I am pressing my second set of wooden spokes for my 1926 TuDor. I'm using the Regan press which worked great last time and seems to again. I have been practicing with the old spokes. But thinking ahead, I remember having a time drilling the bolt holes in the new spokes. I have to use a hand drill because the throat on my drill press is not wide enough to use. So I used a square and the hand drill with good results. Got 5 holes the first time and the 6th was off a little. This time I thought of using another hub as a drill guide. I am respoking a front wheel. A rear hub seems to mate quite well with the front when placed back to back. I am using the wheel press as a holder. With the hubs secured in the press I can align the flanges so that they will guide the drill bit. I will still have to be careful in that there is still slop in the existing hole, but I think it will work.
Hub halves should be aligned so that joints are positioned under the holes then the holes should be drilled between the spokes after the new spokes have been pressed in place. Jim Patrick
I like the idea. I used a spade bit, freehand. When I was just breaking though I stopped and did the next bolt hole. Then I flipped the unit over and finished the hole from the other side, to eliminate any blowouts.
Yeah I know that the hole need to be at the joints, I was just practicing the pressing. I will have the hole in the right place when I do this on the new spokes. I like to practice a seldom done task a bunch of times so I don't forget some thing when I do the new ones. Thanks for reminding me. The older I get the harder it is to remember.
I did that today too. Did pretty well drilling with a hand drill by keeping it parallel to the center post. I'll assemble another wheel tomorrow.
Some one a while back made a jig up useing a couple of old small brake drums. maybe someone else will remember who. KB
So that's why you weren't up in Oshkosh at the EAA giving rides. Had one h.ll of a storm come through right after lunch. Rain came horizontally. I was only able to give 3 rides.
See you at Germanfest this weekend or will you be too busy drilling those spokes?