No More Slipping Drill Bits: Get An Accurate, Straight Hole Every Time With The Help Of Two Simple Tools

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Whether you are drilling wood, metal, or plastic, it's important to choose the right drill bit for the project. Accuracy is important too. The problem is that drill bits have a tendency to wander. It can happen with woods like pine and oak because the drill bit wants to follow the open grain pattern. Other times it's because the surface is smooth and there's nothing for the drill bit to grab onto. The situation can be made worse by applying too much pressure. The drill bit slips and can leave an ugly scratch on the material as a result. Two simple tools can help: an automatic center punch and a square.

A basic center punch has a short barrel with a hardened steel point. They are typically used in metalworking to make a precise dent for the drill bit to bite into. Classic versions needed to be hit with a hammer. Modern tools, like the Neiko 5-Inch Automatic Centre Punch from Amazon, have a spring-loaded internal mechanism. You simply mark your material where you want the hole to be, line up the point of the center punch, and press down on the top.

To avoid the danger of damaging the material, the spring tension is adjustable. You can turn it up for metals and down for plastics, for example. A rounded top makes it comfortable in the hand and easy to grip.

The dent that an automatic center punch makes is great for initial accuracy, but the other challenge is keeping the drill at a 90-degree angle to the surface you're drilling into. A pillar drill, which can be aligned vertically, is popular in engineering and wood shops, but isn't portable. Hand-held cordless drills are one of the must-have power tools for homeowners, and it is what most people have to work with.

Keeping the drill bit running straight with one of these can be a challenge, but if you don't, things might not line up properly. A small engineer's square or a general-purpose speed square can be positioned or held nearby, against the surface being drilled, as a visual guide. It's a simple trick that is a lot more effective than it sounds.

It's surprising how much more accurate and straight you can be with these two simple (and affordable) tools. There are also a number of handy drill attachments you might want to add to your collection. They can help make life easier, whatever you need to drill into, and whatever the project.