problems drilling axle holes

todd venoy

Pinewood Ninja
Pro Racer
Nov 11, 2017
31
4
8
51
having problems drilling my axle holes the sme on both sides i am using the block to drill them setting everything up by the video and still one hole is always off any help would be appreciated
 
having problems drilling my axle holes the sme on both sides i am using the block to drill them setting everything up by the video and still one hole is always off any help would be appreciated

What type of wood? How tight is the grain? Does your block fit tight/snug in the jig? Are you clamping the block before drilling and not releasing it until both side are drilled? Is the same side always off the same way? The same amount?

Also, how are you testing the drill?

Answering these questions should help to more closely identify what the issue may be. Pictures of how far it is off using 1-2-3 blocks would also help.

Upon edit: After reading DD4H 'S response I went back and read your original message. My BAD, I thought you were using a SB Pro. I see you are using the Silver Bullet (block). I saw a video some place where he showed what he described below. He basically made a quick jig so that he could always reference the same distance to drill from the back of the car on each side. It was a SLICK idea!
 
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Get a drill jig. You life will be so much better and you will not kill so many trees!!!! I never got a great drill job using the silver bullet no matter how hard I tried.
 
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Is that the one made out of wood on YouTube
A drill jig would look like this:

http://derbydad4hire.com/The-Silver-Bullet-PRO-T-SBPRO.htm

The wood jig in the youTube video was probably to index the Silver Bullet in the drill press? Not sure which video you saw, though.

If your drill press table is cupped you can get some wonky drills using a tool like The Block or Silver Bullet. If the same hole was off every time I would suspect that the table was not flat and high on one side.
 
Does anyone have the link to the video mentioned in this thread? Interested is seeing the spacer John used in it?
 
I continue to struggle with alignment. One thing I’d add to this discussion is that your block of wood that registers against the block ( or SBE ) needs to be flat. Planers and drum sanders might be useful here. Consider this - if you clamp a ( very slightly ) warped or twisted 1/4 inch plank onto your block and then carefully drill it, will that result in good alignment?