Nautical Research Journal Tips & Techniques 281
2. Acrylic squaring block 1. Drill extension
Working in Tight Places By Steve Wheeler
Sometimes we are faced with having to do work in places that are too tight for normal tools. T at may be because we forgot to do something along the way or what we need to do is just in close quarters.
Here are a couple of shop-made tools that could help in these kinds of situations:
Drill extensions
T ere are always holes that have to be drilled in places where normal drill bits are either too short or where a pin vise just will not fi t. I have run into this problem more oſt en than I want to admit and here is my solution. (Figure 1) I simply glue the drill bit I need into a length of small diameter metal tubing. 5-Minute epoxy will do the job and, when it sets, wrap the end with masking tape to give yourself a better grip. Drilling a hole into the end of a small diameter dowel and gluing your drill bit into it with cyanoacrylate works well, too.
Squaring blocks
I have sometimes found that, when I have to make one element on a model square to another, none of the typical squares I have around (combination or
3. Solder contour gauge
machinist squares, V-blocks, etc.) will fi t the space. It is easy to make a squaring block out of materials around the shop that will fi t your application. T e one I made (Figure 2) came out of a piece of scrap 3/8-inch thick acrylic but a piece of hardwood will work just as well. Mine is about an inch in the short dimension and I squared it with a disk sander, checking as I did that with a bigger square until all the sides were at right angles to one another. When using wood, a modelers table saw works just as well but make sure you check for accuracy. T e fact that mine is ⅜-inch thick allows it to stand by itself, a handy thing.
Solder
Sometimes it is necessary to fi nd the shape of a part that is already in place and a contour gauge or fl exible curve will not fi t. Figure 3 shows how a short piece of tin-lead solder can do the job. Solder will conform to many shapes and will not spring back when bent.
T ere are many other things one can make that will help out in those awkward places.
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