Cheap homemade tool- hole duplicator

Working in the aircraft industry, we have many cool tools to choose from. One tool we seem to use often are hole duplicators. They are used for locating attachment holes when installing undrilled panels over previously drilled flanges.

I recently made a new floor board for my Plymouth and needed a way to locate the holes. Rather than trying to mark them from the bottom, I made these out of some stuff I had laying around.

This is the basic idea behind the tool-



I started with some strap material...the kind of stuff that shipping people use. There is always some hanging out in the lumber yard. Determine the length you would like the tool to be and double that measurement. Fold the peice of material in half so that they lay on top of one another. The strap material has a natural spring to it which works perfect.



Next drill a hole though both peices of the split end. The hole size to be determined by the size of the rivit you will use. Make sure you clamp the peices to ensure the drill doesn't walk on the second peice.



The next step is to install the locating pin. I used a pop rivit as the locating pin. I also made two of these using 1/8 and 3/16 pop rivits. The finished items allow for locating 1/4 and 5/16 holes.



Here are the finished products. I did end up working the rivits straight after I took the picture.



To use, place the panel between the two halves of the tool. Drop the rivet into the hole.



Let the panel rest on the mounting flange. Mark the hole on the top, remove the tool and drill to size.



Sure you can buy these from aircraft tool supply companies for about 15.00 but why not make them for next to nothing.

If I built more I would use a shorter pop rivit. The long ones seem to bend when too much when pulling through.

 

nice write up .... simple but be very effective !

 

Great Article and pictures. Ill remember this one when I need it. Thanks.

 

Cool! Simple solution.

 

good job. you work in the sheet metal shop somewhere?

 

Excellent tip, and great explanation. Thanks.

 

Work smarter, not harder.

Nice idea.

 

NICE! I was just getting ready to drill some holes in my floors, glad I read this thread! Good job

 

That'll come in handy soon! Thanks!

 

No, those pics were from my home. Our aircraft are carbon fiber and use many of the same tools.

 

Very handy. Thanks for the post.

 

Thanks for the tip...I used those years ago in the Navy but since had forgotten about them.

 

There are many aviation tools that make a rodders job easier

 

Cool tool.

 

Boy am I dumb, it took me ten minutes to figure out the purpose of the tool, but it finally dawned on me. Great tool on the cheap

 

Great tool! Now if I can remember it the next time I need one.

 

dig it, thanks for the tip.

 

cool idea. sadly by the time something comes up where I could use it I will have forgotten all about it.

 

I made about the same thing for Dzus fastners,there great for installing a hood or panel.You can install a dzus fastner in the tool and locate the hole on top.You get exact spot for your hoods,decklids etc.

 

can't BELIEVE I missed this!!! Very nice!

 

Very cool tool

 

Another quality product from Why didn't I think of that.

I love those simple ideas that are so obvious after someone shows you how.

 

I was stuck on the pin (pop rivit) when one of my buddies gave me the idea. It was way cheaper and easier than what I was thinking of

 

Your post blows me away I built my first hole locator in 1956 when in the Navy. I was a aviation metal smith I did air craft repair at Pt. Mugu Navel Air Station and on board the air craft carrier Hancock (known as the handjob) I've still got a couple of them in the tool box. old hack saw blades welded together work good too.................

 

The hack saw blades are a great idea too. They would have that slight "spring" to them.

 

very cool.

 

Very Cool! Thanks for posting it!