Uploaded February 2018 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
I made a center jig to help align my center drill bit relative to rod stock's outer diameter. The jig slips over the end of rod stock to guide the drill. This is especially important for me since my drill press and its work table tend to flex. Even if I were to mark the center correctly, even if I center punch the center correctly--both of which are suspect--the table, vise, and rod bend away from the drill resulting in an off-center center. The jig seems to help.
The draw back to this type of jig is that I need to make one for every size of stock that I use. This doesn't seem insurmountable given the limited number of rod stock sizes I currently stock. A nice solution for various diameter stock is a bell punch. This would get the center punched dead on, but again my problem is primarily that the drill press flexes. I needed something that would keep the drill bit centered even if the press flexed
+++++Playlists+++++
SHAPER:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9d6LkFNP1fEdw-SPCSIUX8NP0x8McHtW
LATHE:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9d6LkFNP1fGjdW2RxqSHdSO9D1FEl36c
+++++Resources+++++
Below you'll find my affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase, I receive a commission. You can read my full disclosure policy here- makercise.com/privacy-policy
Bell Punch: amzn.to/2ChvnNQ
AR Warner HSS Insert Tooling Kit #1: amzn.to/2Gh3UyY
Articulating Test Indicator Stand: amzn.to/2E7gyio
Sign-up for early access to project videos:
makercise.com/signup
Support this project directly: patreon.com/makercise
Check out Makercise on:
makercise.com/instagram
makercise.com/facebook
makercise.com/twitter
I made a center jig to help align my center drill bit relative to rod stock's outer diameter. The jig slips over the end of rod stock to guide the drill. This is especially important for me since my drill press and its work table tend to flex. Even if I were to mark the center correctly, even if I center punch the center correctly--both of which are suspect--the table, vise, and rod bend away from the drill resulting in an off-center center. The jig seems to help.
The draw back to this type of jig is that I need to make one for every size of stock that I use. This doesn't seem insurmountable given the limited number of rod stock sizes I currently stock. A nice solution for various diameter stock is a bell punch. This would get the center punched dead on, but again my problem is primarily that the drill press flexes. I needed something that would keep the drill bit centered even if the press flexed
+++++Playlists+++++
SHAPER:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9d6LkFNP1fEdw-SPCSIUX8NP0x8McHtW
LATHE:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PL9d6LkFNP1fGjdW2RxqSHdSO9D1FEl36c
+++++Resources+++++
Below you'll find my affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase, I receive a commission. You can read my full disclosure policy here- makercise.com/privacy-policy
Bell Punch: amzn.to/2ChvnNQ
AR Warner HSS Insert Tooling Kit #1: amzn.to/2Gh3UyY
Articulating Test Indicator Stand: amzn.to/2E7gyio
Sign-up for early access to project videos:
makercise.com/signup
Support this project directly: patreon.com/makercise
Check out Makercise on:
makercise.com/instagram
makercise.com/facebook
makercise.com/twitter
