doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Drilling screw holes for restock?

I tried using trig to determine the angles but that's too complicated for me. What are some common methods used to drill the precise holes needed for proper fit of tang screws?

If you have the old stock use it as a template for alinging the screws in your drill press. Generally, for the tang area you can fit the action and the trigger guard on the stock and draw a line between the two are align on your drill press. I generally drill from the top half way and the bottom half way to complete the holes. I would be interested to hear how others do it.

Jim

Jim,
I dunno, but my tool design and making background gave me a flash on shop aid that should be foolproof. I think I've seen a drill jig that places a drill bushing over the desired location and an adjustable thickness slide that has an exit hole indicator.

Chuck is this something you made or is it commercially available?

Jim

Jim,
Just a thought from seeing a drill jig from my distant past. It would have to be made. Not something very elaborate.

Jim,
Just a couple aluminum plates with two rods pressed in and a drill bushing at the top with an alignment rod at the bottom.

You'd locate using the tangs and drill in about a 1/8" deep on each end of the stock by freehand. Then put the alignment rod in one hole and the drill thru the bushing and into the other starter hole. Drill away until you run into the alignment rod. Remove the jig and finish drilling.

I do it by placing a 60 deg pointed rod, point up in the drill press vise. Then the vise is positioned so that a drill in the chuck meets the rod point dead center and coaxial. Center drill the screw locations just enough to provide a good seat for the rod point.

Using a sharp brad-point drill, place the stock in position on the rod point, hold it firmly, and drill it. The drill will cut until you hit the rod point, so be gentle with the quill handle as you approach full depth.

OB

Others may have a better way, but this has worked for me for many years. Mark the entry location with a small punch to get a dimple to start the drill. Mark and punch the exit location the same way. I have a piece of ¼” drill rod about an inch long with a point ground on one end, this is mounted vertically in the drill press vice. Put the proper size drill bit in the chuck and align it by moving the vice so, when the chuck is lowered, the point of the drill exactly meets the point of the drill rod in the vice. Clamp the vice in this position. Now, mount the stock with the dimple at the exit point sitting on the point of the rod in the vice. Start the drill at the entry point and run through. Since the point of the drill has been aligned with the point of the rod in the vice it should come out right where you want it. Wish I could add a drawing to make it clear but, hopefully you get the idea. Best Regards, Jack

Kilibru,
Put your calculator away...look around and remember that some of our very best buildings were crafted by men with little of no education...

I have a homemade allignment jig that's not handy to show a photo of...but it's simple enough to describe and easy make or redesign...

I have 4 inch brass carraige bolt that's sharpened to a point, with a nut and two fender washers...you simply screw it together through the centerhole of your drill press table, with the point up...then you carefully allign your drill bit, so that it lines up with the brass point. Using a small centerdrill, carefully start the whole at both ends with an egg beater (be careful if you use a cordless drill)...

then using you drill press, set one started hole on the brass center and drill the other hole, while being carefull to hold the stock steady.

I drill it undersize then ream it out with the correct drill bit in a cordless when I'm actually fitting the screw.

Fast, accurate, and inexpensive.

Grampajack and OB posted while I was typing...I feel like the Department of Redundancy Department...