Book case shelf holes

[D._Frederick]

I want to build a book case that has moveable shelves with holes and pins to hold the shelves. The holes are 1 1/4 inches apart and I will drill them with my drill press, I don't want to spend $40 for a drill gauge.

Is there an easy way to get  the 1 1/4 inch hole spacing?

[Radar67]

Make your own gauge with some light weight metal or an extremely hard wood. I have seen metal rulers or yard sticks used with small bore holes, then a punch to mark locations of the holes to be drilled.

[Raider Bill]

I'm no carpenter or wood worker but I have used card board before. Set your spacing with a sharpie 10 or so rows/holes then just keep moving it up using the bottom 2-3 to line them up.

[Texas Ranger]

Or, make your own guide  out of scrap plywood.

[sawwood]

I have used a pice of pegboard, not sure what the spacing is but worth a
check out.

Sawwood

[CHARLIE]

I do the same as Sawwood, I use a piece of pegboard that has 1/4 inch holes.  I've done it this way for years without any problems. Im guessing the spacing is 1 inch.  All that hole spacing isn't critical anyway and you can make 'em 2 inches if you want. Actually, I've found that once I've set the shelves in place, I've never moved them.     

[isawlogs]

Is there a special reason to have them at 1¼" I have also used the peg board approche at spacing shelves, quick, easy and cheap... Cheao being key word  :D

[T Welsh]

Build a jig from scrap wood laying around the shop. the last time I had to use a spacing jig to drill holes I used my metal flat ruler and drilled holes in it ;D.It now has 3 sets of spacing holes drilled in it and works great. It also hang real well on the wall with all the holes in it 8). Tim

[redbeard]

If you have a drywall T square you could make it into  a shelf jig

[D._Frederick]

Years ago I made a router jig to cut dovetails using blocks cut to the spacing I needed moving the jig one block at a time then sawing a notch with a RAS. I thing this would work with my drill press with the right fixture. All I need is to come up with the fixture design.
You can plane the board used to make the blocks within a + or - .002 with know problem if you need that kind of accuracy.

[terrifictimbersllc]

Can use these to make long lasting precision guide: http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,180&p=40089