Doc wrote:

Looking for any tips/tricks for drilling a hole w/a drill press that's as
close to dead-center to a specified point as possible.

Here's what I've been doing - I have the position marked with graph paper
that's taped to the workpiece. With the help of a magnifying glass, I
painstakingly move the piece until the tip of the bit is aligned with the
conjoining lines. By aligning with the tip I mean I view the tip both from
the narrow or "pointy" persepective within the channel of the bit and then
turn it 90 deg and look at the the wider perspective, and view it from the
side and front to make sure I have it aligned with both the X and Y axis.
When I finally get it so the tip is as centered as I can make it whichever
way the bit is turned and in relation to both axis, I clamp the piece to the
plate of the drill press and drill the hole. However, on examination, the
hole comes out obviously not dead center in relation to the graph paper
lines.

I've also tried aliging it with the drill running, going visually by where
the "point" appears to be when the bit is spinning. I get somewhat better
results this way but wonder if there's a more precise and dependable way of
achieving a centered hole.

Thanks for any input.





You got to drill a center punched mark with a very small drill. Then
drill the hole larger with the next size or two up. Recheck the
locantion and if it is off, hit the top edge of the hole with a punch on
the side of the hole you want the hole to move to.



You could also drill the hole a 32th under size and then go through it
with the proper size end mill if your drillpress quill is stiff enough,
or drill another block with the finishe size and clamp that block in
place and use that to hold the endmill on center useing it as a guide
bushing.


John