"Doc" wrote in message
ink.net...
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.


My ears are burning....

"Absolute" DOES NOT work in machining. There is _always_ a tolerance. Sorry
for being obnoxious but when you start to get paid to do this work,
tolerances are not a factor - they are life.

What is your application? Do you need your hole to be straight as well?

Others have given good advice. Do you have a combination square with a
"center head"? These are specifically used to draw a line on the flat face
of a cylinder which intersects the center of that cylinder (the line is a
"diameter"). Drawing two such lines (three may be better if your stock is
uneven about its diameter) will give you the center of your part.

Simply center punch (you may want to use a prick punch first), center-drill,
pilot drill (if final diameter exceeds roughly 1/4"), drill, then ream if
necessary.

While this will give you the location of the *top* of your hole, anything
below the surface is a crap shoot and is severely dependant upon your
knowledge and skill of setting up your part correctly, using appropriate
tools and using good technique for drilling.

HTH.

Regards,

Robin