensions like this with a total length that adds up to the depth you need (You may need more than one):

and since these are large diameter bits, they have shanks and torque requirements that require a drill with a 1/2" chuck, which is bigger than the average homeowner owns.

Answer 3

Grind the end of the pole to be sharp like a chisel and then pound it into the stump.

Else cut teeth into the pole and use it as a hole saw.