I’m sharing my recent experience with Drill Guides For Portable Drills, hoping it will be helpful for anyone needing to make precise holes in their projects. Like many, I was looking for a reliable solution to ensure accurate drilling with a handheld drill. My quest for precision led me to try a couple of different drill guides, each with varying degrees of success.
My first attempt was with the Milescraft Drill Guide. Having had positive experiences with other Milescraft products, I was optimistic.
However, this particular tool turned out to be quite disappointing. The main issue was significant slop in the slider mechanism. This play resulted in holes that were far from precise. While the rubber bump pads on the base were a nice feature for flat surfaces, they became a hindrance near the edges of the material. If one of the pads was off the edge, the guide would tilt, further compromising accuracy.
Next, I decided to try a clone of the Woodpeck Auto-Line Drill Guide. The genuine Woodpeck version is a significant investment, and the copy seemed like a more affordable alternative. Despite mixed reviews on the original Woodpeck, the flat base design of this style of guide appealed to me, as it promised to eliminate the tilting problem I encountered with the Milescraft.
Alt: Woodpeck Auto-Line drill guide copy with flat base, designed for stability and edge drilling, addressing tilting issues.
This guide performed somewhat better. The chuck and bearing run-out were actually quite good, measuring around .002″. However, the slider still had excessive play, allowing the chuck to wiggle noticeably. My measurements indicated this play was equivalent to about .03″ run-out at the chuck itself. When using a longer drill bit, say 5 inches, this run-out could escalate to around .05″. This is a considerable issue if you’re aiming for precise 90-degree holes. Using a Bridge City Universal Gauge, I found the holes could be off by as much as 3-4 degrees.
While these drill guides are certainly better than drilling completely freehand, where angles can be off by a significant 5-10 degrees, they are more accurately described as “drilling helpers” rather than precision instruments. Maintaining perfect vertical alignment is also challenging unless the guide is clamped down, making them less convenient for use on large workpieces.
In my search for a better solution, I came across the Abaco Drilling Guide M3.
Abaco Drilling Guide M3 in action – YouTube Video
This guide appeared to be a robust option, designed to accommodate a standard corded drill and featuring suction cups for secure mounting. I contacted Abaco directly and appreciated their honesty in admitting that their drill guide also has some play in the mechanism. It does seem like a heavy-duty guide, and pairing it with a powerful, variable-speed corded drill like the Makita HP2070F or the more budget-friendly Makita HP2050 could be a viable setup. The Abaco guide itself weighs around 17lbs, adding to its stability.
Alt: Makita HP2070F hammer drill, a high-power corded drill suitable for use with heavy-duty drill guides for enhanced drilling precision and control.
However, for my specific requirements, even these portable drill guide solutions fell short. I’m now exploring magnetic drills. Milwaukee magnetic drills are highly regarded, but they come with a hefty price tag. More affordable magnetic drill alternatives often involve compromises. Even newer, supposedly improved models like the Vevor magnetic drill still exhibit noticeable run-out, as demonstrated in this video:
Vevor Magnetic Drill Run-out Demonstration – YouTube Video
While magnetic drills seem to offer better precision than portable drill guides, achieving 100% perfection remains a challenge, depending on your accuracy needs. High-power Milwaukee magnetic drills, despite their cost, are appealing due to their substantial weight (around 72 lbs), providing a stable platform for drilling without clamping, and their ability to handle larger hole saws.
In conclusion, while portable drill guides can be helpful for general drilling tasks, they may not be the ideal solution for projects demanding very high precision. For truly accurate holes, especially in metalworking or similar applications, exploring alternatives like magnetic drills might be necessary, despite the increased cost and complexity. It’s crucial to assess your precision requirements and understand the limitations of each type of drill guide before investing in a solution.
