[TheForge] 2 things

[Washington, Aubrey O.]

Mark,

I don't know about the gloves, but I'll try to describe what I've done on the end-drilling problem.  I have an extra Jacobs chuck that I fix firmly to my drill press table (many ways to do this) pointing up.  I chuck a center drill in the lower (fixed) chuck and I chuck the work piece in the upper (drill press) chuck.  Then I lower the spinning work piece onto the center drill to mark the center of the work piece with a starter hole.  Finally, I exchange the center drill for a drill bit of the proper size and finish drilling the hole.

Of course, getting the upper and lower chucks lined up properly is important.  One way I've done that is to chuck a short piece of stock into both chucks at the same time, lower them onto the drill press table, and clamp the lower chuck into place; then remove the piece of stock.

I have never tried doing many pieces in succession like this, and I'm sure it is not as precise as a lathe would be.  But, I don't have a metal lathe.  One potential problem with this method is that the hole you are drilling is "upside down" so it is hard to squirt cutting oil into it.

I'm curious to hear how others have done this task.

Aubrey

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From: theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net [theforge-bounces at mailman.qth.net] On Behalf Of Mark Novak [mark at fireworkspdx.com]
Sent: Wednesday, April 30, 2008 3:50 PM
To: theforge at mailman.qth.net
Subject: [TheForge] 2 things

1. Anyone know a place that sells only lefty welding/kevlar/work gloves?

2. What tool options are out there that would help me drill a centered
hole into the end of mild steel rod (besides a punch to make a starter
dent)? I have a drill press and a drill press vise, but I'm trying to
make a single hole in many inch long sections of half-inch rod and
don't want to have to set each one in the vise, trying to get it lined
up each time with the bit and the starter dent, etc... Help!

Thanks,

Mark Novak
www.fireworkspdx.com
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