Drilling at 45 degrees on a round object

[kennygolub]

Hi:

I am going to make a small stand for coffee cups. I have everything planned out except I'm not sure what is the best way to drill the holes in the round center pole at an angle so that the pegs that hold the coffee mugs are angled upwards.

Thanks for any help !!!

[Nick]

You've said the stand is "small," Kenny, and I'm going to hope this also means "short." If that's the case, you can easily drill the holes on your Shopsmith with the table tilted.

Make yourself a V-jig to hold the round stock. I usually make these from a short scrap of 2x4 -- saw two angled slots in the face of the wood at 45 degrees so the slots meet and create a V-shaped recess running along the length of the board. Clamp this to the Shopsmith table parallel to and aligned with the axis of rotation of the quill. Set up the Shopsmith in the drill press mode, tilt the table to 45 degrees, affix a stop to the lower end of the V-jig to keep the posts from sliding down as you drill them, and you're in business.

With all good wishes,

[kennygolub]

Thanks Nick......that should do it.