drilling barrels advice

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**amrogers3**

How do you guys center the drill when you drill out barrels?

Even when I pre-mark and get it centered, when I go to drill, the bit usually shifts and the hole is almost always off-center.

**Rybrook**

When I drill, I eye-ball it with a couple of twists to see where it is then adjust by drilling in at an angle if its off centre to straighten

**insaniak**

I use the tip of an exacto knife to pre-drill a guide hole, and then drill into that.

A sharp drill bit is key - a blunt bit is more likely to skid around.

**Fajita Fan**

Sharpie?

**Nevelon**

Do your best to get a starter hole where it needs to be.
When you start drilling, stop after a few turns. Of center? Put some lateral pressure on the drill so it carves a little on the side that it needs to move towards.

Not perfect, but it helps a little if you get a bad start.

**Adeptus Doritos**

I use a thumbtack to make a little hole, then I drill.

**Grimoir**

Straight pins, thumb tacks and xacto knife are all, in my opinion too imprecise. Locate a set of dividers with good tool steel points. Use one leg of them to center mark then drill a small hole and then enlarge

**amrogers3**

Grimoir wrote:
Straight pins, thumb tacks and xacto knife are all, in my opinion too imprecise. Locate a set of dividers with good tool steel points. Use one leg of them to center mark then drill a small hole and then enlarge

you got a link to this tool you use?

**Racerguy180**

Adeptus Doritos wrote:I use a thumbtack to make a little hole, then I drill.

Pilot holes make it sooo much easier, once you've figured out your center.

**Steelmage99**

Rybrook wrote:
When I drill, I eye-ball it with a couple of twists to see where it is then adjust by drilling in at an angle if its off centre to straighten

This.

**Skinnereal**

I usually drill at an angle if it is off-centre.
For anything softer than plastic though, I just press a finger on the drill-bit to push it as I turn the drill. Do this with the pilot-hole bit, and the later, larger bit will use the now-oval hole to align itself.

**Jadenim**

Centres help, providing they’re central. I tend to just eyeball it with the drill and double check the position after a turn or two and keep rechecking until the drill is fully engaged. The most important step for me is using a drill a size or two smaller than the final hole you want; it helps avoid breakthroughs on thin barrels and gives you a bit of room to adjust the final hole position and size. If it’s slightly off you can use a knife to scrape out the thick side and then clear out with your final drill size

**Brothererekose**

No further advice on how to not screw up from the start, but for those pieces you've already drilled off center:

Try a little paint on the barrel's exit/muzzle to cause an illusion, misdirecting the eye. Glowing hot orange or red as it is about to fire. A little more black where the hole ought to be.

Sorry no pics to help, but better painters than I have mentioned this and pulled it off successfully.

**Rybrook**

If the damage is done then cut off the muzzle in the case of a bolt weapon then make a replacement from milliput or what ever you use

I made a long las sniper rifle for my steel legion with milliput

**sniffer_squig**

Great question and really insightful reading everyone's tips!

Up to this point I've done as mentioned above, a couple of turns and check it's central before continuing.

**jullevi**

I also prefer making a starting hole with knife. Also, if you have knives that are small enough, it is possible to re-shape the hole after drilling.

Another top tip: drill your weapons before gluing them to miniatures. You often get spare weapons that you can use instead if you make mistakes.

**CrabSlap**

I use a knife to lightly score a + shape then use the tip of the knife where the two lines cross to make a pilot hole

**oadie**

Barrels are usually way too small and lopsided to make finding true center practical. Just eyeball it. Drawing/scoring an X first might help, but I find it unnecessary.

I absolutely suggest starting with a center-punch to locate the bit, though. I have a fine-tipped awl I use for the increased control and comfort, but it's really just a nicer, sturdier version of a thick sewing needle jammed into a bit of dowel. Before it, I used push-pins, then a T-pin cut off and mounted in a bit of dowel. Don't need anything fancy, just something that can create enough of a divot to start the flutes cutting instead of the web trying to mash its way in.

**Grimoir**

amrogers3 wrote:
Grimoir wrote:
Straight pins, thumb tacks and xacto knife are all, in my opinion too imprecise. Locate a set of dividers with good tool steel points. Use one leg of them to center mark then drill a small hole and then enlarge

you got a link to this tool you use?

https://www.dickblick.com/products/alvin-academic-divider/?clickTracking=true&wmcp=pla&wmcid=items&wmckw=55481-1006&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw4jvBRCJARIsAHYewPPfd3xYt829NyMBPBjU5wXeC6r8yuqSIkOOjvrtFJHs4eK6yhrEr7oaAv0MEALw_wcB

**Fajita Fan**

Somewhere at GW they’re reading this and designing the Citadel Barrel Drilling Tool.

**Elbows**

Poke a hole with a pin to start your direction for your drill.