It isn’t always an easy task to drill small holes in small pieces of wood for your woodworking projects. In fact, it can be quite difficult with certain applications. A drill vice can grip the small piece of lumber, but usually not at the correct angle. This is where a simple jig comes in for drilling into small parts and pieces.
Take a piece of scrap wood, about 6”x9” (it can be larger but it just needs to be able to fit. Smaller probably won’t work well.) This will make the base for the jig. It is important that the wood is straight and no warped. For that reason MDF, particle board, or something that is manufactured may be a better choice over hardwood/softwood material. And over time natural wood can warp along the grain pattern over a period of time as well.
Cut the two parts as you see in the drawing. The sizes aren’t crucial, but the height should not be much more than the two small fences themselves that are attached to the base.
The edges on the underside and in the corner (again, see the drawing) need to be sanded off before gluing the parts onto the baseboard. The sanded corners prevent sawdust from building up in the corner and on the base, which would cause the hole to be off and not straight.
A strong clamp holds the wood in position while drilling. It is easy to hold the entire jig steady with your hands on the drill table, keeping your fingers safely away from the drill bit.
The image to the right shows the jig. If you use taller fences on the jig, then you can drill taller parts that may be long but small in diameter. The fences being taller will hold the piece steady, making the hole that is cut more precise.
Once the jig is created you will find quite a number of uses for it, making you wonder “Why didn’t I make this simple jig in the first place?”
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Contributed By: Aschi’s Workshop
Owner: Peter Aschi
Website: aschisworkshop.com
Learn More About Peter: petersportal.com