Drill Perfect Holes With The New UJK Technology Drill Guide

[rmhinden]

I have the Rockler Portable Drill Guide.

I am pleased with it, it's heavy duty, 1/2" chuck, works with bits up to 2-7/8'' in diameter.  I used it to drill 1 1/2" holes in a hard maple bench top, worked very well.

I first tried a Kanzawa Drill guide DX K-802, but found it wasn't up to the job and returned it.  For the small increment in price the Rockler is much better IMHO.

Bob

 

[mike_aa]

Will any of these drill guides be available with a 43mm collar (instead of the chuck) to fit the Festool PDC or other drills like some from Fein?  Here's an example of one.

Thanks, Mike A.

 

[TinyShop]

[member=74278]Packard[/member] - the WP drill guide features Teflon bushings. Also, since you're new to this discussion I encourage you to read back through the thread to understand the baseline beefs that folks have had with pretty much every low and modestly priced drill guide (at least until the Taiwanese version that's being marketed with improvements by UJK/Axminster &, most recently, Rocker), the lack of precision in the interface between the guide rod and the drill bracket being perhaps the foremost. For precision work, there can't be any slop here. But, again, before the advent of the UJK/Rocker versions, slop was all we had available to is. Now, the WP's version appears to have taken this to an even higher level. Given the closeness in pricing between the WP and Rockler offerings, I am happy to forgoe the ability to the tilt the guide rods (for angled drilling) in exchange for a domestically produced precision tool. I figure that I'll be able to achieve the same functionality (angled drilling) using jigs, assuming I'll be able to countersink some holes into the base to facilitate jig making.

Speaking if which, I heard back from Woodpeckers. They've apparently finalized the design (I urge folks to reach out to them to lobby for changes like those I'm advocating for) so now it's up to end users to create techniques to get the most out of this tool. For the moment, I'm on the fence (I'm waiting to learn more about the forthcoming update to the Bridge City Tool Works drilling jig) which means that I may wait until the last minute chance to order the WP tool (when they reopen the pre-order process, a welcome change to the OTT process). I can't really justify what will no doubt be a super high price for the Bridge City offering but I'm also wary of owning the "Model A" version of anything (particularly one, as in the case of the Auto-Line guide, already suffers from some pretty obvious design oversights). So, hopefully enough folks will contact Woodpeckers to persuade them to include the features that are absent in the current finalized design.

 

[Packard]

In our tool room we have a nice (and heavy) magnetic base portable drill press. I’m sure we paid over a thousand dollars for it.  Instead of linear bearings it has proper machine gibs and ways.

It is too heavy duty for wood working, but they make light duty versions for about $200.00.

These are typically used to drill holes in structural I-beams and for ship building.  It has an electro-magnet to adhere to the steel.  You don’t have to use the magnet.

For precision work I might consider one of these.
https://www.vevor.com/products/1200...MIw7XUyovC7gIVBODACh2pnAXcEAQYBCABEgLr8vD_BwE

 

[Josh2]

What are the changes you are advocating for? I mainly need a little more capacity. The max is 2'' and I need 55mm or 2-1/4''

[member=74278]Packard[/member] - the WP drill guide features Teflon bushings. Also, since you're new to this discussion I encourage you to read back through the thread to understand the baseline beefs that folks have had with pretty much every low and modestly priced drill guide (at least until the Taiwanese version that's being marketed with improvements by UJK/Axminster &, most recently, Rocker), the lack of precision in the interface between the guide rod and the drill bracket being perhaps the foremost. For precision work, there can't be any slop here. But, again, before the advent of the UJK/Rocker versions, slop was all we had available to is. Now, the WP's version appears to have taken this to an even higher level. Given the closeness in pricing between the WP and Rockler offerings, I am happy to forgoe the ability to the tilt the guide rods (for angled drilling) in exchange for a domestically produced precision tool. I figure that I'll be able to achieve the same functionality (angled drilling) using jigs, assuming I'll be able to countersink some holes into the base to facilitate jig making.

Speaking if which, I heard back from Woodpeckers. They've apparently finalized the design (I urge folks to reach out to them to lobby for changes like those I'm advocating for) so now it's up to end users to create techniques to get the most out of this tool. For the moment, I'm on the fence (I'm waiting to learn more about the forthcoming update to the Bridge City Tool Works drilling jig) which means that I may wait until the last minute chance to order the WP tool (when they reopen the pre-order process, a welcome change to the OTT process). I can't really justify what will no doubt be a super high price for the Bridge City offering but I'm also wary of owning the "Model A" version of anything (particularly one, as in the case of the Auto-Line guide, already suffers from some pretty obvious design oversights). So, hopefully enough folks will contact Woodpeckers to persuade them to include the features that are absent in the current finalized design.

 

[Cheese]

I ordered the straightforward WP version several days ago. In the last 30 years I’ve yet to need a mobile drill stand that is adjustable from the perpendicular position. The last time I needed holes drilled at an angle I just placed the material on the drill press and angled the drill press table.

If I need that same function in the future, I’ll use the drill press or make my own fixture. I really place a premium on the accuracy that the WP item offers.

 

[TinyShop]

[member=72953]Josh2[/member]

I just sent my thoughts to Woodpeckers regarding their Auto-Line drill stand. In particular, I'd love to see the outrigger being upgraded such that it can be captured by and ride along a Festool/Makita/Triton guide rail. I'd also like to see some allowance for dust collection, a larger footprint base (featuring four countersunk holes for jig making) and the hex shaft being upgraded so as to be CentroTec compatible. I'm definitely digging this Ohio-made drill stand so I'm hoping that the changes I've urged will end up in the final version. I'll upload Woodpecker's response when I receive it.

 

[Bob D.]

Will any of these drill guides be available with a 43mm collar (instead of the chuck) to fit the Festool PDC or other drills like some from Fein?  Here's an example of one.

Thanks, Mike A.

Looks like this is NAINA because US drill motors are not standardized and include the 43mm collar.
They also make a more universal version which is basically what we are seeing from WP, Rockler, and others.

It would be nice if those drill guides with a chuck were compatible with the FT CentroTec chuck as others have stated.
https://www.milescraft.com/product/drillmate/

 

[TinyShop]

[member=60461]Bob D.[/member] & [member=72953]Josh2[/member] & [member=30413]mike_aa[/member] -  the version of the Taiwanese model being marketed under the UJK brand is CentroTec compatible. I suggest folks read this entire thread (plus this one) since recent comments have been repetitive. All of this has been exhaustively discussed already.

 

[rst]

Milwaukee's 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 corded drills have 43mm collars suitable for use in Euro, Japanese and other driiling accessories.  I keep my one drill in a Zyliss drill holder for stationary drum sanding.  I also have Makita portable drill press...this works but the amount of slop makes it less than ideal for precision work.  They also work in the Fein bench attachment for the Multi and Supercut tools.

 

[TinyShop]

While we wait to see what V2.0 of the WP Auto-Line drill guide looks like (I just couldn't pull the trigger on V1.0 - too many missing features and no assurance from WP that future improvements will be backwards compatible), I thought folks might appreciate something I recently stumbled upon which argues perfectly for the necessity of having holes in the base of a drill guide (something missing from the WP Auto-Line) to allow for the mounting of jigs.

Behold, the shop-built vacuum base for (as it just so happens) a shop-built drill guide used in conjunction (and, as it also just so happens) a shop-built vacuum system [skip ahead to 19:56 for the section that specifically details the vacuum base]


My mind goes immediately to how useful a simple base like this would be in conjunction with an outrigger (or outrigger jig) designed to ride along a guide rail - it would take the accuracy of a portable drill guide to a whole other level. As a reminder, you don't need a dedicated vacuum pump to produce a vacuum - your compressor can do double-duty using one of these venturi valves. An ebay seller has a better price.

 

[Bob D.]

Some concrete core drills have vacuum bases. I've used them a few times when punching holes in floors. But we never trusted the vacuum pump when coring in walls. Biggest fear was loss of power to the vacuum pump, especially on a construction site. It's like using a mag-drill overhead without a safety chain.  [eek]

This could be adapted to many drill guides and router circle jigs.

I like the laser guide, that is something which could be useful on any drill guide, vacuum base or not.

Too bad youtube doesn't translate the CC. I am sure I lost a lot.

 

[TinyShop]

Hmmm, look what Rocker is now offering as an additional accessory for their drill guide:

Source.

 

[Roachmill]

Hmmm, look what Rocker is now offering as an additional accessory for their drill guide

That'll be putting the ball in Axminster's court. Not sure what the point of the notch in the reference face serves as it'll introduce wonk when you're trying to use it close to an edge. I'm sure it's there for a reason... I just can't think of a sensible one  [blink]

 

[cpw]

The center notch should allow you to get closer to the bit, when you want to have a hole that is overhanging the edge of your workpiece.  There are some hinges that require a partial 35mm cup and this could help if it has enough offset.

 

[tazprime38]

Hmmm, look what Rocker is now offering as an additional accessory for their drill guide

That'll be putting the ball in Axminster's court. Not sure what the point of the notch in the reference face serves as it'll introduce wonk when you're trying to use it close to an edge. I'm sure it's there for a reason... I just can't think of a sensible one  [blink]

I suggested a fence like this to Axminster during their first attempt at this drill stand. They said they would pass on the suggestion to their tech or engineering depot.

I suppose this would attach to the Axminster version also as they basically seem the same with a few differences.

 

[rst]

Notch will allow positioning on circular pieces

 

[Claimdude]

Probably won't attach to UJK as the base is smaller than the Rockler.

Jack

Hmmm, look what Rocker is now offering as an additional accessory for their drill guide

That'll be putting the ball in Axminster's court. Not sure what the point of the notch in the reference face serves as it'll introduce wonk when you're trying to use it close to an edge. I'm sure it's there for a reason... I just can't think of a sensible one  [blink]

I suggested a fence like this to Axminster during their first attempt at this drill stand. They said they would pass on the suggestion to their tech or engineering depot.

I suppose this would attach to the Axminster version also as they basically seem the same with a few differences.

 

[Eorlingur]

Is the rockler base square or rectangular? I was looking at the rockler base and thinking that it it would probably be possible to attach the edge guide from my OF2200 on my UJK stand. It looks straight forward enough to do, but it will only fit, easily, in one direction, making the tilt of the guide parallel to the edge. On the rockler it looks like its perpendicular. A really useful edge guide should be able to do both, or even better, any angle.

 

[Bob D.]

" A really useful edge guide should be able to do both, or even better, any angle."

What if you had two concentric rings, the inner one fastened to the underside of your drill stand and the outer one with a pair of holes bored horizontally through to accept the rods from the edge guide. Would need to be a snug fit to maintain concentricity.

Then you drop the drill stand ring into the outer ring and can rotate the drill guide to whatever position you desire to bore an angled hole at. A lock screw from the outer ring could clamp the inner ring in position so it wouldn't drift.

Some of that red aluminum like they have in Strongsville, Ohio sounds like the right material.
I think it would be a nice fit under their new auto-line drill guide.