Making Wooden Loading Blocks????

[270Handiman]

I plan on making a few loading blocks from some 1x6 oak boards for several different case sizes.  I'm wondering if it makes a difference what kind of drill bits I use to drill my holes.  I'm thinking the bottom of the holes need to be flat?  Or does it even matter since the wall of the hole will hold the case more than the bottom?  Also, if anyone does this, how deep should the holes be? And how much larger than the cases should I drill my holes?

Thanks,

270

[Chuck White]

I would use a Forstner bit.
I think I spelled that correctly

They do a nice smooth job and leave the bottom of the hole flat with a little dimple in the center.

I'd probably drill the holes to about 1/8 inch from the bottom.

[tc scout]

I use a standard wood bit of the size needed for the cartridge. Layout your hole centers and drill all the way through the block useing a scrap piece of wood for a backer, this keeps the bottom square and stops splinters.Then take a thin piece of wood (I use a piece paneling) and glue it to the bottom, sand the edges and throw on a coat of varnish. This way you have no dimples from the drill pilot and a perfectly flat bottom. And you can't beat the price!

[stimpylu32]

270

tc scout has a great idea , wish i would have thought of it . 

stimpy

 

[Drilling Man]

  I use to build and sell reloading loading blocks....  I always used a forstner bit as it leaves the nicest hole and nicest looking blocks...

  DM

[Hairtrigger]

10 years ago I was a Service tech working on CNC routers.  At the time I made a couple of programs to make loading blocks. I made tons of them for friends and coustomers with the machines I installed or repaired. The way the machine was programmed made it easy to adjust the hole size and board size. I worked in a factory that made grandfather clocks and was given scrap foot square walnut and oak pieces to make sure the origins were correct... those made great load blocks which I later ripped in half.
When I made them I used a flat botton router bit to make the holes so the bottom was also flat.

[dw06]

tc scout,now thats a great idea and easy to do!Think I'll be making me one.

[Wingman26]

I've got some old  wood loading blocks that I've had for over 30 years, they were drilled with a common spade bit, they have the little divot in the center giving away how they were made, they work fine.

[270Handiman]

Wow, there are a lot of good ideas in this post now.  Thanks everybody for all of your input.  I think I'm going to have to try out several of the ideas because they all sound good.  I'll post some pics when I'm done.

Thanks again,

270

[beemanbeme]

Tee Hee, I make mine exactly like TC Scout.  Except I don't put a finish on mine.  I get it right every once in a while. 
Another neat thing about rolling your own, you don't have to limit yourself to 50 rounds like the store bought ones do.

[pap]

I used tcscouts method. then made up several using 1x4s drilled in the 3/4 side five holes to the block. then put masking tape on the side so I could put the load data on with a pencil. It works well when working up loads.

[PaulS]

I found a surplussed Light diffuser - the plastic grate that has half inch square holes and glued two pieces together and then glued  it to paneling. It works for most shells - not for 30-30 or magnum cases.