Drill Bit Sleeves Used In Guideblocks

[jclay]

I drilled a couple of holes in an aluminum vee-block to guide a drill bit (flute edges rounded) for drilling water bottle boss holes. I'd like to upgrade it with sleeves that the bit would spin in, rather than having the bit be in contact with the aluminum block. I not convinced that I've found the right stuff via "drill bit guide sleeves" and similar search terms.

What are the sleeves called and where can they be had?
Are special drill bits used with them?
Are there any other details I need to be aware of?

Thanks

[cardinal-creative]

Drill bushing.

Never put any thought into using a different bit in a bushing other than what material is being drilled below.

[jclay]

Drill bushing.

Never put any thought into using a different bit in a bushing other than what material is being drilled below.

Well then, I did find them. Thank you! The press fit thing had me thinking I was off base; I thought they slid in/out of the bore containing them.

[Andrew R Stewart]

I recently got one of Alex Mead's bottle boss drill jigs. I had hoped to use a lathe center drill bit (as it is also a 1/4" diameter and is stepped in the cutting portion) but found the guide was too tight to allow the center bit to spin easily. I suspect the guide had closed up a touch with it's press fit. (As I have played with drill guide bushings before and found that those did also reduce down in ID after pressing in). My solution was to slightly sand down the center drill bit to better clear the bushing. I did the same for the peg inserted into the first hole to trap the location for the second hole's drilling. Both these are now dedicated to the drilling jig.

I always thought that the reason to have the bushings in place was to contain wear to an easily replaceable piece and also to have a hardened guide which will slow down wear. This way the bulk of the jig can be made from far easier to machine AL. Andy.

[EricKeller]

John,
Did you find an economic source of aluminum vee blocks? The ones you find online always seem a bit steep

[jclay]

John,
Did you find an economic source of aluminum vee blocks? The ones you find online always seem a bit steep

I've been using the removable half from my fork fixture, with two wooden tube holding blocks being the other, clamping half. Drilled 1/4" holes in the aluminum block half for the bottle bosses. I may have to get a longer one for the drill bushings though; the current block doesn’t look long enough. Link to pic, here:

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