Why are small "drill plunge bases" not a thing?

[JakobProgsch]

Obviously they sort of are. Festool even sells drill stands. But they are huge and even the smaller alternatives from other vendors seem to be made to drill big holes into beams and require quite some surface area to position. What I'm thinking of is something more in the size range of the vecturo plunge base. Just something to assist "freehand" drilling small holes at proper angles. It would also provide an obvious way to have some dust collection and better depth adjustment than those hexagonal rods.

There are plenty of tips and videos to be found how to drill straight holes (using CDs as a optical guide, L-shaped wooden blocks etc.). But then the complete lack of drill accessories like this makes me think that I must be missing obvious reason why no one makes or needs this type of accessory?

 

[Euclid]

Are any of these more the sort of thing that would be useful for you?
http://www.wolfcraft.com/en/product...cmobil_200_mobile_drilling_aid/s/p/index.html
http://www.wolfcraft.com/en/products/p/drill_guides/1_accumobil_mobile_drilling_aid/s/p/index.html
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-drill-guide-kit-210235
http://www.wolfcraft.com/en/products/p/drill_guides/1_tecmobil_mobile_drill_stand/s/p/index.html
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-drill-guide-500458

 

[JakobProgsch]

Are any of these more the sort of thing that would be useful for you?
...

Indeed, thanks. The first one looks more or less what I was thinking of. I guess I should have searched more internationally.

(I'd still like a nice one from festool )

 

[Euclid]

Yes, I'd been looking at the Festool ones - but as you said they are huge (and very expensive). And there are some even fancier ones if construction timber work is your thing. I think there are some examples in another, recent, thread.

I've been using the second example in my list, and also the last one (but, being quite old now, is actually branded Wolfcraft...) which works quite well, though setting the depth-stop would be easier if one had more than two hands.

For the price of the little Axminster kit (third in my examples) I'm thinking that might be useful when access is very difficult but a degree of precision is desirable - or when using the CSX (or, for example, C18) with no 43mm collar fitting.

 

[Euclid]

There is also the Festool drilling dust nozzle - but that's concerned more with collecting the dust than keeping the drill perpendicular; would be interesting to see the two functions combined, wouldn't it?

 

[kaseri]

Big Gator Tools V-Drill guide.

 

[Peter_C]

There is a point a drill press is far superior. They do make bench top drill presses for a slightly smaller foot print at a reasonable price point. Being able to drill at compound angles, clamp stuff firmly in place with a vise, use a mortising jig, set up a jig for production drilling IE: down a line in intervals, along with accurately drilling 90* holes are just the beginning of a drill presses uses.

 

[Cheese]

Big Gator Tools V-Drill guide.

Small and extremely handy to carry around.  [big grin]  I use both the imperial & metric version.

 

[semenza]

That Big Gator drill guide looks very handy!

I see that they have "natural steel finish" and the note on them to keep oiled to prevent rust.  I think that might be the only draw back for woodworking or using it place on a finished wall, etc.

Seth

 

[Paul G]

That Big Gator drill guide looks very handy!

I see that they have "natural steel finish" and the note on them to keep oiled to prevent rust.  I think that might be the only draw back for woodworking or using it place on a finished wall, etc.

Seth

Agreed. Stainless would make a whole lot more sense.

 

[semenza]

That Big Gator drill guide looks very handy!

I see that they have "natural steel finish" and the note on them to keep oiled to prevent rust.  I think that might be the only draw back for woodworking or using it place on a finished wall, etc.

Seth

Agreed. Stainless would make a whole lot more sense.

    Aaah, wait found one that might be more suitable for wood and walls ....... Milescraft DrillBlock.  Same idea resin block with brass (?) , or some type of metal inserts. Very much like a Kreg jig.  Fewer sizes but probably all that is really needed for wood.

Seth

 

[ben_r_]

Big Gator Tools V-Drill guide.

Got one of those. Very nice.

 

[Cheese]

I see that they have "natural steel finish" and the note on them to keep oiled to prevent rust.  I think that might be the only draw back for woodworking or using it place on a finished wall, etc.

Actually Seth, because the entire surface of the drill guide is heat treated, it resists rust. I've had the imperial, metric and the tap guide for the last 3 years and have never oiled them. They've been used outside and are kept downstairs in an unheated basement. Not a spec of rust, I do however keep them in their plastic cases.

FWIW...Take a real close look at the Milescraft item, I've purchased some Milescraft router accessories over the years and promptly threw all of them in the trash.

 

[ben_r_]

Never oiled mine either and going on a little over a year now.

 

[justinh]

Mine don't rust either.  A piece of blue tape eliminates any steel transfer or danger of scratching on finishes when doing cabinet work.

 

[flair woodworks]

I would like to see a portable plunge base that can be tilted. There are some mediocre ones on the market that resemble the last Axminster link, but something more precise and robust would be nice.  Ever drill for spindles on a stair case?

 

[GarryMartin]

I would like to see a portable plunge base that can be tilted.

[member=9555]Chris Wong[/member] I have one that is good enough; certainly better than mediocre.
http://www.rutlands.co.uk/sp+woodworking-power-tool-accessories-drilling-boring-drill-stands-guides-precision-drill-guide-dakota+dkz22

I also have the Big Gator metric drill guides and have never needed to oil them.

 

[Cheese]

Ever drill for spindles on a stair case?

You are aware that Festool and Mafell both manufacture one? They're expensive though.
https://www.festool.com/Products/Ac...69042&name=Drill-stand-for-carpentry-GD-460-A
http://www.mafelltoolstore.com/drill-stations.html

 

[semenza]

  Good to know about the Gator not rusting. I did end up ordering one of the Milescraft.  We will see how the tolerances are and such.

Seth

 

[flair woodworks]

After visiting the FOG last night, I went and browsed the Mafell catalog. Oooh!