Make Center Drilling of a Rod Easy

I often use a short piece of 3/8 inch rod as a collar to make a stop end for a 3/16 inch axle in my projects. I have too much difficulty drilling a centered hole in the 3/8 inch rod. I made an accessory for keeping a hole centered without difficulty.

Materials

• 3/4 inch rod

Tools

• Vise
• Drill press
• Drills
• Drill press vise
• Grinder with cutting wheel
• Grinder a stone wheel

I cut a piece of 3/4 inch rod about an inch long. It came from a piece of exercise equipment I found on the curb waiting for garbage pickup. I tried to cut it as squarely as possible. I ground rough edges away after cutting.

I put the 3/4 inch rod into a drill press vise and centered a pilot hole as best I could. Although it appeared my hole would be centered, it drifted a little. I drilled a 3/8 inch hole half the length of the 3/4 inch rod.

The beveled center at the bottom of the 3/8 inch hole automatically centers a 3/16 inch drill. I drilled through the rest of the length of the 3/4 inch rod with the 3/16 inch drill.

Place the accessory on the end of a 3/8 inch rod.

Put a 3/16 inch drill into an electric drill. Put a few drops of oil into the 3/16 inch hole and begin drilling. All that is necessary is to get a good start on a hole, the remainder of the hole can be drilled by hand without the accessory.

Saw a short section from the end of the 3/8 inch rod. Slip it onto the end of a piece of 3/16 inch rod and weld the collar in place.