Off-center drilling jigs for shafts

MVPCues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I have a lot of near perfect dowels (in terms of runoff) where the center grain line from one end runs the entire length, but is not quite at the center of the other end. Since I stress over details (whether the topic warrants it or not), I thought I would try making some jigs to "center" drill the dowels at a bias to straighten out the grain center to center.

In the first picture, the 3 jigs, made of delrin ofcourse, are bored to just larger than the OD of my shaft dowels for a snug fit. The depth of the bore is 2 inches. The 3/16" holes drilled through the solid portion is about 3/4" long. A #2 center drill fits very snug in the hole, so it locates well drilling by hand. The jig on the far left has the center hole drilled offcenter .04", the middle one .08", and the one on far right is .16" from center. Regarding the two shaft dowels above the two jigs, I drew a line from the intended joint end following the center grain line to the other end, and then selected the appropriate jig that comes closest to where the grain line runs. The 2nd picture shows the sleeve over the dowel, with the #2 center drill in place. Obviously, the hand drill is removed for the picture.

The .04" offcenter jig can be used for the joint end in conjunction with the others at the tip end to cover a wide range of offsets when taking into account both ends, .04", .08", .12", .16", or .20". I also scored a V mark on each jig on the side where the center hole is offset toward as a witness mark to help line up the jig on the dowel when drilling.

They seem to work pretty well, so I thought I would share the pictures and idea. I imagine this has been done before, but I came up with the idea myself and figured out how to drill the holes in the jigs accurately in terms of the .04/.08/.16 offsets.

I would be glad to make a set of 3 (bored to your specs) for a resonable price if there is any interest.

Kelly

jig1.jpg




jig2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Good luck with your jigs. I've been taught to use tape or sandpaper shims with a 3-jaw chuck to adjust centers. Once you get a feel for this method, it works beautifully.

Martin



Kelly_Guy said:
I have a lot of near perfect dowels (in terms of runoff) where the center grain line from one end runs the entire length, but is not quite at the center of the other end. Since I stress over details (whether the topic warrants it or not), I thought I would try making some jigs to "center" drill the dowels at a bias to straighten out the grain center to center.

In the first picture, the 3 jigs, made of delrin ofcourse, are bored to just larger than the OD of my shaft dowels for a snug fit. The depth of the bore is 2 inches. The 3/16" holes drilled through the solid portion is about 3/4" long. A #2 center drill fits very snug in the hole, so it locates well drilling by hand. The jig on the far left has the center hole drilled offcenter .04", the middle one .08", and the one on far right is .16" from center. Regarding the two shaft dowels above the two jigs, I drew a line from the intended joint end following the center grain line to the other end, and then selected the appropriate jig that comes closest to where the grain line runs. The 2nd picture shows the sleeve over the dowel, with the #2 center drill in place. Obviously, the hand drill is removed for the picture.

The .04" offcenter jig can be used for the joint end in conjunction with the others at the tip end to cover a wide range of offsets when taking into account both ends, .04", .08", .12", .16", or .20". I also scored a V mark on each jig on the side where the center hole is offset toward as a witness mark to help line up the jig on the dowel when drilling.

They seem to work pretty well, so I thought I would share the pictures and idea. I imagine this has been done before, but I came up with the idea myself and figured out how to drill the holes in the jigs accurately in terms of the .04/.08/.16 offsets.

I would be glad to make a set of 3 (bored to your specs) for a resonable price if there is any interest.

Kelly

jig1.jpg




jig2.jpg
 
Last edited:
You mean like only brown or sugary wood make good shafts?

Martin


JoeyInCali said:
Lemme bookmark this thread and wait for vet makers give away more secrets.
 
jazznpool said:
You mean like only brown or sugary wood make good shafts?

Martin
I wonder who said that.
Lemme have em all.:)
I really have this thread bookmarked. :)
Btw, Kell. nice jigs.
 
Last edited:
Hi Kelly,
I appreciate your initiative and your creativity in your approach to correcting these dowels. I'm going to suggest that you 'pin' the dowel in at least two places on the drive end to prevent the dowel from pivoting on the one locating pin that you have. Should the dowel pivot even slightly, you'll have defeated your purpose and possibly ruin the shaft.

Btw., slight run-out at the joint-end is considered acceptable as there is considerably more 'meat' there to resist warpage. The bigger concern for run-off occurs the closer it is to the ferrule or middle of the shaft.
 
KJ Cues said:
Btw., slight run-out at the joint-end is considered acceptable as there is considerably more 'meat' there to resist warpage. The bigger concern for run-off occurs the closer it is to the ferrule or middle of the shaft.

Yes, I know that.
Kelly
 
Kelly_Guy said:
Long winded ones I dare say as well. :p

Kelly



Fo Sure, We had some contests to see who could go the distance huh? Reminds me of when My Mom's Sisters were still alive. When all three of them got together, or they got on the phone with each other, You could have written a book from all the conversasion.:p

Btw, I Didn't even watch last night because I knew what was going to happen;) I could have put heavy a bet on that one, I knew monday night was payback time.:p I told My brother that yesterday.
 
Cue Crazy said:
Fo Sure, We had some contests to see who could go the distance huh? Reminds me of when My Mom's Sisters were still alive. When all three of them got together, or they got on the phone with each other, You could have written a book from all the conversasion.:p

Btw, I Didn't even watch last night because I knew what was going to happen;) I could have put heavy a bet on that one, I knew monday night was payback time.:p I told My brother that yesterday.

Yeah. I think I gave up and let Meredith take over the TV when it was 13 to 0. It looked like Jax was gonna score when it was 7 to 0, then I looked again and the Colts were up by 13. :rolleyes:

Colts and Pats in two weeks I think.

Kelly
 
Kelly_Guy said:
Yeah. I think I gave up and let Meredith take over the TV when it was 13 to 0. It looked like Jax was gonna score when it was 7 to 0, then I looked again and the Colts were up by 13. :rolleyes:

Colts and Pats in two weeks I think.

Kelly




I'll be there to watch that matchup, It outta be a good one. Brady and Moss are killin It too, so they are gonna go at It. Someone's gonna walk away with a loss either way in that one.

BTW, I don't have to tell ya I am impressed with your Jig. You already know that.
 
Cue Crazy said:
I'll be there to watch that matchup, It outta be a good one. Brady and Moss are killin It too, so they are gonna go at It. Someone's gonna walk away with a loss either way in that one.

BTW, I don't have to tell ya I am impressed with your Jig. You already know that.

Thanks. I got the idea after tapering some blanks that I had traced the center grain line on. After thnking about it, I mostly wanted to see how accurate I could place the offset hole in the jig with my independent chuck and dial indicator.

Whether going to that detail to straighten out .2" of runoff over 30" is worth it is certainly up to opinion, but it was worth it to me.

Kelly
 
Kelly_Guy said:
Yeah. I think I gave up and let Meredith take over the TV when it was 13 to 0. It looked like Jax was gonna score when it was 7 to 0, then I looked again and the Colts were up by 13. :rolleyes:

Colts and Pats in two weeks I think.

Kelly
Kelly and Crazy - Small wager on those Horses against the Pats :):):) I need some more wood :) Sorry they spoiled your party last night guys :)

Nice Jig there btw Kelly_Guy...
 
billiardbum said:
Kelly and Crazy - Small wager on those Horses against the Pats :):):) I need some more wood :) Sorry they spoiled your party last night guys :)

Nice Jig there btw Kelly_Guy...




They didn't spoil mine that bad, I try not to get too emotionally involved anymore;) :D I don't think it mattered that much to Kelly either way though, actually I think He may have been happy with the outcome, seems like he likes the colts. I do too, just like to see the under dog win sometimes, and since they were in jax It would have been nice, but they put the woop on the colts the last they played, so I knew the colts would be studying the films for last night's matchup ups. Looked acidental, but They clipped garrard early on and about blew his knee out, so he had to leave the game early, and wasn't a factor in It. I think he has a high ankle injury, but could have been worse. after that they were able to slow the run and put the pressure on the second string QB.

Let me think on that one, Colts would be the favorite from what i'm seeing in that matchup, but something's telling me the pats may be able to pull that one off. It's just too close to call right now. I'm not much of a gambling man, but there's 2 weeks before that matchup, lets see what happens this weekend. I maybe be willing to put a square of something on the line.:)
 
I mostly just wanted a good game so I had an excuse to tell the 2 year old why we weren't watching Shrek or The Wiggles or Stuart Little yet again...:D

Kelly
 
billiardbum said:
Kelly and Crazy - Small wager on those Horses against the Pats :):):) I need some more wood :) Sorry they spoiled your party last night guys :)

Nice Jig there btw Kelly_Guy...
You're purposely swaying this thread off-tangent because you don't wanna give out your secrets.
Come on, Jim. Let's see your jigs.:D
 
JoeyInCali said:
You're purposely swaying this thread off-tangent because you don't wanna give out your secrets.
Come on, Jim. Let's see your jigs.:D
Joey - No Jigs here, and Bring back the old avatar PLEASE :) - Sorry kelly to high Jack your thread, but you mentioned the Colts and it stirred me... Plus you have some nice wood for betting :)
 
No apologies needed, we are all friends.

I do have a little bit of wood...need more though...there are some bare spots on the floor. :D

Kelly
 
Back
Top