Crossword Genius

Very large drilling article close to mine shaft (4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

axle

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'shaft' is the definition.
(I know that axle is a type of shaft)

'very large drilling article close to mine' is the wordplay.
'very large drilling article' becomes 'axl' (I can't justify this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'close to' indicates one should take the final letters (the 'close' to the word).
The final letter of 'mine' is 'e'.
'axl'+'e'='AXLE'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for axle that I've seen before include "revolver in one" , "Rod connecting wheels" , "Rod at centre of wheel" , "Bar on which wheels rotate" , "Spindle between wheels" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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