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Needles are the only plug I drill PRIOR to turning, and then I use the drill press, once the table is set up, I have a series of blocks,all centered around 1/4 dowel center,each block has a 1/4" dowel glued in the bottom in the centrered hole and a hole on top for the dowel center, so it's a snap to remove it and replace the dowel center and change to the next drill bit, I start with a 3" drill and blast 'em from each end, then remove the top block (two if needed) and go to my next drill (I've taken several long bits and cut them to the size I need to drill the plugs I make) each time I go to a longer bit, I remove as many blocks as needed.. so once the table is set up I never have to re set the alignment, this allows me to clear chips from the plug ...
Extra long plugs are started on the drill press and finished on the lathe, I hold the plug with a pair of channel locks that have foam glued and taped to the inside jaws.....
As others have said most of us have done it.... I had a few close calls, that prompted me to change the way I did things.. I now have a better plug and am alot safer doing it...
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