Today in the shop (round bar center finder)

[reible]

I had to put an order in to Amazon anyway so I figured why not get one of these to play with. I was thinking of spending more for one but then this was cheap enough that if I don't like it not so much will be lost.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000D ... ge_o00_s00

Since there were other things order the shipping was "free" and thus $7.19 price is all I paid.

Using it is pretty simple. You chuck it in the drill press and then align the center finder so it is perpendicular to the work piece and lower it on to the part. Then move the the part so the pointer lines up the the mark on the shaft and you have found the center.

Below are a few pictures so you know it happened.

First we have the old way, visual location so to speak.

IMG_1052sc.jpg (99.72 KiB) Viewed 2013 times

In this case it isn't lined up very well so you move it just a bit this way or that way and look again.

IMG_1053sc.jpg (108.45 KiB) Viewed 2013 times

That is pretty promising, in real life anyway but the picture makes it look father off then it is.

Well now comes the tool, mount it in the chuck and watch the pointer and the line as you lower the arms over the dowel.

IMG_1054scm.jpg (95.03 KiB) Viewed 2013 times

Hard to see here but it wasn't line up perfectly so I would have to tweak it slightly until it did line up and then I could go back to the drill bit and drill the hole. Note the fence is now locked so any hole drilled in this dowel is centered.

So this is how it should work and as you can see it is a pretty simple tool.

Ed

[everettdavis]

PEC Tools Rod Dowel Round Workpiece Center Finder I have seen sold for twice that or more, so that is a good buy, and they do work well.

Everett