Cheap & Easy hole centering on tubing

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I needed to drill some holes in 3/4" tubing but they had to be centered, I had some grounding clamps laying around so I just pulled the screw and finished drilling thru the brass clamp then used it to center all my pilot holes on the tubing, worked great. Attached ImagesMiller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:I would just make a jig.If could I use drill press Dave  Originally Posted by bigbI needed to drill some holes in 3/4" tubing but they had to be centered, I had some grounding clamps laying around so I just pulled the screw and finished drilling thru the brass clamp then used it to center all my pilot holes on the tubing, worked great.
Reply:I like that!!While on the subject....................WTF do stinkin' drill vises have the half azzed fixed jaw that doesn't extend all the way down to the vise ways??  Any kind of thin plate slides under the damn jaw, and makes it a PITA to center the vise for repeated operations.  With a mill vise, you just shoot your center off the back fixed jaw, and you're good to go.One of these days, I need to mill a square spacer to place in front of the fixed jaw to close the gap.
Reply:I like it. Drilling pipe/tubing is always a problem because drill walks off top of pipe, even with center punch mark. Using a center drill works , but drillpress table has to be raised because center drill is shorter than twist drill . I’m thinking that in a drill press, you could just hold top of ground clamp on pipe and use it to start drill. Ground clamp trick (using both parts of clamp)would work well in thefield with portable drill.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:Great idea, never thought of it.
Reply:Good idea!IMPEACH BIDEN!NRA LIFE MEMBERUNITWELD 175 AMP 3 IN1 DCMIDSTATES 300 AMP AC MACHINEGOD HELP AMERICA!“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction.We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream".RONALD REAGAN
Reply:I guess you don't have a center finder. They work great for this and on any size pipe.
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammmI like that!!While on the subject....................WTF do stinkin' drill vises have the half azzed fixed jaw that doesn't extend all the way down to the vise ways??  Any kind of thin plate slides under the damn jaw, and makes it a PITA to center the vise for repeated operations.  With a mill vise, you just shoot your center off the back fixed jaw, and you're good to go.One of these days, I need to mill a square spacer to place in front of the fixed jaw to close the gap.
Reply:Originally Posted by BobI guess you don't have a center finder. They work great for this and on any size pipe.
Reply:I like the tool.  It appears to the tube in position for drilling.  Would probably do a fixture similar to that rather than using a center finder tool.  Center finder will mark the tdc, but not assure alignment if drilling through both sides.I have had a center finder tube for years.  Used it for the first time a couple weeks ago on a pipe rail job.  Awesome tool for aligning opposite ends and clocking miters and copes.Check..  Ebay and there are other brand available.  I have the curve-o-mark purchased new in box for cheap price.
Reply:I have a center finder that I bought at a flea market that's probably the best ever made. It's in a little metal box and can find any place on the pipe in single degrees. I just went out and looked, it's called Miracle Point. i just looked and I'll be danged if they don't still make it.https://www.penntoolco.com/miracle-p...7C%20%24349.95
Reply:Originally Posted by BobI have a center finder that I bought at a flea market that's probably the best ever made. It's in a little metal box and can find any place on the pipe in single degrees. I just went out and looked, it's called Miracle Point. i just looked and I'll be danged if they don't still make it.https://www.penntoolco.com/miracle-p...7C%20%24349.95
Reply:If drilling smallish round stock I just set a 6" scale ruler between the stock and the drill. If it balances out level it's pretty much dead on center.
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderNice.  Did you happen to check out the current price?
Reply:Originally Posted by CAVEMANNMiracle points are a great tool, they're also expensive, last time I checked it was around $400.00 IIRC. I just checked again & they run between $350.00 & $400.00 for the one like we were issued in the Machine shop. There are larger sizes that are more expensive.
Reply:tube grounding point and center finder all in one
Reply:I did and was stunned. I think I paid around $20 for the one I have. It is nice to use it though.
Reply:Found this for 60 bucks, used.  Knock-off brand. SPI 360 magnetic compass Attached Images