Woodcarving Illustrated - How To Magazine for Carvers: Drilling Clean Holes

Drilling Clean Holes
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BobD on 01/27/2010 20:08:00
 
Readers who prefer to store back issues in a three-ring binder may continue to
do so by drilling their own holes. You can clamp the magazine tightly between
two pieces of wood and drill the holes with a 1/4"- to 5/16"-diameter drill bit,
but this method leaves a fuzzy hole. The following shop-tested method requires
only a small investment in time and materials and is a sure-fire way to drill
clean holes
1. Create the cutting device. Start with a piece of 1/4"- to 5/16"-diameter
steel pipe, such as brake line. Brake lines are available in short sections at
most auto part stores. Sharpen the inside of the pipe with a cone-shaped stone
or diamond bit. Grind away any burrs on the outside of the pipe.
2. Prepare the stock for the jig. Use 3/4"-thick oak or a similar hard wood for
the base. Softer woods give a bit when you drill out the back side of the
magazine and can create a slight ridge. Use 1/4"-thick stock for the side rails
and 3/4"-thick stock for the drill guide. See the Materials & Tools listing for
suggested dimensions.
3. Assemble the jig. Glue and nail the side and top rails to the base. Use a
drill press to drill the guide holes through the 3/4"-thick by 2 1/2"-wide
stock. The guide holes are slightly larger than the diameter of the steel pipe.
Use the provided guidelines or space the holes to fit the binder you will use to
hold your magazines.
4. Drill the magazine. Chuck the sharpened steel pipe in a drill press.
Position the magazine on the base and tightly clamp the drill guide on top of
the magazine. The tighter the clamps, the cleaner the holes. Set the drill press
to a relatively fast speed and feed the steel pipe through the guide holes and
the magazine.
MATERIALS:
*3/4" x 8 1/2" x 11" oak or hardwood of choice (backing board) 	*1/4" x 1 1/2"
x 8 3/4" oak or hardwood of choice (top rail) 	*1/4" x 1 1/2" x 11" oak or
hardwood of choice (side rail) 	*3/4" x 2 1/2" x 11" oak or hardwood of choice
(drill guide) 	*1/4"- to 5/16"- diameter by 4"-long steel tubing, such as brake
line 	*Wood glue 	*Nails or screws
TOOLS:
*Drill press with drill bit slightly larger than steel tubing 	*Hammer 	*C
clamps 	*Cone-shaped stone or diamond bit