Centre finder for bars

[vintagengineerParticipant @vintagengineer]

I made one of these first when I was an apprentice. They are really useful if you need to mark multiple holes in a straight piece of bar.

[vintagengineerParticipant @vintagengineer]

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

I would dig out my odd leg scriber if the dro was not available on the mill.

[Allan BParticipant @allanb]

nice little apprentice piece is it held together by bolts or rivited?

[vintagengineerParticipant @vintagengineer]

Bolts with loctite to allow minimal clearance. And it's quicker than odd leg caliper.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

it's quicker than odd leg caliper.

Time is not generally a limiting factor these days. Rough and ready is a couple of pencil marks, one from each side, at each end – like a chippy makes – and scribe a line midway between the two pairs along the length. Close enough for gate hinges. Otherwise, on the mill if accuracy is needed.

But there, I'm vintage but not an engineer

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Brilliant in its simplicity. Thanks for the idea. Is the hole in the middle made to accept a centrepunch or is it for scribing a small circle?

[vintagengineerParticipant @vintagengineer]

I have made several of these for different jobs. I tend make the hole suit a transfer punch.

Posted by Hopper on 11/01/2017 06:50:33:

Brilliant in its simplicity. Thanks for the idea. Is the hole in the middle made to accept a centrepunch or is it for scribing a small circle?

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Posted by not done it yet on 10/01/2017 19:32:49:

I would dig out my odd leg scriber if the dro was not available on the mill.

If the tool is made accurately when closed on the strip the hole for drilling or marking through will always be on the centre line of the strip, no further measuring needed. Far simpler than setting up an odd-leg but I guess we all have our preferred methods.

Emgee

[Carl Wilson 4Participant @carlwilson4]

That is ingenious. We had similar for aircraft work. You are truly an engineer by Nevil Shute’s definition:- “An engineer is a man who can do for five bob what any bloody fool can do for a quid…”

[Carl Wilson 4Participant @carlwilson4]

From Trustee from the Toolroom. If you haven’t read it then do, you’ll enjoy it.

[Nick HulmeParticipant @nickhulme30114]

A Wolf dowel jointing attachment I bought many years ago came with a much simpler centre drilling jig.

A flat bar with 3 equally spaced holes, the outer 2 have pins, the centre one has a hole for drill guides, rotate the bar to bring the pins firmly in contact with the work and the centre hole is on centre, like this –

http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/images/5/54/EdgeDrillingJigUse.png

K.I.S.S.

– Nick

Edited By Nick Hulme on 12/01/2017 09:16:03

[EmgeeParticipant @emgee]

Hi Nick

The dowel jig does what it says as you are unlikely to want a dowel hole too close to the end of a chipboard shelf or end panel.

The metal jig shown earlier allows the hole to be drilled or marked at the very end of the bar.

Emgee

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