Drill press jig

[LawrenceA]

You are getting excellent advice here on many things.
While i have drilled a fair few tang holes they have been on modern guns so i am not as experienced as the other cintributors.
As per @billraby put a bit of wood in the gap at least where visible. You may choose to epoxy the unseen area just careful with that.
For the tang bolt start with driling the Tang as per @Col. Batguano and @billraby.
Start undersize and go about halfway. Clear chips often.
Turn it over and do the same from the triggerplate.
Ideally the holes should meet precisely.
This will allow you to judge how far out your holes are. If not too bad run a larger but still undersize drill through about 3/4. This should pull the hole into line.
If it doesnt you can now sort this with a file before going to tap drill size then clearance size.
Go slow. Take it easy.
Good luck.

 

[Davey Boy]

ChrisWest,
Thanks for the Davis link. I may be several steps closer to my own build because of that.

 

[JonBishop]

Thanks everyone! This has given me a lot to think about. I’m going to order some center drills before I drill the tang. I don’t want to rush this. Again, thanks for all the advice. I know I’ll have more questions to come.

Jon

 

[GANGGREEN]

Totally off-topic, but are those Kookaburras in your avatar? Just never saw one.

It only looks about 50 thou.
What is preventing the breech coming back.
Have you inlet the barrel rear against the wood?
This is the point of most recoil

 

[Eric Krewson]

I just clamp an arrow field point in my cross slide vise and proceed, I can adjust the point to be where it needs to be very easily with the vice controls.

 

[Davey Boy]

What I have learned in machining and wood butchering that has helped me is putting time into fixturing .

Get the workpiece into the tool zone so you have maximum control of the tooling.

Then be able to reference the workpiece to the fixture be it vise, clamp , post so you can take it out and put it back in the same spot.

 

[LawrenceA]

Totally off-topic, but are those Kookaburras in your avatar? Just never saw one.

They are laughing kookaburras.
There is also Blue wing

 

[Bob McBride]

This is what I purchased from RE Davis/LogCabin:
http://www.redaviscompany.com/0883.html

I was just going to post that they are commercially available but Chris West beat me to it....

 

[toot]

rely interesting.

 

[jerrywh]

My advice is no matter what you use it is best to drill 1/2 way from one side and 1/2 way from the other side. Then you won't be sorry.

 

[pooch156]

I can make one in no time.