Drill alignment (Honk thread!)

[lookin4tools]

So I realized I need precision drill alignment, its not precise enough by hand. I built my own jig for it, but it *****.

So I went online to buy something, starting with primitive hole alignment tools...

I first noticed something "off" about the tools... the metal rims were quite thin and not very tall, they cut costs by not putting tall enough rims to reach the bottom of the device... A lot of 5 star reviews that were either fake or made by simpletons.. The real reviews seemed to be the 1 stars... Some said there was too much slop and 2 degree angle deviation, others say not tall enough, others say the plastic melts from casual drilling...

Every brand I looked at was the same trash, so I looked for a new tool, a portable drill alignment tool... Again more honk... Most of the cheap ones are complete trash with legitimate bad reviews. Only 1 brand seems decent, but it is missing a bunch of high end features.

So I looked at the 2 top ones, priced at $200 and $400... they said the $200 is of high quality, except it breaks easily because they used a 1/4 shaft instead of 1/2... And the $400 only has 1 review and they said it broke after 3 uses...

I am wondering when is society gonna start producing decent tools instead of overpriced ****?



Honk! Honk! Honk!





The point of a university diploma... is? Most things these days might as well have been built by high school dropouts?

 

[h~moto]

I am wondering when is society gonna start producing decent tools instead of overpriced ****?

With few exceptions, all of my tools are vintage that are found at yard sales, flea markets, etc. I own this Stanley 04-413 drill guide. I have never tried it so I can't give you much of a review. It does seem to have some slop and angle deviation. Largest hole is for a 1/4" drill bit. I did a search on eBay and there are ones listed for not a ton of money.

 

[nadogail]

I remember a tool marketed as the Port A Line, it was a base plate and two shafts the drill slid down the shafts while staying aligned with the angle the shafts were set at.

I regarded it as a "poor man's Drill Press", I think Sears Sold it.

 

[shawhite]

So I realized I need precision drill alignment, its not precise enough by hand. I built my own jig for it, but it *****.

So I went online to buy something, starting with primitive hole alignment tools...

I first noticed something "off" about the tools... the metal rims were quite thin and not very tall, they cut costs by not putting tall enough rims to reach the bottom of the device... A lot of 5 star reviews that were either fake or made by simpletons.. The real reviews seemed to be the 1 stars... Some said there was too much slop and 2 degree angle deviation, others say not tall enough, others say the plastic melts from casual drilling...

Every brand I looked at was the same trash, so I looked for a new tool, a portable drill alignment tool... Again more honk... Most of the cheap ones are complete trash with legitimate bad reviews. Only 1 brand seems decent, but it is missing a bunch of high end features.

So I looked at the 2 top ones, priced at $200 and $400... they said the $200 is of high quality, except it breaks easily because they used a 1/4 shaft instead of 1/2... And the $400 only has 1 review and they said it broke after 3 uses...

I am wondering when is society gonna start producing decent tools instead of overpriced ****?



Honk! Honk! Honk!





The point of a university diploma... is? Most things these days might as well have been built by high school dropouts?

Tools are built to a price point most consumers are not willing to spend what it cost to make and design a quality tool.

 

[Steve_P]

Look at the Big Gator Tools drill and tap guides; they are very high quality. Quality tools are still being built, like this one, but if you just do a generic search for something on Amazon, you will mostly get cheap **** at the top, because that's what most Americans buy.

 

[sparkness]

if you have access to a drill press, that's all you need to make a drill guide and a scrap block of metal for the guide. a guide with multi holes may not get into tight spots. even using a chunk of hardwood and superglue to keep the drill perpendicular for small number of holes.

 

[RMERR]

I've used the old craftsman two-post portable drill alignment tool several years ago and it worked pretty good. I drilled a slew of bench dog holes in a workbench. More recently another tool I've used a lot for accurate vertical holes (though possibly not precise enough for you) is an older model Ryobi 18V cordless drill with a round bubble level on the back end to keep the drill vertical. I'm on team blue Makita for cordless stuff, but I bought the Ryobi used on Craigslist just for that level and drilling vertical holes. Used it multiple times and gotten very straight vertical holes without a guide. I like it so much, I bought a second so I've got a backup in case the first one craps out. Since it's an older model, they're pretty cheap when you find them. This was model# SA 1802.

 

[Nutria]

I remember a tool marketed as the Port A Line, it was a base plate and two shafts the drill slid down the shafts while staying aligned with the angle the shafts were set at.

I regarded it as a "poor man's Drill Press", I think Sears Sold it.

I have one, and I use it frequently. Great for those times when you need to take the drill press to the work instead of the other way around. There's a simple depth setting, handy when you need to make a bunch of holes at the same depth.

 

[BTL-A4]

I have this one and it works just fine:


They are about $40. I only wish this one came with a keyless chuck. I could probably put one on it.

 

[Monte]

tecmobil Mobile Drilling Aid | Drill Stands | Attachments for Machines | Products | Wolfcraft Site

www.wolfcraft.com

 

[Jgaz]

OP. It seems as if we’re talking about two different types of drill guides, one guiding the drill bit and the other guiding the drill motor.
Both have their uses. It depends on your needs.

As has been said, Big Gator makes an excellent line of drill and tap guides.
When I retired after 40+ years as a mechanic I had accumulated a whole bread pan heaped full of homemade drill and/or tap alignment guides.
I discarded almost all all of these in favor of a couple of Big Gator guides as I tried to downsize.

Here is a recent use of a Big Gator guide allowing me to easily cross drill the axle shaft on my power washer for a cotter pin.

 

[manwithtools]

Here's one that will be a quality tool, made in the USA. You might want to sit down first: Woodpeckers Drill Guide

 

[lookin4tools]

Here's one that will be a quality tool, made in the USA. You might want to sit down first: Woodpeckers Drill Guide

That is one of of the ones I mentioned in my OP lol. It is the most expensive and inferior to the Rockler that is half the price.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09LRJNG17/?tag=atomicindus08-20

There is only 1 written Amazon review for it and it says this:
"Every time you drill a hole 2-3 of the bolts/screws holding this together Fall out leaving yoy to chase them down where they bounced. Terrible design. The 45 dollar ones work way better. Return yours asap and get o e that isn't a expensive piece of junk. Typical woodpeckers I am finding."


The Rockler is the ideal drill guide (on paper) with every feature you'd need for a drill guide. But according to reviews they built it with the wrong shaft size:
"I tried to use this to make 2.5" round mortises in white oak using a stout 1/2" variable speed drill. It could not handle the torque with a 2.5" hole in that wood. I was surprised that they use a 1/4" hex shaft with a 1/2" chuck. Doesn't make sense. I should have a 1/2" hex shaft. If it did, it would be getting 5 stars. But I only use this on slabs too big to take to the drill press, and if it can't do that for me I don't have a use for it. Rockler, make it with at 1/2" hex shaft!"

"broke after the fourth time, not a quality product"

"The 1st time to use it, just drilled 2 hole and then it's broken, the quality too bad, not worth the price!"


There are a lot of good reviews for it, but on Amazon, I've learned not to trust good reviews for almost any product, not just for tools, but for any kind of product category.

As has been said, Big Gator makes an excellent line of drill and tap guides.
When I retired after 40+ years as a mechanic I had accumulated a whole bread pan heaped full of homemade drill and/or tap alignment guides.
I discarded almost all all of these in favor of a couple of Big Gator guides as I tried to downsize.

Here is a recent use of a Big Gator guide allowing me to easily cross drill the axle shaft on my power washer for a cotter pin.

I seen that one and decided not to get it because of these reviews:
"This item is way over-priced and is awkward and clumsy to use, and, contrary to its billing, not very accurate. I wish i had sent it back, don't waste your money!"

"Not a very good design. It has a hard time staying flat on your workpiece because it’s too tall and narrow. It needs to be wider to keep from rocking. It’s pretty much useless with clamps, which is what you need to use it."

I have this one and it works just fine:


They are about $40. I only wish this one came with a keyless chuck. I could probably put one on it.

This is the best design I could find, most of those types on Amazon are of low quality but if you can find this type of design in high quality that's what I would recommend. But it is probably missing a lot of the features the Roswell has



For the rest of you thanks for the replies, I simply do not have enough mental stamina to concoct a reply to each lol

 

[rust in the eye]

I seen that one and decided not to get it because of these reviews:
"This item is way over-priced and is awkward and clumsy to use, and, contrary to its billing, not very accurate. I wish i had sent it back, don't waste your money!"

"Not a very good design. It has a hard time staying flat on your workpiece because it’s too tall and narrow. It needs to be wider to keep from rocking. It’s pretty much useless with clamps, which is what you need to use it."

That Big Gator one looks nice to me.
So many negative revues I see for lots of things are simply user error or not understanding what they have bought or having gotten what they ordered but not what they want.
The post above showing the Big Gator item properly used is enough to sell me.

 

[jar944]

Problem solved