Enclosure drilling woes... help! (no drill press)

[ben_allison]

I make templates on the computer, mark the enclosure with a punch, drill pilot holes with a dremel, and use a hand drill with a Unibit... I try to go slow and do it right.

But my holes can still be off by a much as 1/8" from where I need them to be!

I know a drill press would fix everything, but I don't have the scratch for one.

Is there ANYTHING I can do to make my drilling more accurate. I don't want to botch another enclosure!

[jdolll]

Start the hole with a chisel tip bit but just enought to get a splod dimple, then use a standard drill bit. The also sell press
style attachments that can be put on a drill for roughly 30-40 bucks, but they are only slightly more accurate than careful freehand drilling.

[megatonic]

Just find a machine shop at a local college, or find one in the yellow pages.
Don't call them, just take the box there, pre-marked, and ask how much it would cost to drill a few holes in it. Make sure to have all the info as far as hole diameter etc. with you when you go. There's a good chance they'll just do it for free. If not free, then maybe like five bucks or something.

[ben_allison]

Originally Posted by megatonic

Just find a machine shop at a local college, or find one in the yellow pages.
Don't call them, just take the box there, pre-marked, and ask how much it would cost to drill a few holes in it. Make sure to have all the info as far as hole diameter etc. with you when you go. There's a good chance they'll just do it for free. If not free, then maybe like five bucks or something.

This is exactly what I thought about doing.

My old college has a metal shop. Surely using a drill press is perk that can be afforded to an alumni?

[Leonardo]

Perhaps the enclosure is moving while you're drilling? Use a vise or c-clamp to hold it down.

[Random]

Once you start the drill you have no idea where the hole was supposed to go because your reference center point has been drilled away.

I've had the exact same problem.

My solution was to mark the outline of the holes as well as the center. I scrape them into the surface rather than use a pen that might wipe off. I get a perfect circle by using one of those two legged things you measure out distances on a map with. [points for knowing the name of that one]

This way I can always know how far off I am and can make corrections to get those perfectly placed holes easily.
By hand with no drill press.

[SpaceFlunky]

is it possible to start with a lead hole?
Like taking a nail and hammer to punch a small hole in the center of your markings then following it with your drill bit.

FYI. ive never drilled holes in enclosures but im going off common knowledge.

[Dale]

Drill jigs. http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/200...ill-Guide.aspx


Dremmel Drill press http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CD0Q8wIwAw#

[Staticbuster]

Originally Posted by Random

I get a perfect circle by using one of those two legged things you measure out distances on a map with. [points for knowing the name of that one]

it's called a compass, brother....

[gururyan]

I've seen drill presses under $100 new, get a press.

[j4j]

I haven't used a Unibit before, but some people say they can drift. I would try using some regular drill bits.

j4j

[clydes001]

Mark your holes with a punch. Then drill a pilot hole. Measure and make sure you're still aligned. If you need to adjust, make them after the pilot holes are drilled. Then I use a Unibit.

[Montez]

Aluminum is a very soft metal which is prone to have inconstancy in the hardness across the casting surface.

I recommend not using a unibit as it can side cut. Use a sharp, quality bit that is the size you need.

Clamp the box securely so it cannot move while drilling.

Drill pilot holes.

When drilling use a slow speed and let the bit do the work...don't press hard.

OK this is important...Use two hands while drilling. One on the handle, the other hand on the back of the drill directly in-line with the drill axis. Any light pressure applied should be on the hand on the drills axis only! If you apply pressure on the handle it will put lateral stress in the drill bit causing it to drift the hole up and left.

The side holes are the trickiest. The sides are slightly slanted in toward the top. Keep the drill perpendicular to the side surface otherwise they will drift up.

Lowes occasionally puts a bench drill press on sale for $69. I still use mine, albeit I have a nice X-Y mill table mounted to it.

Good luck

[soulsonic]

Originally Posted by Staticbuster

it's called a compass, brother....

Yeah, and he's talking about circles, but isn't it a Divider that you use on maps?
Man... Compasses and Dividers are such amazing tools. I use them to design special grids for all my layouts. It pleases nature.

Originally Posted by gururyan

I've seen drill presses under $100 new, get a press.

THIS +100000
Stop wasting your time with a hand drill and get a press for $60 from Menards or wherever.

[ben_allison]

Originally Posted by Random

This way I can always know how far off I am and can make corrections to get those perfectly placed holes easily.
By hand with no drill press.

Good tip!

Originally Posted by j4j

I haven't used a Unibit before, but some people say they can drift

Originally Posted by Montez

I recommend not using a unibit as it can side cut. Use a sharp, quality bit that is the size you need.

Interesting...

Originally Posted by Montez

Clamp the box securely so it cannot move while drilling.

Drill pilot holes.

When drilling use a slow speed and let the bit do the work...don't press hard.

OK this is important...Use two hands while drilling. One on the handle, the other hand on the back of the drill directly in-line with the drill axis. Any light pressure applied should be on the hand on the drills axis only! If you apply pressure on the handle it will put lateral stress in the drill bit causing it to drift the hole up and left.
Good luck

More great tips!

Thanks all. Great info in this thread.