Big Gator Tools’ drill guides are simple and highly effective accessories for drilling straight holes with a handheld drill. You can use it with corded or cordless drills, or even manual hand drills.
There are a couple of different ways you can go about drilling nice and straight holts. You could use a drill press, drill bushings and a commercial or DIY jig, a portable drill guide accessory, or a simple drill guide.
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Big Gator Tools drill guides should be clamped to your workpiece for easy and safer use. They can work on flat surfaces, and V-grooves on the bottom help the guides secure to cylindrical materials or corner edges.
To better position the guide on flat-surface materials, I will sometimes use a center punch to mark the center of a hole, and then a drill bit or transfer punch to center the guide hole I’ll be using over the marked hole location. Once everything is aligned I’ll then clamp the guide to the work. Sometimes, when a hole doesn’t have to be exactly placed, I’ll eyeball it.
There are convenient markings on the bottom edge of the drill guides that help align it to markings on round round stock.
What I like second-most about these drill guides is that they’re compact and highly portable. The best aspect is of course how easy and effective they are to use.
Big Gator Tools makes all of their drill guides in the USA. They also offer tap guides. Their tap and drill guides are available in inch and metric sizes.
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Big Gator Tools Drill and Tap Guide Sizes
- Standard inch drill guide: 1/8″ to 3/8″ in 1/64″ increments
- Large inch drill guide: 3/8″ to 1/2″ in 1/64″ increments
- Metric drill guide: 3 to 9.5 mm in 0.5 mm increments plus 3.3, 4.2, 6.8 mm
- Inch tap guide: #0 to 5/8″ (9 holes)
- Metric tap guide: 1.6 to 16 mm (9 holes)
- UNC: 6-32 thru 9/16-12
- UNF: : 8-36 thru 5/8-18
The drill guides start at $25 each.
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Dave L.
Nice! I didn’t know those were made. I have used one of these successfully:
http://www.amazon.com/Wolfcraft-4525404-Attachment-4-Inch-8-Inch/dp/B000JCIMEA/
fred
Similar in concept to the old Portalign drill guide – General Tools and Craftsman also market a similar product.
Aircraft supply houses also market drilling guides:
http://www.yardstore.com/browse.cfm/2,368.html
You might also look at the Wall-Lenk DG-300
Stuart
I’ve never seen those drill cups before. Seems like a great idea, and looks highly adaptable for making one’s own DIY drilling jigs with off-the-shelf press-fit or screw-down bushings.
fred
And – typical of aircraft rivet and tapping applications – the bushings come in Letter and Number Drill sizes
Nathan
Only thing I wish they would do is make them in smaller sections. IE not so many holes on one guide. yes that would mean more pieces – I’m ok with that but it would be a bit easier to position and movie. IMO.
very nice pieces though.
Stuart
I’ve seen round tap guides, but multi-size drill guides like these are tougher to make smaller. You want enough area so that you can sufficiently clamp down the block and still access the hole you need.
Nathan
I was going for cutting one down with a band saw or something. I mean the standard sized one is what – 9ish inches long. something more like 5-6 is plenty.
Stuart
It’s 5-1/2″ long, I just measured it.
Nathan
I sit corrected then. didn’t see a measurement on their site – but the thing looks longer than that. I guess I should have added up the holes first.
Stuart
I don’t think they list length anywhere either. I know or to be 5-6 inches, but measured it to be sure.
Jerry
I highly doubt a band saw would cut it. Mine is so hard drill bits will not bite into it. Maybe a chop saw, but that risks taking out the temper.
Seriously, though, it really isn’t that big. Not exactly ‘pocket’ size, but certainly not 9 inches.
Jerry
I have one of these. Not something I use every day, but it does work well for its intended purpose. It can be a life saver if you are in a situation where you need a reasonably precise hole drilled through the center of a rod or shaft, and it is impractical to remove the rod or shaft and take it to the drill press. If youve ever had a drill bit repeatedly skate off a rod, you know what i mean. Accuracy seems good enough for 95% of my needs. The holes are sized just big enough so a bit doesn’t bind, which leaves a couple thousandths of slop, but for most uses, that is more than good enough.
pete
Curious to know how long these would last? IE- if you used one sized hole over and over again until the hole in the guide was too big to be useable to get in the middle of the rod
Stuart
They’re heat treated and presumably hardened, but they might eventually will wear. With occasional or light regular use, it’ll take a very, very long time.
In a production environment, if the same hole sizes are needed over and over, one could fabricate a bespoke guide block with replaceable bushings (http://www.mcmaster.com/#2589).
fred
You could do the same with the threaded (1/2-13) bushings that are sold for the egg-cup drilling stands and drilling bars like those sold at Yardstore (my link above) – or at other sources (shopping around may find them for less) like at Omega:
http://omegatec.com/egg-cup-drill-stands.aspx
JT
If you have a drill press, drill the hole you are trying to bore into a scrap 2×4.
Use this scrap 2×4 as a guide or template.
I use this technique all the time when I can’t use my drill press on large pieces of lumber, but I need to make sure it is being drilled perfectly straight.
Chris L
Would using something like this run the risk of dulling the drill bit if it comes in contact with the sides of the hole? If not then it’s going in my basket!
SteveR
Actually, it will be in contact with the sides during the entire drilling or tapping procedure if it’s done properly. The various holes are a specific size to match drill or tap sizes. The holes will enable you to keep them at 90 degrees to your work, which is the whole idea (no pun intended). They’re great for drilling on round or cylindrical objects; just place it on the tubing or pipe, clamp it and drill a perfect hole each time. There are lots of places a drill press can’t be used (engine compartments, etc.), so these are a nice complement to one for those jobs.
Nathan
not so much. I think they even mention the holes are about 0.002 off such as to provide a bind free placement for the drill. so I’d say you’d be good.
I went ahead and both 2 of them (standard and large). it will come in handy on round stock or pipe. and just be handy over all at home.
SteveR
The larger diameter, 0.002″, still keeps the drill or tap in close contact with it. You’re operating the power drill or tap wrench by hand, so it will bump or touch the sides during the process. The steel used is hardened, though, so any damage to the Gator Guide will be minimal. As you work, light oil should be added to aid lubricity, chip removal and to keep the heat down. The oversize will permit the drill or tap to move freely in the hole (if it was exactly the same size it wouldn’t turn), and it also gives the metal chips some place to go as you work. Remember, too, to clean and oil the Gator Guide before putting it away to prevent the metal from rusting.
Stuart
I don’t think so. There’s minimal contact between the tip of a drill bit and the sides of the guide. As SteveR mentioned, some light oil or machining fluid will help to ensure minimal friction between drill bit flutes and guide holes.
Michael Veach
I used a Kreg jig to build a set of cabinets. The same basic principal. I have not seen any ware on the bushings or the bit