Drilling STRAIGHT HOLES with a 1 1/8" Spade Bit

[HeadRusch]

I'm about to tackle the dangerous task of cutting the holes in my board.  

Since the holes are so close together for 6-button configurations, is there any "jig" or apparatus that you guys use with a hand drill to make drill-press-like holes?  

I'm afraid I'll run one crooked and ruin the whole damn setup.  And a drill press wont allow for the depth of my control panel...

[Nailz]

I did mine by hand, you can do it, you just need to go slow and be patient.  I would suggest drilling a small pilot hole in the middle, then drill about halfway through from the bottom of the panel, then finish it from the top.  I didn't do this on mine and it just chewed the hell out of the bottom of my CP, fortunately no one can see it, but it still looks terrible.

[PacManFan]

I'm about to tackle the dangerous task of cutting the holes in my board.  

Since the holes are so close together for 6-button configurations, is there any "jig" or apparatus that you guys use with a hand drill to make drill-press-like holes?  

I'm afraid I'll run one crooked and ruin the whole damn setup.  And a drill press wont allow for the depth of my control panel...

What's wrong with a drill press? I got a "mini-press" from sears where you can put your powerdrill in. It worked fine for my CP. I've seen a "Brace" that you attach to the front of a power drill that has a circular ring-like table for making vertical holes. I don't know any manufacturer offhand though.
-PacManFan

[ErikRuud]

I'm not sute what your mini-press looks like.

They way that most drill presses have a limited reach, usually around a 12 to 18 inches.  

Look at this page:http://mc.clintock.com/images/collections-images/drillpress-mod.jpg

Do you see the distance between the bit and the vertical pipe in the picture, that is the limiting factor on most drill presses.

[shmokes]

Check this out.  It might help:

http://doitbest.com/shop/product.asp?mscssid=0HA7RDJRGBRR8K3CW5DQK5Q0R6UB6XKB&dept%5Fid=2615&sku=355194

Office Depot carries this exact item for $30, by the way.  Works with pretty much any hand drill.

[HeadRusch]

Most Drill Presses I've seen dont allow more than about 6 inches of depth in your stock.

ie: The drill press doesn't come OUT towards you far enough to drill holes in my 18" deep control panel board, even if I rotate it....there is a center strip that I wouldn't be able to reach.

however...what is this mini press of which you speak?

I'll probably do it by hand, slowly....but I'm curious about this mini press.  

[Bill_S]

I went with a Forstner (sp?) bit instead of a spade bit.  It produced a much nicer hole and was easier to keep straight by hand.

[Smittydc]

Another method to keep the hole clean (not blown out on the bottom) is to put another piece of wood underneath what you are drilling.  

You mentioned your holes are very close together -- make sure you leave enough room for the retainer nuts on the bottom -- they do flare out just a tiny bit wider than the top of the button.  In general, though, it won't matter if the hole isn't exactly straight.

[Tiger-Heli]

 

Check this out.  It might help:

http://doitbest.com/shop/product.asp?mscssid=0HA7RDJRGBRR8K3CW5DQK5Q0R6UB6XKB&dept%5Fid=2615&sku=355194

Office Depot carries this exact item for $30, by the way.  Works with pretty much any hand drill.

Why would Office Depot sell a drill guide?  

HOME DEPOT!

[ErikRuud]

That link doesn't even go to Home Dept!  

[Tiger-Heli]

That link doesn't even go to Home Dept!  

Never heard of Home Dept, I said Home Depot.  And I wasn't the original poster.  I'm guessing he included that linked b/c they had the pretty pictures for $43 and mentioned Home Depot b/c they had the better price.

[ErikRuud]

Dohh!!  Typing too fast again.  

[CitznFish]

Do It Best is a warehouse style supplier to small business hardware stores. You pony up some cash and you get to use their name and get to stock their items at a cost comprable to Home Depot/Lowe's/ etc...

[gtjoe]

Just hold the drill steady with your hand.  It is really not that difficult.  The important part is to start in the correct location.  Use a nail or center punch to mark the center of each button, before you drill and you should be fine

The buttons are smaller than the 1 1/8" hole, so even if you are off center a little, you can adjust the button spacing before you tighten them down.

Try it on a scrap piece of wood to see how easy it is.

[shmokes]

LOL, yes I meant Home Depot.  I get all of my office supplies off contract with Office Depot so it just slipped out.  Force of habit.

And yes, posted the link for the picture, but Home Depot would be both cheaper and likely more convenient if you have one nearby.

[RandyT]

I went with a Forstner (sp?) bit instead of a spade bit.  It produced a much nicer hole and was easier to keep straight by hand.

Forstner bits are great for making holes, but they are designed for a drill press.

The scary thing about these is that the sides of the bit don't have a cutting edge.  This means that they make nice clean holes, but it also means that if you should mistakenly tilt the drill while using one, the bit will grab and you could break your wrist.

Be careful out there

RandyT

[Grasshopper]

I've got exactly the same problem. My drill press does not allow you to drill a hole more than 4" from the edge of the wood. Because of this I decided to limit the depth of my first panel to 8". This is just about big enough for a small 1 player panel but not enough for a bigger 2 player panel that I intend to build in the near future.

I'm pretty certain that if I tried to drill the holes with a hand held drill I would screw up.

My plan (which I have yet to put into action) is to use the drill press to design a template for the joystick and button holes. The template will be a long thin plank of wood obviously less than 8" wide. I will clamp the template to my control panel and then use it to cut out the joystick/button holes with a router fitted with a laminate trimming bit. I should be able to use the same template for the player 1 and player 2 controls.

[mpm32]

Ah grasshopper.  You do not want to use a laminite trimming bit for your idea.  A laminate bit is best for laminate.  You want to use a pattern cutting bit.  One with a top bearing would suit you purpose better. Like this;

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_patrn.html



"try to take the pebble from my hand, grasshopper"

[Grasshopper]

Ah grasshopper.  You do not want to use a laminite trimming bit for your idea.  A laminate bit is best for laminate.  You want to use a pattern cutting bit.  One with a top bearing would suit you purpose better. Like this;

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bt_patrn.html



"try to take the pebble from my hand, grasshopper"

LOL...I see you've guessed the source of my username!

You're right of course, a pattern bit would be better for my purposes. Unfortunately I haven't seen any being sold locally, and at the moment I'm trying to get away with just using the bits that came free with my router.

A laminate trimming bit should work if I turn the panel upside down before routing. I'll see how it goes.

[HeadRusch]

That drill guide is pretty sweet, but it looks like its designed for "normal" bits...ie: 3/4" and less, not the 1 1/2" spade I'd be using....

I was thinking of getting a hole-cutting bit instead but I'm not sure if its worth it to go back tot he store to get one, as the spade should do fine.  I take my time with the spade bits...let them shave off material slowly.  Did an 1 1/2 hole in the cabinet box yesterday and it made a MOUND of MDF dust.

When next I drill, I'm wearing a freakin mask

I'm hackin up sawdust..

[skirge66]

I used a hole saw and a hand drill. It was fairly easy, and I think you would have to be on crack or really not pay attention to what your doing to not get it right.

If you have the center of the holes marked well, hole saws have a pilot bit on them that is very easy to align, I was able to consistantly drill perfect holes that the buttons and sticks fit through every time. now keep in mind I am not a mechanical person, and have no measureable wood working skills or knowledge, a friend from work told me this very same thing...low and behold, he was right, if I can can make every hole nice and perfect with it anyone can...trust me.

[Frostillicus]

I got excellent results by using that same precision drill guide from the link up there, a forstner bit, and a 14V cordless drill.  They are perfectly straight AND very clean looking (which matters to me).   I did experiment without the guide and had pretty good results just holding it upright myself.  The bit was $$$ but really worth it - I've used it for a lot of projects since.   All my panels were 3/4" plywood FWIW.

[shmokes]

The spade will be brilliant.  If you've got it use it.  Forstner bits are fantastic, but even if your hole sucks to high heaven any imperfections will be covered by the lip of the button.

[anthony691]

The spade will be brilliant.  If you've got it use it.  Forstner bits are fantastic, but even if your hole sucks to high heaven any imperfections will be covered by the lip of the button.

[RoadhawK]

When next I drill, I'm wearing a freakin mask

I'm hackin up sawdust..

Hey peeps whenever your cutting, drilling or sanding MDF, a mask is surely essential!?

I'm not getting on my high horse but come on peeps, MDF dust is not the sort of sh!t you wanna inhale.