Tips for Drilling Properly

Drilling straight and accurately will contribute to the finished appearance of your project. Proper selection and installation of fasteners are essential to its solidity and durability. Here’s how to get started on the right foot.

The three chief problems in drilling are these: (1) centering the moving drill bit on its mark; (2) drilling a hole straight; and (3) keeping the back side of the wood from breaking away as the bit pierces it. Here are some techniques for solving them.

Keep a pointed tool handy to use as a center punch in starting holes. A couple of taps with a hammer on a large nail, nailset, or punch will leave a hole that will prevent the bit from wandering.

To keep the back side of wood from breaking away when being drilled, do one of two things: (1) lay or clamp a wood scrap firmly against your work piece’s back side and drill through the work piece into the scrap; or (20 just before the drill pierces, flip the work piece over and finish drilling from the other side.

Here are a few general tips. Clamp materials down, particularly when using a power drill – the torque of a drill (especially when combined with a large spade bit, expansive bit, or hole saw) can easily wrench the wood out of your grasp. Hold the drill firmly.

When possible, adapt the drill speed to the job. As you drill, use generally light pressure, letting the bit do the work; excessive pressure and speed overheat the drill, make it hard to control, and ruin bits. As a general rule, avoid using bits wider than the diameter of the chuck, unless drilling softwood.

To avoid breaking small bits, don’t tilt the drill once it has entered the wood. Leave the motor a\on as you remove the bit from the wood.

Wear plastic safety goggles, especially if you’re drilling through brittle surfaces. Most manufacturers provide a valuable set of safety rules, along with useful guidelines for equipment maintenance. Be sure to read these.