OK a dumb silly question

[FrankEV]

Actually they say there are no dumb questions only dumb answers. 

That being siad, here is my , maybe not dumb, but silly question. 

Where do you drill your blade holes in fretwork?

Some possoble answers:

1. Anywhere in the cut out area?
2. In the cut out area but near an intersection, corner, etc.?
3. Very close to or on the line?
4. ????

Just wondering, so if you don't mind, please enlighten me,  Please include the WHY?

Edited March 31, 2021 by FrankEV

[Scrappile]

This has been asked before and I remember one answer that made the most since to me.   I don't really follow it much, but his answer was as close to the line a possible.  That way your blade will last longer, you don't waist it cutting to the line... I guess that is true... I drill pretty close to the line but I don't really try to get right next to the line.  Just close is good enough for me.  I don't like the drilling part of scrolling much so I go pretty fast... 

[Denny Knappen]

I like starting near a corner.

[Joe W.]

I also like to get close to a corner. 
So that, if necessary, I can go back and chew out any sticking out bits with the blade.
And it mentally for me feels like a natural starting and ending point.  Course, I have been told that I'm mental, so that must be the right way to do it.  

[dgman]

Actually Frank, this is an excellent question!

For me it depends on the pattern. If there is a corner or sharp point, I will drill right next to it so I can start the cut there. If there are no corners or sharp points I’ll drill anywhere near the line. That will leave a small nub. I’ll go back and shave off that nub with the blade.

[Bill WIlson]

4 minutes ago, dgman said:

Actually Frank, this is an excellent question!

For me it depends on the pattern. If there is a corner or sharp point, I will drill right next to it so I can start the cut there. If there are no corners or sharp points I’ll drill anywhere near the line. That will leave a small nub. I’ll go back and shave off that nub with the blade.

Pretty much the same thing I do.  Also need to consider the surrounding holes.  In some patterns there may be a series of frets that are very close together and I may adjust where I drill the entry holes, to make sure I don't get them too close together and potentially weaken the bridge between them.

[OCtoolguy]

5 hours ago, FrankEV said:

Actually they say there are no dumb questions only dumb answers. 

That being siad, here is my , maybe not dumb, but silly question. 

Where do you drill your blade holes in fretwork?

Some possoble answers:

1. Anywhere in the cut out area?
2. In the cut out area but near an intersection, corner, etc.?
3. Very close to or on the line?
4. ????

Just wondering, so if you don't mind, please enlighten me,  Please include the WHY?

No such thing as dumb or silly.

[new2woodwrk]

Good question!

Like most, it depends.

If there is a corner I try to get in the corner close to the line. If not I try to drill mid point of straight line and close to the  line.

That way I can cut and circle around and knock off any nib or left off piece

As far as saving the blade? IMO they are so inexpensive, they are by far the lowest cost item i use in the shop.

Besides, I break enough blades to not worry about saving the one I;m cutting with LOL

[Tomanydogs]

15 hours ago, dgman said:

Actually Frank, this is an excellent question!

For me it depends on the pattern. If there is a corner or sharp point, I will drill right next to it so I can start the cut there. If there are no corners or sharp points I’ll drill anywhere near the line. That will leave a small nub. I’ll go back and shave off that nub with the blade.

I drill as dgman and Bill Wilson have said. 

15 hours ago, Bill WIlson said:

Pretty much the same thing I do.  Also need to consider the surrounding holes.  In some patterns there may be a series of frets that are very close together and I may adjust where I drill the entry holes, to make sure I don't get them too close together and potentially weaken the bridge between them.

Edited April 1, 2021 by Tomanydogs

[Wichman]

In addition to what the other have said; close to a line, close to a corner, I will add: far enough away from said line/corner so that any chipout from the drilling does not interfer with the project and plan you cuts to protect delicate parts. On my recent test cuts I cut out a shelf bracket with a star and a curlicue. I cut the star first then the curlicue, I drilled a hole near the inside ending point of the curlicue and cut to the innermost point, then cut the round part with the thin connecting piece, finishing by cutting the perimeter and finishing at the curlicue. Attached is a photo to hopefully clarify.

[Wichman]

For clarity:

[barb.j.enders]

As most of the others have said, near a corner or sharp point.  If the pattern has lots of "parallel" lines, I will alter where I drill the hole, one at the "top" of one line and the next at the "bottom" of line.  Hope this make sense.

[Bill WIlson]

Wichman's post reminded me of another point.  When cutting very delicate frets, you want to be sure to start your cut in an area that allows for maximum support of the surrounding material, while cutting the most delicate section.  It's a similar concept that scrollers use when determining where to start cutting a pattern.  Conventional wisdom it so cut delicate areas first.  The same logic would apply within an individual fret.  Make the blade entry hole near where you want to start the cut to preserve delicate parts of the fret.  

[tomsteve]

if the cut is a vein- a cut that is the width of the blade or a little more- i put the hole midway ish in the line then feather the edges near the entry hole

[crupiea]

For regular fretwork where I toss the little pieces i drill in the middle or wherever.  

For the kind i mainly do where I retain the tiny pieces and put them back in, I drill in the corner right on the black line or super close to it so you cant see it without really looking. 

[Fedido]

I normally go with either a corner or a sharp bend. While it makes it easier to reinstall and sand, the main reason is so when I complete a cut on a straight piece, if the blade is not exactly in line with the start of the cut, it will leave a extra material/ It bothers me enough that I will try sand or file the remaining material so that the straight part is flat and seamless. It is easier for me to start and end in a corner. 

[Norm Fengstad]

I like to drill near a point. or corner and cut so the cut will finish in the strongest part of the piece.

[Jim Erickson]

As I was practicing today, the same question entered my mind.  Thank you everyone for your wise advise.  Jim

[rod143]

I usually drill my hole near a sharp transition. Of course the type of pattern has a lot to do with where I drill a hole.

[CSull]

I usually go for a corner.  One mistake it made a lot early on was letting the tip of the drill chuck touch and destroying my line or marring my wood. I know that seems really rookie but sometimes you have to make those mistakes to learn

[Jim McDonald]

30 minutes ago, CSull said:

I usually go for a corner.  One mistake it made a lot early on was letting the tip of the drill chuck touch and destroying my line or marring my wood. I know that seems really rookie but sometimes you have to make those mistakes to learn

It's not just a rookie mistake. I still let the drill press get the line every now and then.

The line disappearing doesn't bother me as much, but the wood divot drives me crazy.