Make your own Pilot Wheel

kcrutche

Elite Cafe Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2007
Messages
296
I got the idea for this project first by using 1/4 x 1 3/4 x 3 inch poplar (soft wood) shims to protect the surfaces of my gun from the vice (a Remington 870 in the first photo).

After a while I added the top surface.

I do not use this as a hand rest as such, but I let my little finger rub across the top surface.

It helps to maintain the vertical angle of my Graver as I am cutting.

I put shims under the receiver which not only protect the surfaces but also returns the top surface to the same level each time you remove and replace the gun from the vice, to maintain Microscope focus.

After a while I noticed the magazine tube was sort of handy to grab hold of when turning the vice.

That is when I thought of the Pilot Wheel.

This first picture is the Original Hand Rest.



This second picture is the Pilot Wheel version holding a Remington 1100 with a fresh Transfer ready to cut.

I don't know if you can see but I shim so the top surface of the gun, is level with the top surface of the rest (so the angle of my graver does not change as I rotate my work).

One tube sticking out and hitting you in the side is not to bad but one from each end is to much (no more 1100's).



The next picture shows the leveling shims.



The next picture shows the bottom of one half.



I have included Plan drawings if you care to build one for yourself.

I did not include any dimensions since your vice is probably different.

If you have access to a band saw it is a simple (but very handy) project .



Kenneth Crutcher.
 

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