Cross drilling round stock

For pretty accurate holes drilled on center,I sometimes take a very slight cut across the bar clamped in the vise in my vertical mill. From there,it is easy to find the center of the narrow flat spot with a center drill and make a good starting hole. Then,without moving the table,except for straight down,put in a drill chuck with a drill in it and complete the job. Recently I made a brass hammer head for a client and quickly drilled the eye out that way. Then,I elongated the hole with an end mill,and put some swag into the hole by hand with a round file. Not talking working to .001" here,but I'll bet the hole wasn't off by more than a few thou. Depends upon your eyeball gauge.

For more critical apps, follow the other suggestions.

One thing i do have is an antique looking rig for holding smaller rods,with a large assortment of hardened bushings. I think it is Swiss. Came in a nice oak cabinet.
 
All good ideas suggested here. For informal holes of the "good enough for who it is for" variety, use one of my bench blocks. This one has some 90° slot milled into it. On a mill simply drop a 45° center into the groove and square it with the T slots. I had finished setting some grub screws into shafting today and didn't tear down the setup.


It is probably the most accurate method with a drill press. Just consider the block sacrificial and drill into it. Clamping is required.

Either way spotter drills or center drills are the way to go. The very cautious could even chuck up a center cutting end mill and make a flat.

Steve

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