Thread: Marking the center of a hole

There are a set of punches call "Transfer Punches" that I use. They come ina set with all sizes from 1/16" up to about 1/2". They fit the diameter of the screw holes, but have a little "tit" in the centre, so fit the correct sized punch to the screw holes , press down.....or tap, and you have a centre mark.
There are other ways of achieving this...but that's what I use.

You can get Vix Bits that are self centering.
Have a look here and see if they are suitable.
http://www.carbatec.com.au/drilling-...ge-setting-bit
McJings used to have the set at a discounted price but I always have trouble finding things on there site.
Mal

I use one of these, they work really well.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...01&cat=1,43456


joez

Originally Posted by Mal F

You can get Vix Bits that are self centering.
Have a look here and see if they are suitable.
http://www.carbatec.com.au/drilling-...ge-setting-bit
McJings used to have the set at a discounted price but I always have trouble finding things on there site.
Mal

Items 830-4125
830-4128
http://www.mcjing.com.au/engineering/toolframe.htm

Buy yourself a set of insty bits. Wonderful tools and very cheap. They are in all the catalogues. They come for 4 or 5 screw sizes. Perfect centering every time. Old Pete

Originally Posted by mechanic

I have a tough time center punching the center of holes in the box hinges.

I can get through to cutting the rebates using the marking gauge and chisel. Things look good. The hinge fits quite nicely. No extra gaps.

The stuff up occurs when I put the hinges in place and center punch the screw holes.

I can't quite find the center of the holes with the center punch. I end up with screw holes that are not quite centered in the hinge leaves.

Is there a tool or technique?

Noel,
I was referring to Vix Bits at McJings which I have now found.
http://www.mcjing.com.au/woodworking...ANGE%20BIT.asp
Mechanic, I see you are in the USA. Just do a search for "Vix Bits" and you will find what I am talking about.
Mal

I was stuck on the transfer punches.......didn't even look for Vix Bits.
I went for the punches last year, because they had so many other uses.
Some of the other ideas are good too......

For fastest results, or to enhance your frustration (), print a picture from one of the links. Take it to a local Lowes, Home Depot, or Harbor Freight. Prepare to be disappointed, of course. The tools might be stocked with hinges, instead of in the tool department. Also, consider Ace Hardware; they sometimes have weird stuff.

Cheers,
Joe

Thanks guys,

I believe that I know what to look for.

Originally Posted by mechanic

I have a tough time center punching the center of holes in the box hinges.

I can get through to cutting the rebates using the marking gauge and chisel. Things look good. The hinge fits quite nicely. No extra gaps.

The stuff up occurs when I put the hinges in place and center punch the screw holes.

I can't quite find the center of the holes with the center punch. I end up with screw holes that are not quite centered in the hinge leaves.

Is there a tool or technique?

Some of the small hinges I use have holes too small for the available vix bits, and the centerpuch I have is also a bit on the large size so it doesn't fit perfectly in the screw hole. The interesting thing that I discovered is that it is less important for the hole to be perfectly centered than it is for it to be off in the right direction. When using butt hinges, like the Brusso hinges with 95 degree stop, I house the hinges on three sides, mortised in both the sides and lid of the box. If the screw is off in such a way that it pulls the hinge slightly out of the mortise, big trouble. If the screw is very slighty off in such a way that it pulls the hinge tightly into it prescribed position in the mortise, jackpot.

So for me, it makes less difference being off slightly in drilling screw holes, than it makes which direction I'm off.

I usually use an awl to mark the screw holes and use a bit of leverage to make sure the marked hole is doing what needs to be done, then I drill with a bit sized slightly smaller than the screw, or I will drill using a nail with the head cut off, again, checking to compare the size of the nail with the screw being used. Then I lubricate the screws with wax to make sure they don't break off during installation.

Get a masonry nail and insert it into a small handle (offcut of wood), grind the point to a tapered 3 sided shape.

You now have a 'Birdcage Awl' you can gently mark your drilling point for the screw and if it's out slightly, by rotating the awl and using it as a reamer adjust the centre point.

Mechanic, the problem you have is one that I have, and as Doug said, if the screws are very small as is usually the case for small hinges and boxes, the special centering devices are too big. I am harkening to what Doug recommends, if the hinge is nicely housed the screw will have to pull itself into the right position if the hole errs in the right direction. I find it especially tough with timbers that have very strong grain direction unless it is quarter sawn so that the screw is not seduced into the softest parts of the wood. One method I have tried with small screws is to sacrifice a twist drill exactly the diameter of the hole in the hinge. I try to grind a blunt point on the shank end of the drill to act as a centre punch. It has to be a blunt angle because if it were a sharper point there wouldnt be enough thickness in the hinge to register the full diameter of the shank. With countersinks the full depth of the thickness of the hinge this method cannot work, it needs a millemetre of the full diameter. Having tried to explain this I think Doug's method is what I am going to try next time.

You don't neeed fancy tools.

If you hold the hinges in postion then just turn a Philips screw driver in the hole.
The pointy end of the screwdriver leaves a nice dimple in the centre of the hole.

Some excellent suggestions already..

You could also try securing the hinge with some clear sticky tape, that will hold it in place while you mark and drill the holes.