How can I drill a hole into a large workpiece at an exact angle?
How can I drill a hole into a large workpiece at an exact angle?
I need to drill holes at exact positions to affix large workpieces to my cnc for two-sided machining. My drill press is not large enough to reach all drilling positions, and drilling by hand often results in a non-90° angle. I know for metalworking there are magnet drill presses to drill holes in steel beams. But is there something similar for wood?
Can you drill a thick ish square of wood in the drill press and then use that as a guide for the big piece? (Clamping it down). That's about what I would do. (I might use a metal insert on the guide if it's super super critical)
Note: I'm Not an experienced woodworker, I've used this before for drilling 3d printed pieces.
Yes, making a jig is the way.
This type of guide would wear out too fast, I think. It would also take away from the drill length, which I need to drill relatively deep holes (high depth to Diameter ratio).
Then you likely want a hard drill bushing. That'll let it be thinner than a wood jig, but still tool steel to not wear out. (Wood to support the bushing)
I mostly work with metal, but this is exactly what I'd do OP. If it's not an option, then there are jigs you can buy that will work.
They're a bit pricey, but if I understand your situation correctly, a drill guide sounds like the thing you're looking for. I think you can get something decent for like $50. And of course, if you want to get stupid, you can spend as much as several hundred
I think that's exactly what I need! At least this type of drill guide:
Why are very different kinds of tools named the same?
I commented further up, I guess I should have scrolled first. This is exactly the kind of store bought jig I meant; it should be exactly what you need, as long as the base isn't too big for wherever you need to drill.
The really cheap (Princess Auto, <$20) ones are alright but not great, the more expensive ones are fantastic
I have this exact tool, and just as a warning, it is far from perfect but it does certainly help and I've used it for many things but if precision is what you're looking for you might be better off buying a higher quality one or a chuck and building one at the angle you need.
Milescraft makes a slightly better one and then there's the rockler one but you know, you get what you pay for.
Yes, there are solutions similar to magnetic drill presses for wood that can help you achieve precise drilling at exact positions, even when your standard drill press cannot reach.
Portable Drill Guides: A portable drill guide is an excellent tool for ensuring that your hand-held drill creates holes at a perfect 90° angle. These guides are typically adjustable and can be clamped or fixed onto your workpiece, giving you the precision of a drill press without the size limitations.
Vacuum Clamping Systems: For larger workpieces that can't be moved easily, a vacuum clamping system can be used in combination with a portable drill guide or hand drill. This system holds the guide securely in place on the wood, allowing for accurate drilling without the workpiece shifting.
Bench-Mounted Drill Guides: If you're looking for a bit more stability and control, bench-mounted drill guides are another option. These can be mounted onto your CNC table, and although they are not as portable as hand-held guides, they offer greater precision for drilling perpendicular holes.
Jigs and Fixtures: Consider making or purchasing custom drilling jigs tailored to your specific workpiece. A well-designed jig can ensure accurate hole placement and angle, even over large distances, which is especially important for two-sided CNC machining operations.
Spindle Attachments for CNC Machines: If you have a CNC machine, you might consider using a spindle attachment that can hold a drill bit. This allows you to program precise drilling operations directly from your CNC machine, ensuring perfect hole placement and angle.
Magnetic Base for Wood: While traditional magnetic drills are designed for metal, you can find or create a system where a magnetic base is attached to a steel plate, which can then be clamped to your wooden workpiece. This isn't as common, but it's a workaround that some woodworkers have used successfully.
My suggestion would be to use a plunge router to create a 2 - 3" deep hole (not sure how deep you need to go) then follow up with a drill bit in a hand drill to finished depth. The routed hole will keep your drill square.
How precise does the angle need to be? I can usually get really good precision for a couple cuts by just using 90 degree reference surfaces on two sides of the bit. So either an inner 90 corner or 2 gauges setup tangential to each other. That may not give enough precision for what you need though.