[CAS14]

My problem in a nutshell: I seldom use a dowel or shovel handle, and nearly always use what I cut in the woods. Thus, my sticks are of varying diameter, and they are nearly straight only when I use something like red cedar. So, the definition of "parallel to the axis of the stick" depends on what part of the stick you mean. Often the lowermost few inches isn't perfectly aligned with the rest.

I have a little metal drillbit guide for common bit sizes that facilitates perpendicular holes on flat surfaces. This is difficult to align on the end of a stick. Sometimes I select a piece of copper tubing or a fitting of a size that will fit loosely over the end of a stick, and then I have a perpendicular, circular surface, perpendicular to the tubing or fitting, and to the section of the stick that it encompasses. My drill guide can then be laid on the end of the tubing or fitting. Sometimes, I just eyeball it and hope for the best.

 

[CAS14]

I just bought a drill guide with some long bits that might solve this dilemma for some sticks, and perhaps it will improve my drilling aim for most. Perhaps I'll have it by next weekend.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/Page.aspx?p=73477&cat=1,180,42311

 

[CAS14]

We have different kinds of masking tape now, with different adhesive characteristics. The old-school tan masking tape is the most sticky. A blue painter's tape is intermediate. A green painter's tape is the least sticky, similar to the drafting tape that was available before drafting became a computer activity. I use the green tape most often, but the choice depends upon the activity. I suppose mose know this, but it hadn't been mentioned to my knowledge.

 

[CAS14]

I grew up a country boy, stickwithdave. Those skills come in handy. Now that I'm a city boy, my day walks sometimes take me into poor neighborhoods that can be rough due to loose, aggressive dogs or potentially even young toughs. So I do take a weightier "beating stick" on those days, and I think I've avoided a dog bite or two.

I've been under the weather for a week, but I began an antibiotic today and should be coherent soon.

 

[CAS14]

Hi CAS14

Hope you are getting better. I have been unwell with a flu like virus, that's why I have time in doors to play with the computer.

Dave

Bright eyed and bushy tailed this morning, with more than eight hours of sleep, double what I've had any night for more than a week. Thank goodness for antibiotics. A couple of volunteer projects have languished and I'm beginning to get calls about moving things forward.