I live in a 100 year old home in the PNW and I've broken dozens of 'wood' rated drill bits trying to drill. It can take upwards of 10 minutes to drill through a single 2x4 stud in my house. It's honestly insane that they're considered the same material.
I do a lot of hobby wood working and the old growth pine seems to have more in common with ipe wood and the like rather than the stuff you buy in the stores. I'm holding on to all that old wood like it's gold.
Wood continues to cure and harden (and shrink) when it's put into place in construction - in 70-80 years, It'll be just as hard as the wood in a house from 1890.
Are those spade bits? Meaning flat with two cutting edges.
My home's framing is mostly old growth. I bought an auger bit for rewiring. It's looks like a corkscrew. I won't ever use a spade bit (for making holes in framing) again.
My son then brought over his hole hog (?) power drill. It's scary powerful. Mosdef practice with some scrap wood first.
Same here, I gave up trying to use a spade bit for drilling that old wood. It’s impact driver and speed bit or auger bits, or bust. Nothing quite like the smell of old lumber!
I do a lot of hobby wood working and the old growth pine seems to have more in common with ipe wood and the like rather than the stuff you buy in the stores. I'm holding on to all that old wood like it's gold.