Tools and Jigs

One good use for the leftover pieces of dowel from pull rod construction is to make finger drills (if you don't already have them). Cut 1.5" to 2" lengths of dowel, mount them in a lathe, center drill a hole with the bit to be mounted, and then mount the bit with a bit of CA. Label the handle with a sharpie and you have a finger drill! I made up this set of drills in about half an hour from a MicroMark set of bits (from 1/64" to 1/8" in 1/64" increments) and leftover 1/4" dowels:

I came across the idea of keeping paint or glue bottles upright by using a 2"x4" with an appropriate hole drilled in them as a collar. Interestingly enough, these also work as engines supports:

I decided to try out designing some stud wall jigs at shapeways. I might give them a tweak or two, but on the whole I'm pleased:

16 in center jig
24 in center jig