Do you need a perfectly centered and straight hole in the end of a solid rod?

I did. I wanted a 10-32 threaded hole for mounting a cleaning jag on a quarter-inch brass ramrod. I don't have a lathe, so here's how I did it with a simple cordless drill.

THIS EXAMPLE IS FOR A 1/4" ROD. The system will work for any diameter rod so long as you correctly match the inside and outside diameters of the components used.








One thing you must do - fully withdraw the drill bit after every 1/4" of drilling to clear chips. Do the same with the tap. Also, if you use a threaded aluminum spacer the drill bit won't quite fit into it. You will need to put it in the vice and run the drill bit through it before drilling the rod. (Other size spacers, such as those for 8-36 or 6-40 screws, can be drilled through with the #21 bit and used if a 10-32 spacer is not available. Most hardware stores have an assortment of aluminum spacers.)


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Yes i like it, yes i do.

This is an older post, but I found it when I was looking for answers to the same question and then I found this:
http://vik-olliver.blogspot.com/2010...wn-middle.html

It works really well for me! I was making airgun valve components from ptfe and delrin rod and couldn't make centered straight holes with my drill press. Can now.

I do not know why this wouldn't work on ramrod fixtures. I'm going to try.
Wallypedal

The method in the link you provided will only work for short sections of rod wallypedal. And it works really well for that. But in no way could you do that with a muzzleloader ramrod or range rod.

I wanted a threaded hole in the end of a 32" brass rod.

Semisane - you're so right! I haven't seen the drill press that would work for ramrods. I was totally thinking about my own projects and didn't picture the task very well. I won't be able to sleep now until I figure out how to turn my drill press into a lathe, or come up with some other ramrod spinner I know I've read somewhere about lathe-type chucks, live centers, tool posts etc. all being adapted to drill presses. I don't want to do all that to drill just a couple straight holes.
The cool factor for me on the other guy's method is the self-centering tendency for the bit on the turning material. I've got a couple ideas, but your system is looking better all the time!
Wallypedal

wallypedal
My drill press has a milling table, and it is easy to use it to make a ram rod. I just lock the doll in the chuck and adjust the jaws of the vice on the milling table to hold it close to the chuck and drill one end, when taping I put the tap in the chuck and turn it by hand, I can do both ends in 10 minutes. I have made a lot of parts with out resorting to the lathe its a lot bigger nuisance to set up.

I know this is a old post but I sure could use those pictures. I am trying for the same thing a 10/32 tapped brass ramrod tapped on both ends.

Being that I couldn't see Semi's pics I clicked this link and wow - someone was thinking outside the box! Clever.