Drilling square holes through not so square material.

[metal99]

Here's my little speed bump. I have some really nice rosewood and ironwood carvings that I want to make into scales. I cut up one of the carvings free hand on the band saw. The slabs are about 3/8" thick but they do vary slightly. What method do you guys use to drill your holes through irregular handle material to insure the holes stay square to your tang? I have some elk antler that I want to use for scales so I will be facing the same problem when it comes time to drill those holes.

Julius

[Ray Rogers]

I use a kind of quick and dirty method. First, I sand one side of the scale flat so that it fits against the tang properly. Then, I get a large lump of modeling clay, put that on my drill press, and press the scale material into it. Lay the tang on the scale so you know how to place the holes. Finally, I use two very small bubble levels on the tang so that I can get the tang parallel and square to the drill press table. Drill the holes. If it isn't perfect, it's still close enough that a loose fit for your pins and some epoxy can easily get the job done ...

[cnccutter]

Julius,When I drill stag scales, I sand one side flat. then clamp the scale to a flat bar that has some 1/2" sized holes drilled in it. I suspend the bar with the scales facing down over two parallel bars on the drill press. you will then be drilling square to the face of the scale that will be against the liners. works pretty good once you have the method down. I think I learned it from ether Cris Crawford or Weldon Whitley, I don't remember who for sure.

Erik

[metal99]

Thanks Ray, I had thought about using a level but the modeling clay never crossed my mind. I will give that a shot next time!