Center drilling

jrp316 · **on:** February 21, 2013, 03:15:01 PM

I found this article while I was searching for center drill bits, looks pretty interesting as it relates to drilling a center hole. Homemade lathe perhaps?

http://vik-olliver.blogspot.com/2010/02/drilling-down-middle.html

I don't have a drill press anymore or I'd try it myself and report back. This method seems like it could be used to produce hollow rivets or even small threaded pivots with the right materials. What do you guys think?

Sparky415 · **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2013, 03:28:03 PM

Thanks!

I like ideas like that they help me without having to throw money at a problem

HankSolon · **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2013, 03:34:03 PM

Wouldn't that technique allow us to make our own pivot barrels?

Syph007 · **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2013, 03:51:43 PM

That is brilliantly simple. I love it, thanks for posting!

jrp316 · **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2013, 03:52:36 PM

@HankSolon - I'd say it could. Make the hole the size of the screw and tap it. It'd be worth a shot for sure.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2013, 03:56:54 PM

Nice little guide

Another tip before attempting driling is to mount the workpiece in the chuck as per the guide, but lower the end down onto an abrasive surface to square up the end of the pin. If attempting to drill deep holes like this, especially if size specific (such as drilling at the tapping size for making pivot barrels without risking truncating the threads with a slightly oversize bore) its very important the entry face is square to the drilling axis. This can be more critical if you're having to "join bore" or match the bore up via drilling from both sides to avoid a mismatch, which would then likely snatch and cause either the pin or drill to spin. So my suggestion would be to cycle through the pins and face them all up on both ends before setting up the static drill

Mr. Whippy · **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2013, 04:05:03 PM

Brilliant!

Syph007 · **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2013, 04:09:49 PM

I just thought of a use case I can test this with. Im making a very wide 5 layer alox mod today and normally I do that pin splice trick. Now I have Ti rod the right size, what if I cut that to the right length and drill and tap each end so I dont have to splice. I like that idea.

jrp316 · **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2013, 04:15:25 PM

Dr. Syph to the OR...Dr. Syph to the OR...

crackout · **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2013, 05:03:43 PM

Awesome!
Now could someone please try to to drill into a 2.2mm rod using a 1mm drill bit (for M1.4 threading)?
I currently don't have access to a drill press.

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2013, 05:34:00 PM

I'd love to help but the machines I have access to are a bit too big and don't drill holes less than 2.5" (63mm) diameter

Heaviest job I was involved in was several years back which was about Dia 14" (355mm) hole from solid x 6500mm long. That's over 5 tonnes of metal removed in one pass and around 48 hours to go from one end to the other

In fact the smallest I've ever been involved in was Dia 3.5mm x 200mm deep, but that was about 15 years ago

Steinar · **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2013, 06:59:30 PM

What on Earth is your industry?

AimlessWanderer · **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2013, 07:17:37 PM

Heavy engineering

Generally I get roped into the wierd, problematic and smelly aspects that other people can't figure out. It's partly why I'm wierd, problematic and smelly, and people can't figure me out

Syph007 · **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2013, 07:20:03 PM

Quote from: 50ft-trad on February 22, 2013, 07:17:37 PM

Heavy engineering Generally I get roped into the wierd, problematic and smelly aspects that other people can't figure out. It's partly why I'm wierd, problematic and smelly, and people can't figure me out

Sounds fun to me!