Photo: Know when to stop.ĭrill until your pilot hole is the same depth as the length of your screw or nail. Accelerate slightly if you feel confident you can control the drill otherwise, stay on a low speed. Start off with your drill set to low speed. Then, place the tip of your drill bit into the indentation you created earlier, holding the drill so the bit is perpendicular to the wood. Keep your drill bit perpendicular and slowly drill your pilot hole.īefore drilling into the wood, don protective eyewear so that you aren’t irritated by sawdust that flies out of the pilot hole. To prevent the top board from slipping or shifting ever so slightly as you drill, you may want to clamp them together, or even squeeze a bit of wood glue between the two boards (bonus: this strengthens the joint) and then clamp. This extra tool leaves both of your hands free to make sure that your drill is completely perpendicular to the wood. If you don’t have an exact match, go with the drill bit that’s slightly smaller than the screw’s body. The right drill bit covers the screw’s body, but not its threads. Hold the screw up in good light to make the task easier. While there are charts showing the appropriate size drill bit for various sizes of screws, you can do without by comparing drill bits to the screw until you find the one that matches. If you are creating a pilot hole for a screw, the drill bit should be the same size as the body of the screw-not including the threads.If you are creating a pilot hole for a nail, the right drill bit is slightly smaller than the nail’s shank.The key to drilling a good pilot hole-one that’s wide enough for you to insert a fastener with ease but not so wide that it wiggles-is choosing the right size drill bit. The tape will reinforce the wood and offer extra protection against possible cracking. Or, better yet, create an “X” with painter’s tape over the location for your nail or screw. (Don’t try to simply eyeball it or measure and rely on your finger to mark the right spot-either of these methods is likely to leave you misaligned.) Mark the spot with pencil or tape before you begin.Īs the old saying goes, “Measure twice, cut once.” That truism can apply, too, to drilling pilot holes: Before touching drill bit to wood, take the time to measure carefully and mark the spot where the pilot hole belongs. With the following key tips and some practice, your next project should come together with ease. The small holes also mean you’ll use less force when nailing or screwing into hardwoods, like maple and oak, and keep the fastener from bending or angling out of line during insertion. Ultimately, even though starting with pilot holes means you’ll do twice the amount of drilling, you’ll actually make up for the extra prep time by eliminating problems that might slow down or stall the project.Ĭonsidering their usefulness in a range of projects, it’s smart to study up on the right way to drill pilot holes. A: Yes, creating what are called “pilot holes” will help prevent your wood boards-solid or MDF-from splitting or cracking when you drive a nail or screw through them.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |