Is it better if i lathe the reel seat blank and then drill through, or drill through first and then lathe?

CM

I think most guys would suggest you drill first and then turn on a mandrel so that the turning is concentric to the hole and then the rod blank. I use a pen vise and a drill press to drill the holes first. I find the drilling on the lathe to be tedious. Drilling first less likely to split.

John
God bless the troops and USA



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 08/04/2009 08:15PM by John Kepka.

I always drill on the lathe first. Like John said, if you drill first and the hole isn't perfectly centered, it doesn't make any difference because when you put it on a mandrel and turn, it will turn concentric around the hole

Mike (Southgate, MI)
If I don't want to, I don't have to and nobody can make me (except my wife) cuz I'm RETIRED!!

Another that drills first...





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Better to have and not need than to need and not have.

I bore after turning, but would be the first to tell you that unless you have the right technique to guarantee a perfectly centered bore, you're better off boring first and then turning.

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