Thread: Pen holding Jig for drilling blanks

Originally Posted by Arry

Thanks Issatree, you are probably right, plus I was only holding the blank with my hand on the drill press.....silly boy I know )

Great way to rip the skin off your palm when the bit grabs in the blank or drill an airconditioning hole in your hand.

This is a jig I made up not long after starting to turn pens. Not my own idea, just enhanced on something a friend had made.
The square hole accepts 3/4" square blanks that I usually cut on the table saw.
I made up the adaptors that are sitting on top for when I had special pieces for blanks that were less than 3/4". That way I could rip them down to either 1/2" or 5/8" and still use them.
The top section pivots on the righthand end bolt so that you can swing it out to replace the blank. A stop is at the back so that it returns to the same position, and a clamp on the left to lock it.
The piece of PVC is connected to a vacuum. The top section collects shavings that come out of the top of the blank. The bottom half of the tube butts up to a hole drilled on an angle that comes out near the bottom of the internal square. This removes chips that fall down inside the square when removing a blank.
Worked well for me before I brought another chuck with pin jaws. Only gets used occassionally now.
Attachment 215038 Attachment 215039 Attachment 215040

Cheers guys, has anyone else got any jigs they would like to share for drilling blanks. I am looking at all of then with interest.

Cheers

I think I found one, I like it due to its simplicity

http://images.meredith.com/wood/images/pdf/DP-00709.pdf

What do you think?

Arry, I use a very similar one made from MDF. The one you found is probably a bit better than mine. I made this one Drill Press Jig
but found that the cam lock thingys didn't hold very securely for me and so I took them off and just use clamps. The extra "fin" at the back adds some stability, but get's in the way a bit for the clamp. Probably better to use thincker MDF, and not bother with the support behind like in the one you found. It is good for squared (or nearly so) blanks, and still adequate for round ones (although I do tighten the clamp a bit harder for them)

Should work well for you Arry. When you get a chance in the future try drilling on the lathe, it makes life so much easier.

Best of luck

Greg

TRY Mcjings McJING Tools Online
crazyskew and I use this chuck jig for drilling blanks .. Drill at 500-650 rpm if not happy with centering turn the blank until happy . With long drilling turn end for end and drill from the reverse side .Tadda
And for white tubes see http://www.popsshed.com.au/Product_L...id=44&scid=145 Brian has more than 7mm tubes so ring him and find out what he has in stock , great for transparent blanks .

thanks