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Drilling a straight hole

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lostsoul65

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Apr 10, 2014
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I have timbers I need to drill 1/2" holes in for rebar for my garden borders, but I can't drill a straight hole which means my borders are going to come out at an angle and I want them flush. Anyone knows a good way how I can drill a straight hole?
 
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wnstwolf

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Nice to know I am no the only one that is straight hole challanged "keep comments to a minimum please"

Aside from he aforementioned drill press I glued a cheapo level gage used on a string level to the side of my drill. I think some drill models out there may have this already built in. While not perfect it will help. I had to drill over a hundred holes in the timber frame portion of the new house and this method as well as a jig that Ifinally mde up worked great. These were 8x8 16' beams so getting them to a press was not practacle..
 
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Steevo

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Put an old 1/2" bit or a short length of rod in the vise and level it so it it plumb upright.
Slip the drill motor down over it and snug up the chuck.
Mix up a spoonful of thick two-part epoxy and plop a glob of it on a convenient location on the back of the drill motor.
Get one of these and stick it down on the blob of epoxy, and set it until the bubble is centered:
030381.jpg

Let the epoxy dry and viola! You have a vertical drilling aid.

You can find the bubble levels at most RV accessory stores.
You ca
 
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Falcon67

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Steve's got it - I need to find one of those because the vials on my portable have bit the dust.
 
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sberry

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Its something you learn to do with repetition. Some people are challenged by plumb level and square. My helper gets disoriented when he changes plane. I had him re brace a leg the other day, next thing he is looking for a torpedo level and I said, 3 ft leg, no one notice if its out a 1/4 but Ray Charles would see 3 inches.

Following Stevo though one could make a simple jig too.
 
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signcrafter

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Are you just talking about stacking landscaping timbers and drilling and nailing them together? If so then just stack them and drill them. As long as you have them where you want them when you drill the hole doesn't have to be perfect. Even if it's not perfect they will still nail together fine since you drilled the hole with them stacked on top of each other. Don't drill each one before hand, you will never get the holes to line perfectly up. Stack them first and then drill thru both of them at the same time. Use a good spade or auger bit. I've done lots of landscaping like this and it works great and goes quick.
 
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Slednut

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Get a piece of 4x4 and drill through it with a drill press, hold the 4x4 against the timber for a guide. Once the bit is through the timber a few inches remove the piece of 4x4 and continue drilling. If the hole in the 4x4 gets worn, drill a new hole with a drill press.
 
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1/2 Cup

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Slednut said:
Get a piece of 4x4 and drill through it with a drill press, hold the 4x4 against the timber for a guide. Once the bit is through the timber a few inches remove the piece of 4x4 and continue drilling. If the hole in the 4x4 gets worn, drill a new hole with a drill press.
Click to expand...

As above, once you get the hole started using this method the remainder of the hole self centres pretty well by it self, remember to clear the hole regularly as well.:thumbup:
 
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lostsoul65

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If I could cut off a 4" peace of a 4x4 and drill half way from one side and half way throw the other side because I can mark each side perfect then wouldn't that give me a jug to drill straight holes?
 
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Leaflessshadetree

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Don't ask.
lostsoul65 said:
If I could cut off a 4" peace of a 4x4 and drill half way from one side and half way throw the other side because I can mark each side perfect then wouldn't that give me a jug to drill straight holes?
Click to expand...
Yes, if you can drill each side straight and have them lined up perfect where they meet.
If you can do that why not just drill straight through?:dunno:
BTW: a 2X would also work fairly well. Whatever you use the holes may get out of round the more you use it. If you make the hole in the jig larger and line the hole with pipe it will last longer.
 
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MillerMav

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Feb 6, 2013
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I saw something on TV once I thought was clever. You take a piece of wire like a coat hanger and bend it into an oval shape and tie up the one end. But; before you do place something with some weight onto the wire.

Slip that over the drill bit. If you drill "down" it will slide toward the work piece and if you drill "up" it will slide toward the chuck. It won't be perfect but it will keep you pretty well level and its a free quick solution.
 
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rieferman

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signcrafter said:
Are you just talking about stacking landscaping timbers and drilling and nailing them together? If so then just stack them and drill them. As long as you have them where you want them when you drill the hole doesn't have to be perfect. Even if it's not perfect they will still nail together fine since you drilled the hole with them stacked on top of each other. Don't drill each one before hand, you will never get the holes to line perfectly up. Stack them first and then drill thru both of them at the same time. Use a good spade or auger bit. I've done lots of landscaping like this and it works great and goes quick.
Click to expand...

Agree with this.


If it's some other application where it's critical that the hole is perfectly straight, and you can't bring the piece to the drill press, I usually make a template block. Either a block with a perfect hole drilled in it, or a right angle as 23Chief notes above, will make a nice guide to improve your accuracy.
 
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wrench409

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Over here....
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