I have a plate to mount but it has .350 dia thru hole  with 82 deg countersink.  Supposedly for #12 or #14 screws but no vix bit for that size hole is available.

So how to accurately find the center of the hole?

The #12 screws fit but are recessed below the surface of the plate which is desired.

Note even sure if #14 screws exist maybe it is then measured as 3/16 or 5/16 or just what is the next size up.

Any ideas on how to find the exact center of the holes?

There are 6 of them in the plate and I am to make sure the plate is parallel to the bench.

but any little 1/64" off center and it does not work.

Any and all help appreciated.

 

Could you turn a round, pointed piece that would match the 82° angle. Put some pencil graphite on the tip and use it as a marker?

No lathe and no pencil greater than the .350 hole.  

dowl in drill press with a file/sandpapre to shape

40 minutes ago, lew said:

dowl in drill press with a file/sandpapre to shape

I could use the plate and one hole to shape the dowel.

CS side up but then how am I shure which i round off the tip that I centered it.  I would guess the spinning action of the DP may work just not as precise as I would like but I will try it and let you know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5 minutes ago, Michael Thuman said:

I could use the plate and one hole to shape the dowel.

CS side up but then how am I shure which i round off the tip that I centered it.  I would guess the spinning action of the DP may work just not as precise as I would like but I will try it and let you know.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Picture? maybe I'm not following what you are trying to do.

Would one of THESE work? Stanley used to make a similar version. I have one of those.

Well, there is this....better hurry, only 2 left in stock. They will probably still be there though at that price.

.350" hole might be pretty close to the OD of my routers template guide I use for 1/4" shelf pins.  If it were the correct size a veining bit in the router with a plunge base would be spot on. 

Or, our local Ace carries a pretty good selection of nylon sleeves/bushings that a caliper might find one with a .35 OD, or if it was slightly larger could be chucked up in the drill press and sanded down.  Giving you an ID that would work with a pencil or other tool on hand.

How many holes do you have to drill, and in what material?

See if a socket from a 1/4" drive socket set might fit the hole and go through the center of it.

Find a small washer.  If it fits anywhere on the taper you should be able to center it on the taper.  Once it is centered drop a piece of clear tape over it to hold it in place while you use it.

14 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Would one of THESE work? Stanley used to make a similar version. I have one of those.

Material  Plastic

SERIOUSLY?????

Edited January 10, 20242 yr by HARO50

1 hour ago, HARO50 said:

Material  Plastic

SERIOUSLY?????

Can't believe everything on the internet. Abraham Lincoln 

 

GENERAL TOOLS AUTOMATIC CENTER PUNCH

Well, crap. I have (had) one of those punches Dave linked. I was looking for it to measure the diameter of the barrel. I know I put it back exactly where I could find it the next time I needed it....and it wasn't there. I'm still looking.

Edited January 10, 20242 yr by Fred W. Hargis Jr

2 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Well, crap. I have (had) one of those punches Dave linked. I was looking for it to measure the diameter of the barrel. I know I put it back exactly where I could find it the next time I needed it....and it wasn't there. I'm still looking.

Have you looked in the last place yet? It's probably there.

11 minutes ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Well, crap. I have (had) one of those punches Dave linked. I was looking for it to measure the diameter of the barrel. I know I put it back exactly where I could find it the next time I needed it....and it wasn't there. I'm still looking.

I have two of them (one Stanley; one General) and I can go locate them now; in a little red plastic box with my old school nail sets. The sad thing, I never remember I have them when I actually could use them or when I read this thread. I'll be digging through my tool box "wonder what's in this little red box? Oh yeah, I could have used that when...." 

Edited January 10, 20242 yr by Grandpadave52

2 hours ago, Grandpadave52 said:

Can't believe everything on the internet. Abraham Lincoln 

 

GENERAL TOOLS AUTOMATIC CENTER PUNCH

Oops wrong tool. I meant THIS

2 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Well, crap. I have (had) one of those punches Dave linked.

 

I have one too.  My mind says I know where it is so I'll look later.  Seems to me it is the same size as the Vix Bits.

3 hours ago, Fred W. Hargis Jr said:

Well, crap. I have (had) one of those punches Dave linked. I was looking for it to measure the diameter of the barrel. I know I put it back exactly where I could find it the next time I needed it....and it wasn't there. I'm still looking.

Well, waddaya know! Mine was in the first place I looked. That don't happen often! Anyway, the tip on mine is just a hair over 1/4". Hope that helps.

3 hours ago, HARO50 said:

Anyway, the tip on mine is just a hair over 1/4". Hope that helps.

 

Mine too.  Same as the Vix Bits.