WHAT A TERRIFIC WAY TO DRILL A PERFECTLY CENTERED HOLE IN A ROD

chief38 · May 21, 2021

I just came upon this by accident, however I think it is a simple, easy and super accurate way of drilling a hole in a rod (any solid material) with a Drill Press. Not only is this drilling method great but his use of the Drill's Chuck and using sandpaper to perfectly true up the end is very good as well. Most here do not own Lathes and it sure beats filing by hand. As most already realize, filing will never be as perfectly flat and true.

I drill metal rod often and will use this method next time precision matters. Thought it might be of interest to some here.

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ou-nyVd5hw[/ame]

Mercury · May 22, 2021

How clever!

ddixie884 · May 22, 2021

I learned something in spite of my self....

hyena · May 22, 2021

Pretty clever. My neice gave me one of these guides to do that for Christmas a year ago but I haven't needed to use it.

Drill Guide - Standard V-DrillGuide 1/8"-3/8"

Gunhacker · May 22, 2021

Interesting and useful!

Pretty funny (actually pathetic) how there are so many "critics" with negative comments on youtube about the video, when it's likely that many of them would have never even thought of the idea on their own.

Clever how he uses the concentric sanding ring pattern to locate the center of the first piece to drill the guide hole.

As a boss used to tell me about keeping it simple... "if you need to dig a small ditch, why use a backhoe when a shovel will do?"

chief38 · May 23, 2021

I will confess that even though I consider myself a pretty decent ammeter Machinist I never thought of spinning a rod in a Chuck over sandpaper to flatten it up. I was actually disappointed in myself for not thinking of that!

steelslaver · May 23, 2021

I watch some of those U tube tool making videos and some of the stuff is pretty clever.

mikerjf · May 23, 2021

The drill press I have has a taper-fit chuck. I learned the hard way not to try "milling" with it, as any sideways pressure makes the chuck come off (hazardously!).

While the sandpaper trick will probably work for me, I'll be careful about any sideways motion.

Gunhacker · May 23, 2021

mikerjf said:
The drill press I have has a taper-fit chuck. I learned the hard way not to try "milling" with it, as any sideways pressure makes the chuck come off (hazardously!).

While the sandpaper trick will probably work for me, I'll be careful about any sideways motion.

Most drill press chucks are held in place with a Morse taper, if yours is coming off that easy, something is amiss. I've had the opposite experience with drill presses in that it's a bear to get the chuck out of the quill when needed.

I routinely use my drill press to do vertical wood turning to make chisel and other tool handles, have never had an issue with the chuck coming loose.

serger · May 23, 2021

I just used red loc-tite to keep my chuck in
after it came loose the third time.
( Yeah I know I'm thick )

chief38 · May 24, 2021

Lock-tite should NEVER be used to hold a Drill Press Chuck in! You might want to remove it, replace it with a larger or smaller size Chuck for a specific job, or what ever. A Morse-Taper and the opposite female part it locks into need to be thoroughly cleaned and free of oil, grease and debris with Acetone just prior to inserting. Clean the female part as well! After they are really clean - DO NOT touch them with your hands. Insert the Chuck and give it ONE DELIBERATE SHARP RAP with a Mallet making SURE the Jaw's have been fully retracted before striking (otherwise you can damage Jaws). That is all you need to hold in a MT Chuck. If that doesn't work then the Morse Taper is either faulty or has been severely scored by constant spinning & slipping in place.

Under normal every day use a MT Drill Chuck should not come loose (unless you want it to) - at least mine never has in 40 years.

Truckman · May 24, 2021

Pretty clever!...I wonder if his precision might have increased by using a squaring tool to insure 90° angles for the minichuck, and later the newly made tool against the barstock...

...Ben

lefty_jake · May 24, 2021

I enjoyed the video in this thread. But the most interesting aspect for me is that youtube immediately began suggesting other related videos, and I got sidetracked watching them, even though I don't have any of the machinery.

mindbent · Jun 13, 2021

Safer and less set up time. Can also be used on different size stock.

ClarkMag · Jun 28, 2021

In 1984 all I had was a drill press. I got an old single shot 20 gauge shotgun for free, that had a broken firing pin.
I chucked up a framing nail in the drill press and filed it until it would fit in the gun. I went out and shot a grouse and ate it for dinner.

chief38 · Jun 28, 2021

Imissedagain said:
How many AMPS can you draw?

woops! That was pretty funny! LOL!

merl67 · Jun 29, 2021

Now that's slick....

Oldsalt66 · Jun 29, 2021

The diameter of the rod is the same at 90 degrees.

steelslaver · Jun 30, 2021

mikerjf said:
The drill press I have has a taper-fit chuck. I learned the hard way not to try "milling" with it, as any sideways pressure makes the chuck come off (hazardously!).

While the sandpaper trick will probably work for me, I'll be careful about any sideways motion.

While it is not a good idea to mill with a drill press your chuck should not come out easily. I would clean both the taper and the hole with brake cleaner then assemble and press the chuck down on the table firmly. Most of them have a slot in the shaft that you need to place a thin wedge in and tap to remove the chuck

WHAT A TERRIFIC WAY TO DRILL A PERFECTLY CENTERED HOLE IN A ROD

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