Well, the fowler saga continues;
When I drilled the holes for my trigger guard underlugs I broke off two drill bits in one lug rendering my trigger guard permanently in place. A traditional trigger guard it is held in place by a small pin that goes through the stock, through the lug and out the other side of the stock. My trigger guard has three lugs and needs three pins to hold it in place. I was able to drill for the other two pins without any problems.
I spent an extra month or so shaping the wood for the wrist and below the lock panels with a small chisel and sandpaper because I couldn't remove the trigger guard because of the drill bits broken off in lug and extending into the stock.
I asked on the M/L forums "what can I do". I go a bunch of responses, most of which would have left gaping holes in my stock just to remove a couple of 5/64" drill bits. One guy said to buy a solid carbide bit and carefully drill the broken bits out using the holes through the stock as guides.
I hesitated because the 5/64" bit cost $12 on line and probably about the same to ship. On a whim I called the local machinist supply house to see if they had one and dang, they did, for only $6.
Yesterday was the day, I chucked up this solid carbide bit, eased it into the hole in the stock and started drilling. I didn't expect any results, didn't feel like I was getting anywhere after about 5 minutes so I pulled the drill out and tapped out the dust, METAL SHAVING DUST! Eureka, this is working.
After about 10 minutes of drilling on each side, my bit broke. I gently pulled on the trigger guard, it started to come out, a little more and it popped out of the stock, what a relief.
I had ruined the lug with broken bits and the process of drilling them out so I cut the old lug off, soldered a new lug in it's place and re drilled a new hole through the lug for the pin.
I am filling the old holes through the stock as they got slightly enlarged during the bit removal process, re drilling the holes through the stock this morning and will be wrapping up this complicated fix.
Here is the new lug to give you an idea of what I was working on. Sorry for the long, boring story, very exciting for me as I was able to correct a major goof-up that I thought was a lost cause.
