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Main Boards => The Bowyer's Bench => Topic started by: monterey on November 10, 2018, 08:25:36 PM

Title: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: monterey on November 10, 2018, 08:25:36 PM
I'm eventually going to take the plunge into a TD.  I'm pretty well set tool wise except for the center drilling jig.  I'm looking at the Bingham jig and the Rockler 1000 but would like to have any and all suggestions and critiques on any jig that you have tried.
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: bjansen on November 10, 2018, 10:32:35 PM
I had the Bingham jig back in the day and it worked fine for me.  They are fairly easy to make if you want to just make one yourself. 
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: skeaterbait on November 11, 2018, 07:04:36 AM
Take all this with a grain of salt since, as mentioned in another thread, my math skills leave MUCH to be desired. I have tried making my own and was never successful. I also bought a HF cheapy jig. It worked ok after I made some adjustments to it but still lacked what I was after. Currently I have a Dowel-it 2500 which is far superior to the HF. All that said, I still haven't drilled a bow with it so I can't attest to how well it works for that but all the testing I did with it proved to be accurate within about a half MM. I am not sure what that is with imperial measurements, I just happen to have a ruler with metric on one side and it was easier to read than the other.
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: canopyboy on November 11, 2018, 07:12:36 AM
... I just happen to have a ruler with metric on one side and it was easier to read than the other.

 :laughing:
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: monterey on November 11, 2018, 02:24:59 PM
... I just happen to have a ruler with metric on one side and it was easier to read than the other.

 :laughing:

X2   :)
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: monterey on November 11, 2018, 02:28:55 PM
Looked up the Dowel-it 2500 and it looks identical to the Rockler 1000.  Wonder if it's the same product re branded?
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Crooked Stic on November 11, 2018, 08:08:33 PM
The self center ones you can get by with. They are not perfect. A jig with a block mounted on a flat machined plate is better. Drill the riser from one side and the limb from the other. Having the same side down on both limb and riser. Width of both needs to be the same also.
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: bjansen on November 11, 2018, 08:14:26 PM
I agree with Crooked Stick!  That’s the simple set up which works best - also why they are easy to make.
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: monterey on November 11, 2018, 08:36:51 PM
Could you post a picture of it?
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: bjansen on November 11, 2018, 09:21:42 PM
https://imgur.com/a/h3fIesz
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 12, 2018, 05:11:54 AM
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Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Crooked Stic on November 12, 2018, 07:44:58 AM
Roy your drill looks kinda wimpy-------------other than that I think you got it figured out   :shaka:
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 12, 2018, 07:49:42 AM
LOL, that's Mr. Jansen's design.

I just made it easier to see.

The drill, Kenny sent me his old one:)
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: skeaterbait on November 12, 2018, 08:25:32 AM
... I just happen to have a ruler with metric on one side and it was easier to read than the other.

 :laughing:

X2   :)

Oh sure, pick on the old blind guy....
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: skeaterbait on November 12, 2018, 08:35:25 AM
Looked up the Dowel-it 2500 and it looks identical to the Rockler 1000.  Wonder if it's the same product re branded?

It's hard to tell from the pics but all the jigs I looked at in person only had two of the four holes threaded for inserts, except the Dowel-It 2500 which threaded all four. The spacing of the holes are such that the distance between every other hole is right at 2". So for one set I can put inserts for the riser and the other set for the limbs. Just need to mark them so you remember which set you are using.

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Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 12, 2018, 09:10:37 AM
So in other words they are all 1 inch apart?
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: skeaterbait on November 12, 2018, 09:19:06 AM
Not exactly, there is another hole in the middle of the four that has to do with the mechanics so my drawing is not too scale.

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Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 12, 2018, 09:24:09 AM
Ah false information?

 :laughing:
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: skeaterbait on November 12, 2018, 09:26:05 AM
Ah false information?

 :laughing:

Naw, just a horrible draftsman.
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Crittergetter on November 12, 2018, 12:09:42 PM
Skeater, I have used that same jig. It works “ok” but you need to make sure your limbs and riser as parallel as possible! You will also have to draw a center line on the limbs before you mount them to verify they are mounted straight. I’ve also had to swap them top and bottom before to get them lined back up.
It’s not perfect but it’ll work with some patience.
I am in the process of having a new jig machined and mounted to a machined surface to expedite the process.
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: skeaterbait on November 12, 2018, 12:53:32 PM
Skeater, I have used that same jig. It works “ok” but you need to make sure your limbs and riser as parallel as possible! You will also have to draw a center line on the limbs before you mount them to verify they are mounted straight. I’ve also had to swap them top and bottom before to get them lined back up.
It’s not perfect but it’ll work with some patience.
I am in the process of having a new jig machined and mounted to a machined surface to expedite the process.

I's broke folk, the jig is as machined as I can afford LOL
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Crooked Stic on November 13, 2018, 04:30:38 PM
This jig was setup to drill riser and limb together or separate. Now I drill the riser from one side and the limb from the other. Keeping same side down as to how the limb will mount. Critical thing is riser and limb be exact same width. I had these holes machined so I can flip the block. Longbow one side and curve the other side. I hve drill bushings for insert and limb bolt holes.

(https://i.imgur.com/OdgNYQQ.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/3VPJbLa.jpg)

(https://i.imgur.com/LFcasxb.jpg)
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: skeaterbait on November 14, 2018, 08:07:52 AM
I like that setup but I haven't built enough bows to get my width consistent so the self centering caters to my inabilities.
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 14, 2018, 08:18:57 AM
I built this one last night, should otta work well:)

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Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Crooked Stic on November 14, 2018, 08:27:39 AM
Here you go skeater Can put the riser on here to. I dont know Roy looks like a Kenny M tool to me.

(https://i.imgur.com/g9SwjC4.jpg)
(https://i.imgur.com/wPmS9Fd.jpg)
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 14, 2018, 08:30:23 AM
Yup, the ole timer from Mo sent me the plans...
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Buemaker on November 14, 2018, 08:35:37 AM
Roy, can it take as large as a 5/16 inch bit. :laughing:
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 14, 2018, 09:03:10 AM
Yupper:)
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: skeaterbait on November 14, 2018, 09:04:41 AM
I dunno Roy, I just don't see how them wheels are going to get to the ground to make it roll.
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Roy from Pa on November 14, 2018, 09:13:31 AM
Ah come on skeater..

I slide the riser underneath it...
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Tim Finley on November 16, 2018, 08:01:53 PM
I had mine made at a machine shop about 30 years ago and still use it . Its a piece of steel one inch thick with hardened steel inserts that are drilled for my holes . It sets on its side clamped to my table saw, its very precise .
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Crooked Stic on November 17, 2018, 10:01:55 AM
Good idea with the tablesaw. It would be easy to drill some mounting holes and drill and tap your saw bed and do away with the clamps.
Title: Re: Which Drilling Jig?
Post by: Tim Finley on November 18, 2018, 08:08:49 PM
Its basically what you have only one piece of steel I just flip it around for the top or bottom limb and handle keeping the same side down .