Centering Pins

After a long and grueling couple of months of working out of town, I am finally back home where I can get back to carving.  I hope that everyone hasn't given up on The Old Stump completely.  I really do appreciate all of the support that you have given to my blog.  Here's a little gadget that you might find useful.  I call it a "Centering Pin".



It doesn't look like much I know.  In fact, all it really is is the tip of a small finishing nail snipped off and sharpened at both ends poked through a tiny piece of sheet copper and a drop of solder to keep it in place.  This is how it works.



 Here I have a carving that I need to mount to its base.  I take a centering pin and stab one end into each of the points where I will be putting a dowel that will attach the carving to the base.



Now I position my carving on the base the way that I want it to be and push down.



After lifting up, I have three little holes positioned exactly where I want them.  Now, all that I have to do is drill the appropriate size holes using the small holes made by the centering pins as pilot holes, insert my dowels and some glue, and I have my carving mounted exactly where I want it.



A simple, yet effective solution when it comes to lining up dowel holes.  It also works great when attaching add-ons to your carvings too.  The piece of copper keeps the brad from going too far into one side and makes it easy to remove.