Thread: Drilling straight with a brace and bit

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The Humble Hand Brace - A Beginner's Guide to Restoring, Buying and Using #8: Part 8 - Tips and Tricks on Using a Hand Brace - by Brit @ LumberJocks.com ~ woodworking community

Boring straight with a Spofford Brace

Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

I've finally got back to the shed after a few busy months, and am working on some home-made sash clamps.

I've been having trouble drilling perfectly straight holes with brace and bit.

My first inclination was to cheat and use a dowel jig, but this won't work with the shape of Irwin bits, and the hole needs to be too large for twist bits (must be 1/2").

I've tried propping up a square next to the drill, which helps, but I'm still not getting the accuracy I need.

I wanted to make my own jig (just a block of wood with a straight hole perpendicular to the bearing face) but in order to make this, I would need to, um, drill a straight hole.

Any tips? Or, as usual, is practice the only way?

2 blocks of wood (70x35x100 approx) at 90 deg to form an internal corner, locate at position of hole, clamp and then hold bit in the corner and off you go

Originally Posted by snafuspyramid

I've finally got back to the shed after a few busy months, and am working on some home-made sash clamps.

I've been having trouble drilling perfectly straight holes with brace and bit.

My first inclination was to cheat and use a dowel jig, but this won't work with the shape of Irwin bits, and the hole needs to be too large for twist bits (must be 1/2").

I've tried propping up a square next to the drill, which helps, but I'm still not getting the accuracy I need.

I wanted to make my own jig (just a block of wood with a straight hole perpendicular to the bearing face) but in order to make this, I would need to, um, drill a straight hole.

Any tips? Or, as usual, is practice the only way?

Hi Eddie

A square alongside helps. What I also do is to watch the shaving and the hole being formed. As the bit cuts in, it should leave behind a flat, even surface. That is, the surface should not cant at any point but have walls that are equidistant all around. Once you have gone down about 1 - 1 1/2", the hole should keep the bit straight.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by rwbuild

2 blocks of wood (70x35x100 approx) at 90 deg to form an internal corner, locate at position of hole, clamp and then hold bit in the corner and off you go

As above but with pictures...

Can’t See Straight! | The English Woodworker

Now look what you've done!
I should be out in the shed doing stuff, instead of which I'm sitting here learning stuff.
Paul you're a LEGEND!! thanks for posting, you too Kopend.
Geoff.

I saw a trick on the net for horizontal boring where you put a small ring on the bit. When the ring is stationary, neither rising up the bit or falling down then the bit is horizontal.

I usually eyeball square in front of me and use a mirror with a square at 90 degrees to the other line of sight, guide off of the center of the bit rather than the edge. A laser level also works. set the laser square to the work surface and it will shine a line right up the center of the bit. to make a jig that is square bore a hole as square as you can through a thick block. slide a dowel through the hole and check for square, then plane the bottom of the block to be square to the hole.
Mike

That wedding ring trick reminded me of when I was a kid.
In our wool shed, someone (probably Dads brother, the mechanic of the family) had fitted large piston rings over the shaft of the overhead that drove the shearing machines. The rings would spend the day running back and forth between the support bearings and the various pulleys. No idea why they were there.
Geoff.

I was taught that using a square would help also starting almost at arms length so it was easier to see any lean and then moving to a position at right angles to do the same.
Cheers,
Jim

Brilliant! I'm still always surprised by how helpful and knowledgeable you are, oh wise ones. I will try the trick with the simple jig tomorrow. I also like the one with the upside-down CD, providing a mirror in all directions - very clever indeed.

Originally Posted by Boringgeoff

That wedding ring trick reminded me of when I was a kid.
In our wool shed, someone (probably Dads brother, the mechanic of the family) had fitted large piston rings over the shaft of the overhead that drove the shearing machines. The rings would spend the day running back and forth between the support bearings and the various pulleys. No idea why they were there.
Geoff.

There is a word for it ... but they were in the line-shaft shop Roy Underhill went to ... have you seen it? They kept rust and dust off the shafts I believe.

Cheers,
Paul

Pretty sure it is: http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/3100/3113.html

Nope: http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/2600/2612.html see 14:26-17:00 "mice"

and I hope you have watched: http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/2800/2807.html !!

Originally Posted by msiemsen

to make a jig that is square bore a hole as square as you can through a thick block. slide a dowel through the hole and check for square, then plane the bottom of the block to be square to the hole.
Mike

I like that very much! Smart smart smart.

Hi Paul,

So "mice" of you to post that video, thats the only other time I've seen rings used on the shaft like that.

I can't agree with the comments about the Spofford braces on the Sawmill Creek site re them being made of wrought iron. I'm no metalurgist but the ones I've got are made of sterner stuff than that. The last poster there mentions them getting bent from dropping on the floor......must have been dropped at a fair velocity.

Geoff.