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Author Topic: Drilling thumb hole first  (Read 10598 times)

jjweb

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Drilling thumb hole first
« on: September 29, 2005, 04:24:55 PM »
I recently had some stuff drilled up at a shop where the pro drilled the thumb hole first, followed by the fingers. Anybody else ever done it or seen it done? Any possible advantages to drilling this way?
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dave300

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #1 on: September 30, 2005, 12:31:13 AM »
Most "good" Pro shop operators I've seen will drill the fingers first. You then only have to hit one mark-the thumb, instead having to drill both fingers. Less room for mistakes. Some drillers might feel more comfortable doing it this way. I guess if it measures the same, He did his job!
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the pooh

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #2 on: September 30, 2005, 12:34:28 AM »
I used to do it that way,til I figured out that by doing the fingers first I can nail the span every time! Seriously,doing the thumb first it is very easy to be off on at least one of the fingers at least a small ammount.
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Stan

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #3 on: September 30, 2005, 08:23:27 AM »
I totally agree with Precision.  I drill the thimb hole first but what matters is hitting your lines.  "Good" pro shops hit their lines regardless of what hole is drilled first.
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anotherwindup

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #4 on: September 30, 2005, 10:12:52 AM »
Both of the "Good" drillers that I work/worked with drill the thumb first.  

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jjweb

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2005, 10:19:41 AM »
The pro told me it was easier to line up the fingers with the thumb, versus lining the thumb up with the fingers. Make sense? lol
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EboHammer4ever

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2005, 10:26:06 AM »
I drill my thumbs first and then go from there.  Always have, always will.  I've got a question for everyone though.  When you drill, do you leave your lines, especially for the span.  I've been trying more and more to keep the lines for when I drill the fingers.  Or do you try to take half of the line out?  Do you take into account the thickness of the pencil?  I always remeasure my spans after I drill the thumb so I can double check before I drill.  What does everyone else do?  Looking for some more advice.  Thanx guys.
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Mike Austin

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2005, 10:36:14 AM »
I drill the fingers first.  As Dave300 says, you only have to hit one line to get your spans right.

Missing the fingers by some small amount will not make a diffence with the pitches.  I scribe the lines on the ball, if you are even remotely close to those lines, then there will be no effect to finger pitches.  Even "good" pro shops can hit the pencil line and there be some variation, scribe lines are much thinner and more precise.

I learned to drill thumb first.  But after working for Ron Hoppe for a couple years in the early '90's, I was taught the benefits of drilling fingers first.

I always check my spans 2-3 times, but for me, it is easier to hit one line instead of three.
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jjweb

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #8 on: September 30, 2005, 10:40:43 AM »
If you do drill the thumb first, how do you compensate for the finger inserts? I know if you drill the fingers first, you don't really need a cut-to-cut span and just use a full span measurement.

That's how I was taught (about drilling the fingers first), but I found it interesting to see it done backwards.

Edited on 9/30/2005 10:37 AM
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EboHammer4ever

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #9 on: September 30, 2005, 10:44:38 AM »
Just take your span ruler and measure the thickness of the grip and subtract it from the span.  There you go.
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dave300

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #10 on: September 30, 2005, 11:12:46 AM »
When I was taught to drill, it was thumb first then fingers. I've only been drill for about 8-10 months now, so I'm no expert by any means. Now I find it easier to drill the fingers first through trial and error. I never said that a "GOOD" driller does it a certain way, to each his/her own. If the driller can correctly measure the finger variance the thumb will rarely be no more that 1/16 off the grip line, not affecting pitches.

Also when I said "GOOD" I meant shops that have respect for excellent work. Not some hole in the wall around the corner...
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Pinbuster

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #11 on: September 30, 2005, 12:40:22 PM »
We always drilled the fingers first. Put in the inserts if used. And then re-measured span and drilled the thumb.

Like others have said if you happen to miss a line slightly on the fingers then you have a chance to compensate for it with the re-measure.  

 
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mrh57

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #12 on: September 30, 2005, 03:40:54 PM »
If you allow for a 1/16 if you miss one short then one long you have two balls that vary by an 1/8 inch.  A really good shop should be able to get within 1/64 95% of the time.

I prefer drilling the thumb first because it is easier to mark the fingers especially on polished equipment.  You also don't have to take the ball out of the press to re-measure for the thumb if you put a slug in.  If you are going to drill the thumb first remember to compsenate for the drill bit radius for the fingers.
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raiderh20boy

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #13 on: September 30, 2005, 07:58:38 PM »
I always drill thumb first. Learn to drill on the PBA tour bus in mid 70's from Litchy. I have an "ovalmatic" the same as on the tour and you don't have to move ball by hand from drilling thumb and fingers. Scribe span, use edge of razor blade for bit to scribe lines and hit every time!!
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wasted talent

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Re: Drilling thumb hole first
« Reply #14 on: October 01, 2005, 12:18:06 AM »
I'm curious how many times a customer has flipped out on one of you for scribing their ball. There is a guy in town that scribes and a lot of people don't go back to him because they feel that he has scratched their brand new ball. I personally drill the thumb hole first. Just the way I learned and feel the most comfortable with. When you drill the fingers first how does it work when you oval a customers ball on the press. What about bevel etc. Seems that after the oval and bevel the span might come out short once in a while.
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