Tang bolt counter sink

[T*O*F]

The counter bore method that Dave describes above is almost overwhelmingly used on European work, at least I should say pretty much everything I've taken apart.  Barrel tangs and often sideplates and buttplates too.

I was introduced to this back when I first started building Alex Henry rifles.  All of the screws are counterbored.  Initially, I used the standard set of drills that I mentioned in my other posting. 



However, I kept getting a ring around the edge of the screw.  After much head-scratching and searching, I discovered that the English wood screws had 60 degree heads instead of the standard American taper.  Thus, I had to purchase a set of 60's to complete the rifles.  By their design, these screws require countersinking, then reducing the head and cutting the screw slot for proper clocking.

[flehto]

When I was toolmaking never had chatter when ctsking......and used many different brands of ctsks....they all worked because the work piece was clamped tight, was stable and  the spindle speed was very slow. Seeing plain dome headed screws work so well,  I just ctsk and install the screws. The variety of ctsks I used many years ago, are still being used w/o chattering. Another factor that eliminates chatter is a substantial drill press spindle dia. and tight spindle bearings. The worst for chattering would be to use a hand held electric drill.....Fred