Woodworking Tips Index

Make A "Low-Tech" Drill Guide If you count speed, accuracy, and convenience important in your shop, a drill press fits the description. But you can still get good results with a hand-held drill as well. To do this, you can cut multiple drill guide blocks from a length of 2x2 with grooves (to match drill bit diameters) cut in opposite faces (see Figure 1). By keeping the bit captive on three sides, the block all but guarantees correct alignment. The end of the block can also act as a depth stop against a bit collar or the drill chuck itself. After cutting the blocks, the key to getting accurate holes is to locate a sharp brad-point bit at the hole center. Then, move your drill guide block into position (see Figure 2). Snugging the guide block up against the drill bit automatically aligns the bit for straight drilling. And using a stop collar lets you cut a hole at the desired depth (see Figure 3).		Figure 1
Figure 2		Figure 3