Knock on wood Neubert! It was a bad day for me yesterday!
![:bang:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/BangHead.gif)
I should say dumb day.
![:bang:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/BangHead.gif)
I spent a lot of the day making up a plug gauge out of aluminum. Spoiled the first attempt a couple hours into it. And started on a second. This plug was intended to, on one face, mimic the spindle flange, register, and bolt hole pattern, and on the other face, mimic the receiving end of any chuck, faceplate, etc.
To find the proper hole locations I placed the receiving face on the spindle flange, and transfer punched the hole pattern onto my new plug gauge. Then step drilled it to match.
When finished, I planned to turn it around and place the plug into the recess side of the faceplate, transfer the hole locations, and then drill and tap bolt holes on the faceplate to exactly fit the spindle. That was the idea, anyway.
When after the second try, I had my plug, all step drilled, and even stamped to indicate the three hole pattern and the four hole pattern holes, I felt it was time well spent. It was getting to be evening, and I figured I could now easily complete the faceplate attachment and mount it on the lathe. Uhhhh........no.
![:wack:](https://madmodder.net/Smileys/default/Just_Cuz_15.gif)
Almost evening, and I'd left my glasses in the house. No problem I could see the transfer punch marks on the faceplate well enough, couldn't I, and heck, the 1/16" starter drill I was using fit well into those punches (which I'd even filed the burrs of of). It will find its center in the divot even if I'm off.
I drilled the three hole pattern with the first drill, then followed with a 1/8" spotting drill, and ..... and ..... and.... wait a minute. One of those three enlarged holes now looks awfully close to the register bore. That's not the same as the others...........whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
No, man, you do need glasses. Freakin dummy!
Well, guess you're going to have to drill the 4 bolt pattern instead, and just re-use one of the good holes.
So I start on that, I've got my glasses after a trip to the house, I've punched more locations and I've got two of those holes done with the 1/16th" drill, working on the third and last when it starts making an odd clicking sound -- maybe I better do another peck, been drilling this one too long and it's jamming up, I bet -- I go to lift it and bit snaps off clean in the hole. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
Man why didn't you drip some cutting oil on that spot first???????!!! -- the can is sitting not 6 inches from the drill press. What a mokohead!!!!!
Okay, now what? Shift the whole thing and start again? That really frosts me! I've made a mes of it.
Just stop what you're doing and call it quits for the day. Let it go before you wreck something else. Sleep on it and start again tomorrow.
The plug gauge:
![](http://www.sredmond.com/vtsteam/Lathe/PlugGauge1.jpg)
![](http://www.sredmond.com/vtsteam/Lathe/PlugGauge2.jpg)