Subject: Straight holes in long boards

From: [email-masked] (Gary Watts)
Date: 1 Apr 1997 20:52:09 GMT

I was wondering if any one had seen a jig or other ingenious idea for
drilling holes in long material.  I recently had some 4 x 4 posts for
my workbench that needed holes drilled perpendiculiar to the end.  
They were too long for the drill press so I was left with the hand drill.
I have seen the General Tool guy that hooks onto your 3/8" drill but
I required a 1/2" drill bit.  Additionally, it looked like you wouldn't
have much surface area to put the flat onto.  

Gary

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From: "John Hofstad-Parkhill" <[email-masked]>
Date: 2 Apr 1997 04:47:44 GMT

A piece of scrap prepared on the drill press can work as an effective
guide. For instance a 2x4 x 4"?, pre-drilled on the drill press will give
you a guide hole. Mark the block so you have a reference for alignment on
the piece to be drilled, then drill a starter hole using your alignment
block. Once you're deep enough the hole itself will guide you the rest of
the way.

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From: [email-masked](Larry Grayam )
Date: 2 Apr 1997 05:33:53 GMT

>have much surface area to put the flat onto.  

Gary, try useing a shipbuilders auger about 18" long or an Installers
bit about 20-24" long Cut a small piece of plywood toi the same
dimension as the post. Put a hole in the center of this guide the size
of the drill bit shank. Lay the post down and strike a line projecting
the boards side position towards the drill. Center mark the end of the
board and drill away. The guide line will keep you on line and the
guide board will keep you level.  You can always reverse drill if the
bits not long enough... Larry Grayam