How to drill a cenetered hole in end of solid rod

[Scott]

I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
3/4" solid aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make something
similar to a screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the handle and
1/16" brass rod as the blade.


--
Scott
http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
Building RV-4
Gotta Fly or Gonna Die

[Kyle Boatright]

Got a lathe? Failing that, you could lay the thing out by hand, carefully
centerpunch it, then put it in a drill press. I'm sure you already know
this, but with care, you'd be amazed at how precise you can be on *one*
small part. Especially if it is the second or third one you've attempted to
make. ;-)

KB

"Scott" > wrote in message
...
>I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a 1/16"
>hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of 3/4" solid
>aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make something similar to a
>screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the handle and 1/16" brass rod as
>the blade.
>
>
> --
> Scott
> http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
> Building RV-4
> Gotta Fly or Gonna Die

[QDurham]

>Got a lathe? Failing that, you could lay the thing out by hand, carefully
>centerpunch it, then put it in a drill press

If you can, spin the part, not the bit.

Q

[Bushy]

Take the part down to your local engineering shop, should cost about a
six-pack to drill both ends.

Hope this helps,
Peter

"Scott" > wrote in message
...
> I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
> 1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
> 3/4" solid aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make something
> similar to a screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the handle and
> 1/16" brass rod as the blade.
>
>
> --
> Scott
> http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
> Building RV-4
> Gotta Fly or Gonna Die

[Jerry J. Wass]

You need a centering head square---http://www.wttool.com/p/1279-0006-----
put end of rod in Vee, scribe line using center blade, --rotate 90deg, scribe
again, intersection of scribed lines is center of circle...QED
Kyle Boatright wrote:

> Got a lathe? Failing that, you could lay the thing out by hand, carefully
> centerpunch it, then put it in a drill press. I'm sure you already know
> this, but with care, you'd be amazed at how precise you can be on *one*
> small part. Especially if it is the second or third one you've attempted to
> make. ;-)
>
> KB
>
> "Scott" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a 1/16"
> >hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of 3/4" solid
> >aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make something similar to a
> >screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the handle and 1/16" brass rod as
> >the blade.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Scott
> > http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
> > Building RV-4
> > Gotta Fly or Gonna Die

[Rich S.]

"Scott" > wrote in message
...
>I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a 1/16"
>hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of 3/4" solid
>aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make something similar to a
>screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the handle and 1/16" brass rod as
>the blade.

Scott............

This may sound a bit backwards, but start with a hole and center the
aluminum around the hole.

In other words, first drill a hole in an oversized piece of rod. Try to get
it in the middle, but don't be too anal about it - just keep it straight,
not curved like a dull bit will tend to do. Either a drill press or a lathe
will work for this operation.

Then put the rod in a lathe, between centers, and drive it with a "dog".
Don't use a chuck. Turn the outside to the desired diameter. Now the outside
and the inside will be perfectly concentric. Saw off the butt end where the
dog clamped the rod to spin it. Violá . . .or Violin . . .or Viagrá.

Rich S.

[Daniel]

Scott wrote ...
> I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
> 1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
> 3/4" solid aluminum rod. ...



Can't be done. Not "EXACTLY" anyway. If somebody hands you one
that's "exactly" dead nuts center, they simply aren't using a fine
enough means of measuring. So pick your tolerance, .005", .001",
..0005", .0001", a nanometer, an angstrom, a yoctometer, whatever.

If something within a few thousandths is sufficiently accurate, a
drill press alone will do the job. Trick is to make a one-time custom
fit vise in situ.

Take two chunks of similar dimension hardwood, say 1x2 oak. Screw
them together with a couple slips of paper between them. Don't use
bolts, only screws. Lay the assembly on the drill press table with
the seam & paper standing vertically, directly under the center of a
tiny drill bit (as close as you can eyeball it anyway). Clamp the
rear hardwood block to the drill table. Drill a 3/4" hole down
through the seam. Half of the hole will be in each piece of wood.
Leave the rear block clamped to the table while you partially unscrew
the front block from it. Remove the remnants of the paper spacer.
Put a little powdered rosin in the two halves of the hole (get a rosin
bag at a sporting goods store). Drop your aluminum stock in the hole
you just drilled & screw the front block back in place. You've now
clamped your stock in a hole that's pretty damn close to perfectly
centered under your drill chuck. Drill it to find out just how close.

Daniel

[Harry K]

"Kyle Boatright" > wrote in message >...
> Got a lathe? Failing that, you could lay the thing out by hand, carefully
> centerpunch it, then put it in a drill press. I'm sure you already know
> this, but with care, you'd be amazed at how precise you can be on *one*
> small part. Especially if it is the second or third one you've attempted to
> make. ;-)
>
> KB
>
> "Scott" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a 1/16"
> >hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of 3/4" solid
> >aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make something similar to a
> >screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the handle and 1/16" brass rod as
> >the blade.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Scott
> > http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
> > Building RV-4
> > Gotta Fly or Gonna Die

Old mechanics saying: It ain't hard to make one piece alike, the
problem is making two alike.

Harry K

[Del Rawlins]

On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 11:52:02 +0000, Scott >
wrote:

>I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
>1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
>3/4" solid aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make something
>similar to a screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the handle and
>1/16" brass rod as the blade.

I dunno how exact you mean when you say exact, but this summer I built
a "C-Frame" riveting/dimpling tool and had to drill a 3/16" hole in
the "exact" center of a 5/8" rod. I accomplished this by finding a
piece of 1" or so round steel, clamping it in my drill press vise and
then clamping the vise to the drill press table. I first drilled a
3/16" hole completely through the 1" round steel (approx 2.5" long) as
close to centered as I could (non critical), and then chucked a 5/8"
bit in my drill press. Taking care to keep the alignment the same, I
then drilled about halfway down the first hole with the 5/8" bit to
make a drill guide.

I clamped the 5/8" rod in a vise, and placed the guide over it. Then
took the 3/16" bit in a hand drill and drilled into the rod using the
guide to center it.

It isn't as exact as using a lathe would have gotten, but it is more
than good enough for the task at hand especially considering that I
dont *have* a lathe. A picture of the C-frame tool (before paint and
sandblast) can be found here:

http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/bhfaq/imptool.html

It didn't occur to me to take a picture of the drilling guide but it
should be fairly self explanatory.


================================================== ==
Del Rawlins--
Unofficial Bearhawk FAQ website:
http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/bhfaq/
Remove _kills_spammers_ to reply

[Scott]

Hey Kyle,
Well, I have zero experience on a lathe, so THAT's out ;)

Actually, after my post and while having breakfast and COFFEE with
fellow EAAers, I thought of a way to do it. What if I had a piece of
square steel tube and put the round rod inside (as long as it's a snug
fit by wrapping layers of tape around the rod if necessary) and drew
lines across from opposite corners of the steel tube. That should put
the interesecting lines at the center of the aluminum rod.

I hope to get it on the first try ;)

--
Scott
http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
Building RV-4
Gotta Fly or Gonna Die

Kyle Boatright wrote:
> Got a lathe? Failing that, you could lay the thing out by hand, carefully
> centerpunch it, then put it in a drill press. I'm sure you already know
> this, but with care, you'd be amazed at how precise you can be on *one*
> small part. Especially if it is the second or third one you've attempted to
> make. ;-)
>
> KB
>
> "Scott" > wrote in message
> ...
>
>>I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a 1/16"
>>hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of 3/4" solid
>>aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make something similar to a
>>screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the handle and 1/16" brass rod as
>>the blade.
>>
>>
>>--
>>Scott
>>http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
>>Building RV-4
>>Gotta Fly or Gonna Die
>
>
>

[guynoir]

Several years ago, I saw a c-frame tool set up with a laser shining on
the skin at the location of the center of the bottom die. This
simplified aiming for a hole when the die was covered by the skin. He
also rigged up a sledge hammer with a system of ropes and pulleys so
that he could raise the hammer by pressing a lever with his foot, then
let it drop on the punch. This allowed him to have both hands free for
handling a large sheet. We called it a laser guided sledge hammer. It
was not an elegant arrangement, a duct tape and bailing wire affair, but
it worked.

Del Rawlins wrote:

> On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 11:52:02 +0000, Scott >
> wrote:
>
>
>>I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
>>1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
>>3/4" solid aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make something
>>similar to a screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the handle and
>>1/16" brass rod as the blade.
>
>
> I dunno how exact you mean when you say exact, but this summer I built
> a "C-Frame" riveting/dimpling tool and had to drill a 3/16" hole in
> the "exact" center of a 5/8" rod. I accomplished this by finding a
> piece of 1" or so round steel, clamping it in my drill press vise and
> then clamping the vise to the drill press table. I first drilled a
> 3/16" hole completely through the 1" round steel (approx 2.5" long) as
> close to centered as I could (non critical), and then chucked a 5/8"
> bit in my drill press. Taking care to keep the alignment the same, I
> then drilled about halfway down the first hole with the 5/8" bit to
> make a drill guide.
>
> I clamped the 5/8" rod in a vise, and placed the guide over it. Then
> took the 3/16" bit in a hand drill and drilled into the rod using the
> guide to center it.
>
> It isn't as exact as using a lathe would have gotten, but it is more
> than good enough for the task at hand especially considering that I
> dont *have* a lathe. A picture of the C-frame tool (before paint and
> sandblast) can be found here:
>
> http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/bhfaq/imptool.html
>
> It didn't occur to me to take a picture of the drilling guide but it
> should be fairly self explanatory.
>
>
> ================================================== ==
> Del Rawlins--
> Unofficial Bearhawk FAQ website:
> http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/bhfaq/
> Remove _kills_spammers_ to reply

--
John Kimmel


I think it will be quiet around here now. So long.

[Blueskies]

"guynoir" > wrote in message ink.net...
> Several years ago, I saw a c-frame tool set up with a laser shining on the skin at the location of the center of the
> bottom die. This simplified aiming for a hole when the die was covered by the skin. He also rigged up a sledge
> hammer with a system of ropes and pulleys so that he could raise the hammer by pressing a lever with his foot, then
> let it drop on the punch. This allowed him to have both hands free for handling a large sheet. We called it a laser
> guided sledge hammer. It was not an elegant arrangement, a duct tape and bailing wire affair, but it worked.
>

I like that!

[Errol Groff]

Is there a vo tech high school or perhaps a technical college near
you?

I should think any vo tech oriented school that has a manuacturing
shop would be glad to help out. I know that I certainly would.

For that matter if you can't get it done local let me know and I will
have one of my students do it up and will mail it to you. I have .500
and .750 AL on hand, 6061 I believe although it might be 7075, I will
have to look and see.

Errol Groff
EAA 60159

Instructor, Machine Tool Department
H.H. Ellis Regional Technical School
Danielson, CT 06239

860 774 8511 x1811

On Sat, 16 Oct 2004 11:52:02 +0000, Scott >
wrote:

>I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
>1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
>3/4" solid aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make something
>similar to a screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the handle and
>1/16" brass rod as the blade.

[Del Rawlins]

On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 16:58:34 GMT, guynoir >
wrote:

>Several years ago, I saw a c-frame tool set up with a laser shining on
>the skin at the location of the center of the bottom die. This
>simplified aiming for a hole when the die was covered by the skin. He
>also rigged up a sledge hammer with a system of ropes and pulleys so
>that he could raise the hammer by pressing a lever with his foot, then
>let it drop on the punch. This allowed him to have both hands free for
>handling a large sheet. We called it a laser guided sledge hammer. It
>was not an elegant arrangement, a duct tape and bailing wire affair, but
>it worked.

Sounds like something my dad would have rigged up. I thought I was
gonna die after I actually cleaned the shop and either re-sharpened or
disposed of all the mangled screwdrivers I found stuck in a drawer.
How was I supposed to know that each of them was a special tool?


================================================== ==
Del Rawlins--
Unofficial Bearhawk FAQ website:
http://www.rawlinsbrothers.org/bhfaq/
Remove _kills_spammers_ to reply

[Bob Kuykendall]

Earlier, Scott > wrote:

> I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
> 1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
> 3/4" solid aluminum rod.

I've done something like that, using this general procedure to
center-drill a 1/2" rod with a 3/16" bore:

1. I put a saw slot most of the way across a pice of scrap aluminum
block.

2. I lightly clamped the block in the drill press vise, and clamped
the vise onto the drill press table so that the drill axis hit the
slot.

3. I drilled a 3/16" hole through the block somewhere along the slot.

4. Without moving the block, vise, or table, I unchucked the 3/16"
drill bit, stuck it shank-first in the hole in the block, and then
tightened the drill press vise so the block clamped down on the drill
bit.

5. I chucked my 1/2" rod in the drill press chuck.

6. I started the drill press, and then cranked the rotating 1/2" rod
down onto the stationary 3/16" drill bit.

Some variation on that theme might work out for you. Most of the time,
I just use my little 9x20 lathe...

Thanks, and best regards to all

Bob K.
http://www.hpaircraft.com/hp-24

[Scott]

Hey, that sounds like it could work also! Thanks for the idea...

Scott


Bob Kuykendall wrote:

> Earlier, Scott > wrote:
>
>
>>I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
>>1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
>>3/4" solid aluminum rod.
>
>
> I've done something like that, using this general procedure to
> center-drill a 1/2" rod with a 3/16" bore:
>
> 1. I put a saw slot most of the way across a pice of scrap aluminum
> block.
>
> 2. I lightly clamped the block in the drill press vise, and clamped
> the vise onto the drill press table so that the drill axis hit the
> slot.
>
> 3. I drilled a 3/16" hole through the block somewhere along the slot.
>
> 4. Without moving the block, vise, or table, I unchucked the 3/16"
> drill bit, stuck it shank-first in the hole in the block, and then
> tightened the drill press vise so the block clamped down on the drill
> bit.
>
> 5. I chucked my 1/2" rod in the drill press chuck.
>
> 6. I started the drill press, and then cranked the rotating 1/2" rod
> down onto the stationary 3/16" drill bit.
>
> Some variation on that theme might work out for you. Most of the time,
> I just use my little 9x20 lathe...
>
> Thanks, and best regards to all
>
> Bob K.
> http://www.hpaircraft.com/hp-24

--
Scott
http://corbenflyer.tripod.com/
Building RV-4
Gotta Fly or Gonna Die

[B2431]

>From: (Del Rawlins)
>Date: 10/17/2004 22:19 Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>On Sun, 17 Oct 2004 16:58:34 GMT, guynoir >
>wrote:
>
>>Several years ago, I saw a c-frame tool set up with a laser shining on
>>the skin at the location of the center of the bottom die. This
>>simplified aiming for a hole when the die was covered by the skin. He
>>also rigged up a sledge hammer with a system of ropes and pulleys so
>>that he could raise the hammer by pressing a lever with his foot, then
>>let it drop on the punch. This allowed him to have both hands free for
>>handling a large sheet. We called it a laser guided sledge hammer. It
>>was not an elegant arrangement, a duct tape and bailing wire affair, but
>>it worked.
>
>Sounds like something my dad would have rigged up. I thought I was
>gonna die after I actually cleaned the shop and either re-sharpened or
>disposed of all the mangled screwdrivers I found stuck in a drawer.
>How was I supposed to know that each of them was a special tool?
>
>
>================================================== ==
>Del Rawlins--

I used to do gunsmithing. Your father's collection of "mangled" screwdrivers
sounds like mine. It is truely amazing how many of those beasties one needs.
The one thing I wish I had done was label what each was for. About 20 years ago
I was going to make an inletted box for them all. It still isn't made. No need
to rush these things, y'know.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Chris W]

Scott wrote:

> I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
> 1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
> 3/4" solid aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make
> something similar to a screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the
> handle and 1/16" brass rod as the blade.

Put the 1/2" round in your drill press chuck. Clamp a small table top
clamp to the end of the round sticking out of the drill chuck.
Carefully lower the spindle till the clamp is on the drill press table.
Carefully clamp the table top clamp to the drill press table. Now
release the chuck raise the spindle, put in the 1/16' drill bit and
drill the hole. I've never tired it but it should work pretty well.

--
Chris W

Not getting the gifts you want? The Wish Zone can help.
http://thewishzone.com

"They that can give up essential liberty
to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety."
-- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 Historical Review of Pennsylvania

[Ernest Christley]

B2431 wrote:

> I used to do gunsmithing. Your father's collection of "mangled" screwdrivers
> sounds like mine. It is truely amazing how many of those beasties one needs.
> The one thing I wish I had done was label what each was for. About 20 years ago
> I was going to make an inletted box for them all. It still isn't made. No need
> to rush these things, y'know.
>
> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

Take a short length of scrap 2x4. Drill one side full of holes. Go
about halfway through with the holes. Line up all the long slender
tools like little army men. Labels? Use a pen, pencil, or crayon
(purple if you have it).

It's amazing how much a scrap of wood has cleaned up my bench 8*)

--
http://www.ernest.isa-geek.org/
"This is by far the hardest lesson about freedom. It goes against
instinct, and morality, to just sit back and watch people make
mistakes. We want to help them, which means control them and their
decisions, but in doing so we actually hurt them (and ourselves)."

[B2431]

>From: Ernest Christley
>Date: 10/23/2004 21:16 Central Daylight Time
>Message-id: >
>
>B2431 wrote:
>
>> I used to do gunsmithing. Your father's collection of "mangled"
>screwdrivers
>> sounds like mine. It is truely amazing how many of those beasties one
>needs.
>> The one thing I wish I had done was label what each was for. About 20 years
>ago
>> I was going to make an inletted box for them all. It still isn't made. No
>need
>> to rush these things, y'know.
>>
>> Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired
>
>Take a short length of scrap 2x4. Drill one side full of holes. Go
>about halfway through with the holes. Line up all the long slender
>tools like little army men. Labels? Use a pen, pencil, or crayon
>(purple if you have it).
>
>It's amazing how much a scrap of wood has cleaned up my bench 8*)
>

I have made 3 of those, each with 2 rows of holes. The problem is the modified
screwdrivers weren't used often enough to justify staying there. One is full of
punches, another is full of screwdrivers and the third is full of misc stuff
like shotgun sight installation tools etc. I may take your idea and go make a
4th anyway. Thanks.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired

[Lou Parker]

Chris W > wrote in message news:<pIDed.78756$cJ3.45421@fed1read06>...
> Scott wrote:
>
> > I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
> > 1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
> > 3/4" solid aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make
> > something similar to a screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the
> > handle and 1/16" brass rod as the blade.
>
> Put the 1/2" round in your drill press chuck. Clamp a small table top
> clamp to the end of the round sticking out of the drill chuck.
> Carefully lower the spindle till the clamp is on the drill press table.
> Carefully clamp the table top clamp to the drill press table. Now
> release the chuck raise the spindle, put in the 1/16' drill bit and
> drill the hole. I've never tired it but it should work pretty well.
>
> --
> Chris W
>
> Not getting the gifts you want? The Wish Zone can help.
> http://thewishzone.com
>
> "They that can give up essential liberty
> to obtain a little temporary safety
> deserve neither liberty nor safety."
> -- Benjamin Franklin, 1759 Historical Review of Pennsylvania

What I do for wood dowels is, get different size washers with
different size holes. Find one that is the same size as the dowel your
drilling and use the washer as a guide.
lou

[Doug Hoffman]

> > Scott wrote:
> >
> > > I need to make a specialized tool and am looking for a way to drill a
> > > 1/16" hole EXACTLY in the center of the end of a piece of say 1/2" of
> > > 3/4" solid aluminum rod. In other words, I am trying to make
> > > something similar to a screwdriver using solid aluminum rod for the
> > > handle and 1/16" brass rod as the blade.

Find a set of thin-wall tubes that just fit inside each other so they
will "telescope". Brass tubes from a hobby store work well. The
largest tube ID should just fit the OD of your rod. Keep placing the
tubes inside each other until the ID of the innermost tube is
approximately the same size as your drill bit. The length of the tubes
should be cut so that your drill bit will reach all the way down to the
rod stock. Lube, stick in the bit, and drill. This will pretty much
guarantee a perfectly centered and aligned hole. I've used this
technique successfully many times.

Regards,

-Doug