Drilling out gun barrels

[Smudge]

Hi, In the drilling out of gun barrels exhausts etc, does anyone know of a method of getting the drill to start dead center. A trick of the trade that works first time every time. Cheers Smudge.

[Deleted]

Hold a needle in tweezers and heat it, position it dead centre into the part you want to drill, this will make a pilot hole. Start your drilling nice and slowly.

[Smudge]

Thanks for the reply Nick . Have used the needle trick before, my problem was 'wait for it' did'nt get the needle dead centre and the drill followed likewise. Should have gone to Specsavers. Thanks and cheers, Kev.

[peebeep]

I use the tip of a pointy blade to set the centre mark. If you're slightly off you can still make an adjustment by wiggling the blade about.

peebeep

[Smudge]

Cheers Peebeep will give it a go.

[Loiner]

Definately agree with peebeep's method, ensure the tip of gun barrel is squared off flat, then using a very sharp tip, carefully touch the tip to the centre and when happy it is in the dead centre start to lightly turn the tip of the blade to create a tiny pilot hole on the barrel centreline, then start using the drill gently at first it will centre nicely on the pilot hole.

If experimenting with the hot needle method, be careful as it can melt out the side of the gun barrel, I was caught out by this and so don't use that method.

[NoelSmith]

You can make a circular drill jig from bits of plastic tubing. Find a piece that has an inside diameter that will slip snugly around the outside of the gun barrel you wish to drill. Then cut some shorter bits of smaller diameter tube(s) about a quarter of the length of the outside piece that will slide into the outside one until you have reduced the inside diameter to that of the drill you will be using. Stick these together with a little liquid cement all at one end and allow to set and dry before attempting to use it. You should now have an outer tube that will slip over the gun barrel with an inner smaller hole at the opposite end that is concentric to run your drill through. By the time you have done this if the smaller hole happens to be too small, just run your drill through it as it should follow the bore.