Double-Drilled Barrel Pin

[silky]

Evening,

One of my barrel lugs wound up having one-and-half drill holes through it, essentially one dead-center and the next high and to the right; it allowed up-down movement of the pin after I elongated it, so no good.  I think the drill bit wandered, as I had to drill from both sides with a centering set-up on my drill press.

The question: what's the best way to proceed?  I've already replaced the tennon, so my concern is drilling a new hole through the wood in close proximity to the existing one and winding up with something other than a tight, straight hole.  Should I drill the new hole closer to one end of the tennon so as to avoid the existing hole in the wood?

I have no problems about plugging the existing holes when it's time to finish this... fixing my mistakes is the one aspect of gun building I'm getting okay at!

Thanks!

- Tom

[Sidelock]

Anyone who has built more than one gun and says this hasn’t happened to them is probably shading the truth.  A couple ideas - if your design allows - plug the holes, get your pins in place then inlay a surround about the pins - these inlays will cover up the mistake.  Another option would be to replace the pins with wedges or keys - again the size of the key would probably obscure the error. 

[smallpatch]

Just lightly mark the hole with your bit, pull the barrel and drill through the lug. You can then slot it too.

[thecapgunkid]

My guess is that you're going to get a lot of good advice and options here, so be patient and don't do anything yet.

It sounds like you tried to drill through both wood and metal at the same time  If that is the case, with or without a drill press or jig, just mark the lug, pull the barrel, go through the metal, put it back and finish the hole.  I think it's the only way, and too many of the pro's advise that.


Me....I am just thanking the guild for all those wooden pegs I put soles and heels on shoes with....