Fuel tank strap tensioners

[dedgemon]

I'm in the process of building the fuel tank straps, etc... for my Patrol. Does anybody have a good idea for a way to make the tensioners other than trying to drill through a 3/8" rod? That strikes me as an issue to keep good and square.

[X'N]

How about sliding it inside a 1/2 square tube? Or a set of v blocks. There are also drilling fixtures for drilling into round stock. Dan scratch build patrol #243

[Gavin Chester]

Hi David Just make a little drill jig from a piece of rectangle or square bar. [IMG]

[dedgemon]

Gavin, You've been busy! I was thinking about a jig just like that today. Figured somebody would make cross dowels that would work, but none to be found. Guess we'll go into jig mode

[jaredyates]

If you are using bolts for the stock, could you tap a hole in a piece of steel stock, then thread the bolts into the hole with a jam nut? That would solve the rotation issue. You could combine that with a v-block for alignment.

[dedgemon]

Had a machinist friend make up a drill jig. That worked great

[John Rheney]

I have learned to love spotting bits for starting holes on round surfaces. Takes the bending/wandering drill point out of the equation since they are short and stiff.