October 21, 20232 yr My walls are made of concrete and AAC. Until now, I never really needed much precision. However, my holes are never parallel or straight. I’ve got some floating shelves that I need to attach. I figured I’d put together a jig like this guy from YouTube (though upon rewatching, I noticed he’s only using glue). As I was trying to drill through these boards, I realized that I’m not very good at measuring accurately through wood also. I feel a bit overwhelmed by this. It can’t be that hard; many people do it. Now, I’m just sitting here, looking at the shelves and waiting for ideas on how to install them without them being crooked.
October 21, 20232 yr Get a small level and hold it on the drill bit, you get them about 60mm or so long. experience will then tell you when you are holding the drill correctly, or get someone to look at the drill from the side
October 21, 20232 yr I would say that most people, including me, don’t drill (or nail) very straight. That usually doesn’t matter and often makes things stronger. The usual solution, for smallish items, is a drill press. For larger items or items that can’t be moved there’s a device that can be fixed to a hand drill. These are not precision, but they help. Buy a good one, the cheap ones are a waste of time. e.g. Wolfcraft 4525404 Multi-Angle Drill Guide Attachment
October 21, 20232 yr Hi @DanBog are you struggling with setting out where to drill your holes or just concerned about drilling them straight
October 21, 20232 yr p.s. there’s a third option - a ‘drill guide’. Usually aluminium with hardened drill bushings. This kind of thing, or without the vice (I picked this one at random). Drillpro 3 In 1 Adjustable Woodworking Doweling Jig Kit Pocket You can find some much cheaper and simpler ones. Also, you can make your own cheap version of this with a flat bit of 2x6 or aluminium block and your mate’s drill press. Probably accurate enough for your needs. Hardened bushings optional, but add some accuracy.
October 21, 20232 yr Few people can drill straight holes free hand. My dad taught me to make a drill block guide using two bits of wood to create a 90° angle. You then just place the bit in the corner.
October 22, 20232 yr Has nobody mentioned making a jig? You want to drill 2 holes in the shelf, and 2 holes in the wall, exactly the same distance apart and level. So take one bit of scrap wood, at least as long as the distance between the to holes plus a bit. Mark the holes on that bit of wood and drill a hole the size you want. Making sure the marking is accurate, and before starting to drill the hole make a centrepunch mark, ideally with a centrepunch failing that a nail, hold the point exactly on your pencil park then hit it gently with a hammer to make a dent to stop the drill wandering. Then use the jig to drill the holes in the shelf and the holes in the wall, getting an assistant to hold the jog dead level on the wall before drilling.
October 22, 20232 yr 8 minutes ago, ProDave said: getting an assistant to hold the jog dead level on the wall before drilling. Could make the jig a bit longer, drill two extra holes in it, and the wall to hold it level. Then drill the other holes in the right place. Oh hang on.
October 23, 20232 yr Author 17 hours ago, ProDave said: Has nobody mentioned making a jig? This is a great idea, I actually have a longer piece of OSB that I can use for this, it'll also help me drill at the same distance for all my shelves.
October 23, 20232 yr Cheap as chips and versatile https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404480199430?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=EAIaIQobChMIv73AkYGMggMVDNntCh06BwMqEAQYCSABEgJViPD_BwE
October 23, 20232 yr 23 minutes ago, joe90 said: Cheap as chips and versatile https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/404480199430?var=0&mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=710-53481-19255-0&campid=5338268676&toolid=10044&customid=EAIaIQobChMIv73AkYGMggMVDNntCh06BwMqEAQYCSABEgJViPD_BwE Could have done with one of those , 10 yrs ago ……. 🙄🫤😂
October 27, 20232 yr When starting any hole, but especially into something unpredictable like masonry, drill a very small hole with a hand drill first, just to mark the spot securely so the real drill can't skid about.
October 28, 20232 yr I usually grab a deep socket and drill down through the middle of it. Gives a rough guide which is usually good enough.
October 28, 20232 yr 14 hours ago, Cliffpope said: When starting any hole, but especially into something unpredictable like masonry, drill a very small hole with a hand drill first, just to mark the spot securely so the real drill can't skid about. The advantage of speed controlled hand drills nowadays, start very slowly and it won’t skid.
October 28, 20232 yr There's this type too: I got my lad to print an adapter to exactly fit the Makita cordless: For accurate "edge" drilling though he'll print guides for that particular board thickness that clip over the edge.
October 28, 20232 yr 2 hours ago, Onoff said: For accurate "edge" drilling though he'll print guides for that particular board thickness that clip over the edge I think that is about the first thing I have heard of that makes it worthwhile getting a 3D printer. Used to spend months making drilling jigs when I was an apprentice, then looked at the CNC machining centre and wished I could work that.
October 28, 20232 yr 20 minutes ago, SteamyTea said: I think that is about the first thing I have heard of that makes it worthwhile getting a 3D printer. Used to spend months making drilling jigs when I was an apprentice, then looked at the CNC machining centre and wished I could work that. Routing jigs, coil formers, knife blocks, helical milling jigs, rubber feet for drainers... I can't count the practical things we use it for, in use every day.
October 29, 20232 yr On 28/10/2023 at 11:15, Onoff said: Knifes should be sharp edge upwards to stop them blunting.
October 29, 20232 yr 1 minute ago, SteamyTea said: Knifes should be sharp edge upwards to stop them blunting. In wood?
October 29, 20232 yr 41 minutes ago, joe90 said: In wood? Yes, it is just good practice. Wear, between dissimilar materials is proportionate to their hardness difference ratio at low speeds. So if the the knife has a hardness of 10 and the timber is 2, the knife will wear at 1/5 the rate of the timber. Edited October 29, 20232 yr by SteamyTea
October 29, 20232 yr 3 minutes ago, joe90 said: What about chopping boards? Surely will blunt knives more than a holder 🤷♂️ Yes, but as I said, it is good practice.
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