Pillar Bedding

P

prarie_boy

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Will be pillar bedding my new boyds stock shortly and wondering what people are doing for drilling the holes as straight as possible? I don't have access to a mill but was thinking the Brownell's counter bore, vice and level may do the trick in a standard drill press.
 
If you've got a drill press then you're golden.

You just need to make up an upside down "U" shaped box from some scrap plywood so you can clamp the stock up so the upper lips on the sides of the action well sit level. Then drill down into the existing holes with the drill set to stop before it punches through so the counter bores on the bottom are left. The box will need solid sides but the upper parts are done in pieces so you can see through to where the holes for the pillars are to be drilled.

If you want a flat bottom hole you can custom grind a drill bit to suit. Just don't try to use it for the entire hole. And of course as with anything like this on wood drill first with a size that is 1/32 under then finish to size. And spin that puppy up to a really high RPM.

I'd say to just set the drill press vise aside. The jaws on any such vise are too short to provide the support and control you want. It's too easy for the stock to shift in the jaws. Especially with the padding you'd need. Build up the box I'm suggesting instead. It'll be far more stable and supportive plus it'll automatically be accurately level provided the lips of the stock are accurate. If needed add thin shims between the box and stock for fine tuning.
 
A hand drill is only as keen as the eye guiding it and the hand that steadies it. Since he's apparently got a drill press it would be foolish to not take advantage of it. The trick is finding a way to hold the stock in the correct alignment. Which is where that jig comes in.
 
When I 'pillar' 700's I prefer 1/2" material... well within the trigger guard width and I have a 33/64" drill...
 
Buy a piloted counter bore (KBC TOOLS). If possible leave the through holes 1/4 for registration and then ream them larger as a last step. This means in your case the pillar holes should be 1/4", good luck buying something like this at Brownells.
 
This will get it done pronto 1/2" counter bore and 5/16" pilot or whatever finished size you desire. :)

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http://www.kbctools.ca/default.aspx?page=item+detail&itemcode=1-166-025&catlist=15491 < this one has a 11/32" pilot measure your existing holes and drill to 11/32"Don't get too complicated

R
 
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I should have mentioned that the KBC counter bore should be the type with interchangeable pilots. The bit from Brownells is way over $100, a piloted counter bore is about $35 plus whatever pilots you need and they are easy to sharpen and cut well. It's what I use.
 
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