What steel for a drilling jig?

[M&J]

I have a small run of parts I want to drill for interchangeability and a drilling jig would enable this.

About 50 holes will be done so something that can have just enough hardness to maintain the run is desired. Is there a steel that can attain just enough hardness using a propane or MAP gas blow torch available?

Suggestions you may have are welcomed.

[jimmontg]

How many holes are in the part to be drilled? Is it 50 holes per part or like 10 parts with 5 holes each? If you're just drilling 2 to 5 holes you can use or make drill bushings out of round stock and torch the bushing.

[M&J]

Two holes but there may be a variation so possibly 4 holes. I'll look into some round stock. Some of the woodworking dowel fixtures would work but those are more $ then I want to spend. The ironic part is none of my local shops have them. I'd talked to one of the shops and he said for some reason they've had a run on the dowel joinery fixtures.

[jimmontg]

Just use some plain steel and drill small pilot holes in the fixture then drill out the pilot hole afterwards. I've made a temporary drill jig with thick aluminum before and drilled out like 40 to 60 parts, but using a .125 drill bit. Steel will hold up for quite a while using a small drill bit. Or just transfer punch it.

[M&J]

I made up a fixture from 6061 for an initial attempt. I'll be giving it a test this week.

[jimmontg]

I might add that I made a transfer punch out of a small round center punch by chucking it up into my drill gun and grinding the tip to 3/16 (.187) for about .200 from the tip and I'd make a transfer punch jig out of one of my spare parts. Works right on the money today as long as I'm accurate with the pilot holes.