Just received a good tip via Wood Magazine (in turn from Dan Jansen, Sigel, Ill) which will help anyone attempting to set the depth on a drill using a stop-collar. In the article below it speaks of using it for a pocket-hole jig. However, it will work equally well anytime you have to set the depth on a drill. Thanks to Dan Jansen, via Wood Magazine, here it is:
| Shop Tip: Pocket-size gauge for setting pocket-hole bits |
| After reading your review of pocket-hole jigs in issue 152, I bought a jig and was satisfied except for one small problem. I found that changing the depth of the stop collar was awkward because I had to hold the drill bit, a ruler, and the stop collar with one hand while I tightened the collar with the other. To simplify the task, I built this stop-collar gauge from scrap 3/4″ medium-density fiberboard (MDF).
Because the stepped drill bit is 3/8″ diameter, I drilled the gauge holes slightly oversize with a 13/32″ bit. The drawing at right shows how deep to drill the holes to correctly set the bit for 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1-1/2″-thick materials. I then drilled a 3/16″ hole in the bottom of each gauge hole to make room for the pilot bit. To use the gauge, loosen the stop collar, drop the pocket hole bit into the gauge hole, and then retighten the collar.
–Dan Jansen, Sigel, Ill. |
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Tags:
Depth Setting,
Drilling to a desired Depth,
General Tools & Gadgets,
Stop Collar,
Wood Working TipsPopularity: 100%
