So as a necessity to my in progress Ped Kentucky rifle project, I needed to build a pin drilling jig that could accurately and repeatedly drill holes for the new pins. I did this before on my drill press with my pistol build but it was much easier to hold in place than what this long rifle will be. So after looking at several different types, this is what I came up with. I like making my own tools to solve problems as much as I like building! Plus the cost was less than $10.
Standard 2” c-clamp with the clamping rod removed. It was threaded M10-1.5. I replaced it with a similar 40mm long nylon metric bolt with the head cut off. Placed nuts and washers on each side of the threaded clamp arm to lock it in place so it won’t move (wobble). Drilled a hole through the center, best I could by hand, with a 6” long 5/64 drill bit until it touched the other side of the side of the clamp pad and made a small divot. I then center punched the divot to keep the bit from walking and reinserted the long drill and continued drilling into the clamp pad so that the hole was perfectly aligned to the bit. I then cut a small piece of pin and ground a center point on it and installed it into the hole on the far side of the clamp. This gives me 1-1/2” width and 1-1/4” depth which is plenty clearance for drilling my stock.
Simply place divots in the desired locations. Place the pin in one divot to help hold position and move the piece until the drill bit aligns with/into the other divot. This so far, has proven to be very accurate (due to the 1-1/2” long nylon “bushing”) and the fact both holes are perfectly aligned and there is not extreme distance between the two contact points (possible deflection).
I practiced an a piece of broom handle, drilling in different locations and it worked quickly and perfectly! I tried it several ways setting a depth gauge and drilling almost all the way through, removing the jig and completing and drilling all the way through until it touched the pin. Either way produced the same result. The true test will be on the rifle of course but it sure looks like it should work, just go slow!
Standard 2” c-clamp with the clamping rod removed. It was threaded M10-1.5. I replaced it with a similar 40mm long nylon metric bolt with the head cut off. Placed nuts and washers on each side of the threaded clamp arm to lock it in place so it won’t move (wobble). Drilled a hole through the center, best I could by hand, with a 6” long 5/64 drill bit until it touched the other side of the side of the clamp pad and made a small divot. I then center punched the divot to keep the bit from walking and reinserted the long drill and continued drilling into the clamp pad so that the hole was perfectly aligned to the bit. I then cut a small piece of pin and ground a center point on it and installed it into the hole on the far side of the clamp. This gives me 1-1/2” width and 1-1/4” depth which is plenty clearance for drilling my stock.
Simply place divots in the desired locations. Place the pin in one divot to help hold position and move the piece until the drill bit aligns with/into the other divot. This so far, has proven to be very accurate (due to the 1-1/2” long nylon “bushing”) and the fact both holes are perfectly aligned and there is not extreme distance between the two contact points (possible deflection).
I practiced an a piece of broom handle, drilling in different locations and it worked quickly and perfectly! I tried it several ways setting a depth gauge and drilling almost all the way through, removing the jig and completing and drilling all the way through until it touched the pin. Either way produced the same result. The true test will be on the rifle of course but it sure looks like it should work, just go slow!
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