Can you help me ? My hole is crooked ...
 

Was asked this question... Its about dealing with drilling after a plug is turned .. for those of you that have gone to the bright side of "Hydro Orientation " ,, This is how I do it ... 1 st turn your shape..

#2 turn another one just like it (duplicator?) and rip it in half .. I use a V block on the bandsaw...

#3 hold rip half way on scarp wood and trace with a pencil

I marked it with a big fat sharpie so you could see it .. Go cut that out on the bandsaw... notice lines ... i marked other things like belly hole ,, weight hole ,, slope ...will use that later ...

Now that gives you a nice bed to sit the plug on the drill press so the holes will be vertical in your hydro orientated plug .. I also use these (i'll call them plug blocks) to hold against my piece on the lathe ..making sure I'm not over sanding and keeping a uniform shape.. at very end I use it to make all my marks for belly hole .. weight hole,, eyes ,, top of slope .. I'm not saying all plugs have to be hydro orientated.. like needles or heavy belly weighted plugs... Fat plugs no belly weight Nike is a big yes ... jointed unweighted .. YES,,,darters.YES.... Only thing I haven't been able to do is handcarve..

All done ..

Thank-you, thankyou!!

Good thread Tagger!

Tagger, why not turn the blank a little longer and use the square ends to hold it on the drill press???


Am i missing something?

Nebe, you clearly don't know a thing about hydro orientation :doh: :hihi:

-spence

sorry Eben ... makes no sense unless your familar with Hydro Orientation post ... I made up that word so it would sound hard but its basicly turning the blank and floating it in a bucket of water to find out how the wood wants to float.. which side is up ? Try it .. There is an up and not always predictable and varies in every piece to very mild to very strong.. I used to just wing it and drill all my holes square .. May the force be with you and your plugs ..

ooooohhhhhhhhh :btu:

Excellant thread Eddie :btu:
thanks for posting it.

Thanks Tagger, your always makin things easier. :hihi: :kewl:
HYDROIN-- always worth the extra effort. :)

:thanks: :kewl:

very cool but it looks like a lot of work... I'm too lazy.

What about the jig boxes I think capesam posted a few years ago. It basically has a screw in one end and nail that goes thru a block of wood at the same height on the other. Thats how I do my plugs that don't have lips.

Couldn't you jsut put the plug on the screw belly side up and drill? Maybe i'm missing something.

Very good thread, thank you.. :claps:

Great info, one question however;
When you rip the plug in half using the Vblock, how do you do it without riping the Vblock in half as well?

I assume this is an ISO 9001 procedure ;)

Thanks Ed for answering my question.

GO TAGGERMAN :buds:
VB

Bill,,,I ripped some pine 45 degrees on the table saw and glued and screwed it to the plywood..I clamp that in place on the bandsaw table centered on the blade... push whatever I want to split through.. falls off other side .. I also have an off center placement on this board I set up to do lips on round stock ..

Diggin jiggin .. This is just one part.. I have a series of jigs to make certain plugs . Like I said I use this block for 3 things ,,1.check my piece on the lathe to keep some kinda uniform shape.. 2. all my placements for belly hole ,weight,top of slope ,eyes, easy transfer ,, no measuring .. no thinking 3. to drill a perfect 90 degree hole in bottom of plug that may or may not be important to you ,,if you make jigs it will be .. Yes I remember CS post .. on darter block this past year.. how do you think I had been doing it year before..As far as being lazy ..jigs are all about being lazy ... Alot of work yea .. but one time and all the figuring is done.. I may spend a long day making a series of jiggs to make a difficult plug and if the plug isn't quite right (Nike) I smash all the jiggs with a hammer.. Second (another whole day) attempt was perfect and now its alot easier forever building that plug .. Plus I've gotten better making jiggs .. I'd show ya ,,but can't give it all away ..

Hey Bill ... This guy a friend of yours ????

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8SXZRUmlWdk

If I'm the Bill you're talking to; Hell no! He aint no friend of mine. Well unless he's loosin to the Sox...:vamp:

Hey Ed, pretty cool idea with that Vblock. I have a saw like that one. I made a larger table with cabinet grade ply ...:uhuh: I have a vblock made like that but you know me, I'm not too bright! I did'n think to harness it down :confused:

Thanks Eddy see you at PFRI06

Still don't get it? The V-jig thing that is, can u do a close up pic Ed?

I just threw it on the table... I clamp it in place when I use it.. U can use to for drill press too ... dowels ..

So, the V-block stays there and you push the plug thru it.
I get it now. Thanx

Eddie when your pushin a danny or surfster thru the block to do the lip how are you holdin the uneven plug to prevent the chatter.:huh:
Thanks.

Tagger, looks great. That would make one hell of a squid bait if you leave it like that and put eyes on the rear. :uhuh:

sorry,,have slotted dowels,, hydro orien presents new problems from working with square stock.. probably make a jig for that ,,holds plug on its side,,,start with prophile block like above.

Thanks, prolly right Tagger, i use a scroll saw to cut my lips, which is fine for square, but turned pieces chatter hitting the top fence and denting the red ceda. :( Band saw being more powerful would be a better option too i guess.

Dave I have a schroll saw covered in dust from my band saw.. Thing is too jerky for me ... Bandsaw in smooth ..

Cool stuff Eddie :kewl: Always interesting to see how others accomplish the same tasks. Plenty of ways to hydro-orient a plug :grins:

Guys, spend some time thinking up jigs that would help you keep things lined up and consistant. Will save plenty of time in the long run and help you make a better plug :uhuh:

Dave, if you reread an old email that I sent with a few photos, you question will be answered :smash: :rotf2:

Jigman

I told ya Jigster, i can remember 30 yrs ago, but don't ask me about yesterday. :doh:

I'll send smoke signals next time, maybe it will help jog the memory :usd:

Jigman