How to use a sticky pin.

[thehomeengineer]

Hi All
This short video shows the principal of using a sticky pin to position the spindle over the work piece. This is a very quick and simple method I use, mainly on the drill but works just as well on the milling machine.
Thank you again for taking to view my posts
The Home Engineer

[Toolmaker51]

We call them "Wigglers", but otherwise used identically.
I find bringing the pin to center with two fingers works for me, touching nails of index and middle finger creating a Vee. The fingernails touch at sort of a 90` angle to each other, once about midpoint of the shaft to reduce the wild swings, then at point.

[DIYer]

Thanks thehomeengineer! We've added your Spindle Centering Method to our Measuring and Marking category,
as well as to your builder page: thehomeengineer's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Spindle Centering Method by thehomeengineer

tags: spindle, centering

[Frank S]

We call them "Wigglers", but otherwise used identically.
I find bringing the pin to center with two fingers works for me, touching nails of index and middle finger creating a Vee. The fingernails touch at sort of a 90` angle to each other, once about midpoint of the shaft to reduce the wild swings, then at point.

I knew there was something I was missing out on with my calloused hands. The idea of being able to make my fingernails touch is foreign to me and mine are usually long enough to use as screwdrivers. I can just make the edges of my thumbnail touch 3 of the other fingers forget about reaching the nose of ear cleaning fingernail.
If I use my other hand I can just bend the fore finger enough so the nail of the middle can touch the top of the index but I have to use both hands to make my fingers cross passed me by at a very young age from swinging a hammer on an anvil.
I just pinch the wigglers between thumb and forefinger to stabilize them.

[jjr2001]

How timely.. I had this tool in Dad's tool box and thought he called it a Wiggler and I knew it had something to do with finding center.
I had always used the common edge finders that you find today with the cylinder on the working end. Now I have a tool designed to find a line!
A few days ago while working on my clamps I actually used it to indicate an edge. Not sure if that was proper use but it worked.
First find one edge by getting the needle centered with the fingers. I had the depth just deep enough to have the taper on the point touch the edge of the part. Touch the edge of the part by moving the mill table and zero the DTI. Moved it to the other edge without changing the height and found that edge. Divided by 2 and found the center. Worked great.

Thanks for the demo Homeengineer.

Now if I only knew how to use the stems with the ball on both ends.

Here is a picture.
Note the sleeve on the housing. The housing is cracked and it was repaired with the sleeve.

Cheers, JR

[thehomeengineer]

Hi JR
In the photo the bottom bent piece is a mount for your DTI clock to attach to, the two diameters are standard fitting diameter for the clamps. The middle one is an edge finder for getting in to small places, you need to run the spindle between 600/700rpm and as you bring it into contact with the edge of the work piece it will straighten until running true then as you just go over centre it will flick off. The spindle at this point is half the edge finder away from centre/edge of work piece. Move half the diameter of the finder (small diameter) and you have now set a datum for that edge. I am away this weekend but I will do you a video on using edge finders to clarify this explanation when I get back.
The Home Engineer

[jjr2001]

Excellent info thank you homeengineer. Now I have a new (old) tool to use.

Have a great weekend.

Cheers, JR

[thehomeengineer]

Hi JR
As you are probably aware I have just got in to doing these videos. I trust the site and its members are happy for me to post the videos as they are not actually homemade tools? I guess if they were unhappy I would have been told?
The Home Engineer

[mklotz]

Hi JR
As you are probably aware I have just got in to doing these videos. I trust the site and its members are happy for me to post the videos as they are not actually homemade tools? I guess if they were unhappy I would have been told?

When I post about how to do something, as opposed to an actual homemade tool, I put the post in the "Tool Tips and Tricks" sub-forum. Keeping tool and use-of-tool separated makes sense to me.

[jjr2001]

Hi Homeengineer, I don't look in the other forums too often. I hang out here so posting your items here, for me, works great.
I have noticed the the administrators will move posts that fit in another forum that they have as necessary.
Tool tips and trick's is a forum I will start watching since many tool uses either commercial or home built could be posted there first.

Cheers, JR

Well now that got me thinking. I just checked all of the moved items from the homemade tools forum and all of the moved items were
moved to the must read forum. So looks like if it is posted here it stays here. I will still start checking the tips and tricks forum for new ideas....

Double Cheers, JR