Occasionally, I want to attach a faceplate to round stock. It's difficult to get it perfectly centered so I made a tool to achieve that. It's double ended, one end fits an ordinary face plate and the other end fits my Joyner jig. It works perfectly. Commercial ones are available, at least for normal faceplates, probably not though for a Joyner jig. I'm very happy with it.
Homemade Faceplate Centering Tool
- Thread starter KenB259
- Start date
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Mortalis
Member
How do you find center to drill your hole?
I find center with a compass swung from the OD to approx center from several different points around the OD. Then draw two lines perpendicular to each other through the found center. This allows me to line up my faceplate through the holes that align with the perpendicular lines. Insert mounting screws.
I have a piece of 1-1/4" dowel that I drilled a center hole in slightly smaller than a 8 penny nail. My spindle is 1-1/4 x 8 and the dowel fits into the faceplate. Cut the head off the nail and inserted into the drilled hole. Nail locates dimple made by awl. sort of the same idea as yours.
I find center with a compass swung from the OD to approx center from several different points around the OD. Then draw two lines perpendicular to each other through the found center. This allows me to line up my faceplate through the holes that align with the perpendicular lines. Insert mounting screws.
I have a piece of 1-1/4" dowel that I drilled a center hole in slightly smaller than a 8 penny nail. My spindle is 1-1/4 x 8 and the dowel fits into the faceplate. Cut the head off the nail and inserted into the drilled hole. Nail locates dimple made by awl. sort of the same idea as yours.
The center hole usually just needs to be close. The main use of my little tool is to allow me to drill the holes very accurately for the faceplate screws. I didn't explain that very well at all. I drill a center hole, place the face plate and jig on the round, use an appropriate transfer punch and tap it to locate one hole. Leave the located in place and screw in the one screw. Then I can use the transfer punch to locate the rest of the holes.
jttheclockman
Member
I have always used the tools that makes things round to my advantage. I make face plate jigs like that in fact I started a project that hopefully will pick up this winter again that I needed a couple face plates. Just chucked a board to a standard screw on faceplate and drilled holes to adhere the wood and then just spun it to size I needed. To drill center holes is easy while it is mounted. Now I can mount my object wood or project easily to the jig.
RichAldrich
Member
Nice jig!
Woodchipper
Member
Center it as best you can. Drill starter holes and turn to size.