Fox Valley Loco Detail Parts: HOW?!?!

[ednadolski]

I measured the FVM grabirons with my digital calipers- they have a diameter of 0.0095"/0.24mm.

A #87 (0.010") drill bit would give the most precise fit for that:

https://www.mscdirect.com/product/details/78522653
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_bit_sizes

That's significantly smaller than a #80 (0.0135") bit; using the #80 would have the grabirons 'swimming' in the hole somewhat.  But as you get to the smaller sizes, it often becomes a question of how accurately one can locate the hole. That being said, I'm not much of a fan of drilling jigs.  I think it's hard to find one that fits a given model precisely enough, and then there is the matter of accurately positioning the jig and keeping it there while drilling every hole.   Some holes are practically impossible to position a jig at all, e.g. around numberboards or in tight places.  The jig is probably made for a #80 bit which is too large anyways; I also think that drilling jigs make it easier to break bits.   If you learn to work without a jig then you will have much more freedom and flexibility.   (Again, just my bias preference, I'm sure there are ways to use them successfully.)

Ed

[MK]

Nice, tho I prefer something where I can put the pointy/sharp end facing down:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y3P5B5V/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Ed

If the pointy ends are facing down, how do you know what you're grabbing?  It'll be trial and error trying to grab the right one, no?

[Steveruger45]

If the pointy ends are facing down, how do you know what you're grabbing?  It'll be trial and error trying to grab the right one, no?

Color coded handles, perhaps.

[peteski]

Peteski,
Where did you get that block holding your tweezers? Been looking for one of those!

Mark

Hey Mark, I made it myself few years back.  I bought a piece of 1x3 poplar at Home Depot, cut couple of pieces, and glued them together to make it wider.   To make the nests for tweezers, I mounted the wooden block in a machinist's vise  mounted to a Micro-Mark X-Y table which was mounted in a drill press. I then used router bit to make the holes.  For the deep cuts I used a Roto-Zip 1/8" cutter bit.  Then few coats of Minwax semigloss urethane provided a nice finish.

I made a similar holder for my hobby lubricants. This one was easier since the holes were round.

Nice, tho I prefer something where I can put the pointy/sharp end facing down:

I specifically made it to have the tips pointing up. Otherwise I could not tell what tweezers I want to take out (as you can see there are many different types of tips).

[Hatchet]

Thanks for the detailed explanation.now to see what I can,anage!

Mark

[Steveruger45]

Hey Mark, I made it myself few years back.  I bought a piece of 1x3 poplar at Home Depot, cut couple of pieces, and glued them together to make it wider.   To make the nests for tweezers, I mounted the wooden block in a machinist's vise  mounted to a Micro-Mark X-Y table which was mounted in a drill press. I then used router bit to make the holes.  For the deep cuts I used a Roto-Zip 1/8" cutter bit.  Then few coats of Minwax semigloss urethane provided a nice finish.

I made a similar holder for my hobby lubricants. This one was easier since the holes were round.





I specifically made it to have the tips pointing up. Otherwise I could not tell what tweezers I want to take out (as you can see there are many different types of tips).

Ah ha.  I was going to ask where you got the square/rectangular drill bits from.  😁

[davefoxx]

Ah ha.  I was going to ask where you got the square/rectangular drill bits from.  😁

Norm Abram taught me how to drill a square hole.  Use something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Highmoor-Woodworking-Mortise-Mortising-Countersink/dp/B07QNN5SDT/ref=sr_1_20_sspa?crid=2E77W9TRU3H2M&keywords=square+drill+bit&qid=1575193656&sprefix=square+drill%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-20-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTU9YQVBXTUY1WU5GJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjI3MTAxUzVPRDBNQ1lITkU0JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5MDkzODgxRllTU01OSVA0QUM0JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

DFF

[ednadolski]

Norm Abram taught me how to drill a square hole.

<Caution: Classic TRW Thread Drift Alert!>

Normie was always the canonical gadget guy.   What's he been up to lately?

Ed

[Missaberoad]

Norm Abram taught me how to drill a square hole.  Use something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/Highmoor-Woodworking-Mortise-Mortising-Countersink/dp/B07QNN5SDT/ref=sr_1_20_sspa?crid=2E77W9TRU3H2M&keywords=square+drill+bit&qid=1575193656&sprefix=square+drill%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-20-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTU9YQVBXTUY1WU5GJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjI3MTAxUzVPRDBNQ1lITkU0JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5MDkzODgxRllTU01OSVA0QUM0JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

DFF

Those bits also require a special attachment for the drill press to hold the chisel. Also I'm not sure they are universal to all drill presses...
They do work pretty slick tho...

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/american-woodworker-blog/mortising-drill-press/

[peteski]

Those bits also require a special attachment for the drill press to hold the chisel. Also I'm not sure they are universal to all drill presses...
They do work pretty slick tho...

https://www.popularwoodworking.com/american-woodworker-blog/mortising-drill-press/

The rectangular holes in my tweezers holder are stepped.  In the bottom of the larger hole is a narrower hole centered in the bigger one. This is to keep the tweezers standing upright (so they do not lean to either side).