I have to drill holes for bolts for a Simpson hurricane tie (“T” shaped) through (1) a veranda post and (2) a laminated beam plus hardi board so that I can install a tie on both sides. Both are about 5 1/2 inches thick. How do I hold the drill straight enough to make sure the holes I drill line up with the holes in the in the T on the other side?
xpayroll
Edited 3/18/2008 3:01 pm by xpayroll
Replies
Get yourself a drill guide if the hole is at any kind of angle
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00967173000P?keyword=drill+guide
If the hole just needs to be straight and level I take a 24" level and butt it to the top of the drill to keep it level and away I go.
If you use a good sharp bit than bit wander is less of a problem.
That drill guide looks like a good idea, but for a low-tech solution, I like to drill into a left over piece of 4 X 4 with my drill press. I put in several holes of 1/2, several of 5/8, and several 3/4.
Then just throw the scrap into your truck. When you need to drill straignt, lay the 4 X 4 up against the surface and use one of the holes for a guide. When it gets too big, go on to the next hole.
When the smaller ones get worn, drill them out to the next larger size when you get home and make some new half inch holes to replace them.
Along with a guide of some sort like the level mentioned or even a simple block of wood. In tight tolerance work (machine shop) it was not uncommon to drill from both sides then open the hole up to proper size. 99% of the time a drill follows the pilot hole unless you really screw up.
i always drill one hole as a "finder hole" and then run one bolt securing the two plates, allowing me to drill sucessive holes. I will put a small level on my bit to give me some bearing, or a speed square to line me up.
xpayroll,
relatively simple, drill a smaller hole a little more than 1/2 way and measure the same spot on the opposite side and drill a hole back once you are thru eyeball it and then drill out to the right size.
You do know the trick of the washer and the weight don't you?
If you put a washer larger than the drillbit you are drilling with and suspend a weight from it with a string that will tell you if you are drilling level.. washer slides forward while you drill and you are tipped down. Washer slides backwards as you drill and you are tipped up I have 4 in my tool box one end is a 3/8ths and the weight is a 1/2 washer. I can use on any size up to 7/16ths inch.
put a long bit in yur drill...
plumb it up in say a vise....
put a bubble level on top of the drill indicating that yur verticle.......
do the same for horizontal...
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