[Goonk]

I would like to find some affordable pins to use for location and such. When I made my dust shoe brush plate, for example, I cut both sides (brush slot on one side and magnet holes on the other). I used 1/4 router bits as locator pins. They worked ok, but they are just small enough that they moved a bit.

Thought about drill rod, dowel pins, etc. Just thought I'd ask if anybody had a better idea?

Thanks,

Tony

[awerby]

Dowel pins aren't too expensive; you can get 50 of them for about $16: https://www.fastenal.com/products/fa...%20Pins%22%7C~

Taper pins might be better for what you're doing, though - they won't rattle around as much, but they cost more: https://www.fastenal.com/products/ta...er%20Pins%22|~

[SixOfOne]

Ok, dont judge me, lol... I'm super cheap, save everything and needed some pins in a hurry so I used the steel shafting from an old inkjet printer..

[Goonk]

Ha! I actually have one of those bars! It does appear to be very nicely ground and polished. I'll measure it to see how consistent it is. Was it hard to cut?

[Goonk]

Thanks. They have some nice 1/4" pins that would work. Nice tight tolerance too - 0.2501 - 0.2503. Not too shabby.

[SixOfOne]

Was it hard to cut?

Nahh, I think I wrapped it in cardboard, locked it in my vise and used a hacksaw (cut close to the vise so it doesn't bend).

[nlancaster]

I use some fiberglass rod that I picked up from TapPlastics. 5 feet was like $10, and I cut and use what I need. They are very precisely 1/4inch diameter, and will even get stuck in a 1/4inch hole.

[ssw]

Hello, For 2-sided wood and plastic projects, I use wooden dowel rod that I buy at the hardware store, in 3 foot lengths for a couple bucks. 1/4" or 3/8" are nominal sizes, so I just measure them to find out what they really are, and cut the holes for a snug fit. I tend to cut real close to by stock edges, and with these I don't worry about hitting them.