Thwarts & Seat placement opinions

[Will Derness]

Those are nice drops.

While we're on the subject, does anyone have a trick for drilling a straight hole through the drops with a hand drill (i.e., no drill press around)?

In the 1970s I bought a Sears Craftsman tool called the Portalign drill guide which has proved to be a very useful device. I dedicated an old corded 3/8 inch drill to be used with the alignment guide. My small workshop didn't have room for a drill press and my need for a drill press was only occasional; this Portalign drill guide is a good solution for me. The Craftsman Portalign can still be found on EBay.

Vintage Portalign Precision Drill Guide with Box | eBay

In good working condition.

www.ebay.com

I use the Portalign to drill holes in my seat drops.

 

[carpenter]

Another lower tech method is to use a guide block (made with durable material) with a hole the size of your bit, a shoulder on it can keep it centred and aligned with the drop stock. Drilling the guide block easiest done on someone's drill press but patience, another person or a mirror, even drilling from top and bottom of the block with a smaller bit first to establish the hole will get good results.