Festool needs to design a portable drill jig

Mark

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Joined
Jan 22, 2007
Messages
271
This is simply the biggest POS I've ever owned.  http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2081534/31411/General-Tools-AccuDrill-Precision-Drill-Guide-Model-3637.aspx?refcode=05INFROO 

I had an older one and while it was still a pretty awful accessory, it was at least made of metal. This new one is made of plastic and I just about pitched it across the room when I used it. Bearing seized on me as I didn't add a drop of oil to the bushing. Frame is totally wonky... I can probably eyeball a hole better than trying to use this thing!

Festool... how about an accessory that can replace this piece of junk!
 
Roger Savatteri said:
There is one.
It's made by Bridge City Tools.
It's called the DJ-1 Drilling Jig

http://www.bridgecitytools.com/Products/What's+New/DJ-1+Drilling+Jig

I have one, it works wonderfully. (and it goes far beyond the type you mentioned)
There are also other accessories  they came out with to even take it's capabilities further.

DJ-1 Drilling Jig from Bridge City Tool Works

+1  Using drill bushings allows for very precise hole locations.  It's a great tool.
 
Mark Enomoto said:
This is simply the biggest POS I've ever owned.  http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2081534/31411/General-Tools-AccuDrill-Precision-Drill-Guide-Model-3637.aspx?refcode=05INFROO 

I had an older one and while it was still a pretty awful accessory, it was at least made of metal. This new one is made of plastic and I just about pitched it across the room when I used it. Bearing seized on me as I didn't add a drop of oil to the bushing. Frame is totally wonky... I can probably eyeball a hole better than trying to use this thing!

Festool... how about an accessory that can replace this piece of junk!

http://www.protool.de/Produkte/Seiten/Produktdetailansicht.aspx?pid=621603&name=Zimmerei-Bohrstaender-stufenlos-schwenkbar-bis-45-GDP-320-A
 
Deansocial said:
Mark Enomoto said:
This is simply the biggest POS I've ever owned.  http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2081534/31411/General-Tools-AccuDrill-Precision-Drill-Guide-Model-3637.aspx?refcode=05INFROO 

I had an older one and while it was still a pretty awful accessory, it was at least made of metal. This new one is made of plastic and I just about pitched it across the room when I used it. Bearing seized on me as I didn't add a drop of oil to the bushing. Frame is totally wonky... I can probably eyeball a hole better than trying to use this thing!

Festool... how about an accessory that can replace this piece of junk!

http://www.protool.de/Produkte/Seiten/Produktdetailansicht.aspx?pid=621603&name=Zimmerei-Bohrstaender-stufenlos-schwenkbar-bis-45-GDP-320-A

That appears to be a well made jig although it looks like you would need to use extra length jobber drill bits?
 
The pro tool with a Festool mounting ring to use a cordless drill by way of the accessory coupling would be very cool.
 
Well, more than 300$ for a simple drill jig.. hmmm...
i have this one and use it occasionally.. it does a good job and is reasonable in price..
it's made from Die cast Aluminium - only the handles are plastic (glassfiber reinforced)
Its a good solution for up to 10mm (3/8) drills, for larger drills the Protool jig should be considered.

baught mine from a local dealer, have it now found on Amazon.com for ~28 $ not sure, where you can get it else:
Wolfcraft Angle drill jig

kind regards, Mike

 
Looks like a great gadget but:
We are now taking pre-orders with only a 10% deposit.  When we reach the minimum order quantity we can go into production. Expected ship date to be March 2011.
 
RonWen said:
Deansocial said:
Mark Enomoto said:
This is simply the biggest POS I've ever owned.  http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2081534/31411/General-Tools-AccuDrill-Precision-Drill-Guide-Model-3637.aspx?refcode=05INFROO 

I had an older one and while it was still a pretty awful accessory, it was at least made of metal. This new one is made of plastic and I just about pitched it across the room when I used it. Bearing seized on me as I didn't add a drop of oil to the bushing. Frame is totally wonky... I can probably eyeball a hole better than trying to use this thing!

Festool... how about an accessory that can replace this piece of junk!

http://www.protool.de/Produkte/Seiten/Produktdetailansicht.aspx?pid=621603&name=Zimmerei-Bohrstaender-stufenlos-schwenkbar-bis-45-GDP-320-A

That appears to be a well made jig although it looks like you would need to use extra length jobber drill bits?

I have the protool GDP320A, and yes, you need extra length drill bits. It's a sturdy piece of equipment, but nothing like the DJ-1 in terms of versatility.
 
Looking further the DJ-1 appears to be a more flexible competition to the Dowelmax.  Considering that the Dowelmax kit is ≈$300 the DJ-1 isn't that unreasonably priced.  If you need the functionality its either the DJ-1 or a drill press with a lot of hand made jigs and it looks like the DJ-1 is more flexible as well.
 
I've had my DJ-1 for quite some time and it is a beautiful piece of machining.  How do I like it?  It is great.  I open the box take it out, look at it, put it back in the box, close the lid, and put it back on the office shelf.  I have never used it.  Now I am waiting for the accessory jaws.

I know you are thinking that I am nuts, but I do this with a lot of my tools.  Heck, it took several weeks after I got my TS-55 to try it out.

Peter
 
Peter Halle said:
I've had my DJ-1 for quite some time and it is a beautiful piece of machining.  How do I like it?  It is great.  I open the box take it out, look at it, put it back in the box, close the lid, and put it back on the office shelf.  I have never used it.  Now I am waiting for the accessory jaws.

I know you are thinking that I am nuts, but I do this with a lot of my tools.  Heck, it took several weeks after I got my TS-55 to try it out.

Peter

Yeah! You are nuts.  Glad to know somebody else who sometimes does the same thing.
Along the same sort of categorie, I have a very small/short window of oportunity to get down into my shop for any serious work.  When I do get in there, it is like starting all over again and I will take out my unused-for-a-long-time tools and set them up, unconnected to power, and go thru the motions of using.  I want to be sure I have not developed any dangerous habits during my down time.  There are some of my toys that, just like some of yours, have not even been introduced to such trial runs. They are still waiting in box or on shelf for just the right project.

Glad to know you fellow nut ::)
Tinker
 
Peter Halle said:
I know you are thinking that I am nuts

Peter , certainly not! You're the FOGtainer Guru, how could one possibly question your decisions?  [not worthy]

Tinker said:
Glad to know somebody else who sometimes does the same thing

Come on  Tinker, you can't be serious, can you?  [blink] Man, you're nuts......  [poke]

Regards,

Job
 
The DJ-1 is definitely pretty, like most things "Bridge City".  This past weekend, I built a table for my mom's Christmas present; as I'm using 3/8" brass stock for floating the top, I needed holes dead center and dead vertical in the legs.  It's a pretty trivial use of the DJ-1, but it sure made that ridiculously easy.  I've previously drilled several dowels just as easily and those are usually a nuisance to drill.

If I were all-hand-tool, I'd get this in a heartbeat.  Notice, too, that over in the Classified thread, ForumMFG has a DJ-1 for sale.  He also has a CT-16 plus bit set for sale.  The CT-16 is a palm brace that's very nice and those bits are outstanding.  I used it for drilling the holes in the legs; it works with a power drill, but sometimes it's fun to go the hand route.

Whoever buys that DJ-1, get yourself on the pre-order list for the universal jaw set at BCTW as pre-ordering closes soon for delivery end of January.
 
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