I was surprised to find that there is a paucity of drill attachments for handhelds to help drill straight holes. This one does a fair job of addressing the problem.
The chuck is 3/8", so larger bits will not work. Assembly is straightforward, as the handheld drill attaches to the top spindle and rides on two springed rods.
The base is not too steady as it's not completelty flat. There are too many allowances for screws and the like that make the base unstable. The handle works somewhat, but it can rock a bit while drilling.
The chuck is keyed. A keyless would have been nicer. It also has about 1/16" play, which means that the hole is not exactly at the center. The depth stop is collar that can be tighetened on the rod.
The springs on the rod are fairly hard, perhaps too hard. Furthermore, the depth stop stops the drill when the springs are completely compressed, requiring quite a bit of force, all while trying to hold the base steady. I removed the springs and it works much better.
This guide does a better job of drilling a straight hole than just doing so freehand, but is no replacement for a drill press. The concept is fine, but it needs some redesigning to work better. A DIY fix would be to attach a larger base to the bottom. Wolfcraft 4525404 Drill Guide Attachment for 1/4-Inch or 3/8-Inch Drills
I like using this and it certainly improves the drilling and makes possible angles and such. It does take a little preparation, but for the money, it's an economic way to get good work done without having a drill-press. I'd also like to add that it is a little bulky, and I wasn't able to use it in a tight location like I'd hoped, but that simply means you need to plan for that.
CONS:
1. The two top screws tend to loosen when your drill is making a little bit much vibration due to the nature of whatever you're drilling. You have to tight them after every hole you make, or the angle will change.
2. It's hard to handle it when it's connected with the drill, because it weights almost the same as the drill. I think they should've made it a little lighter.
3. For aiming, you have to press a few times before getting to the right place so you can begin to drill. A laser beam would've helped a lot.
4. It's very hard or impossible to drill a hole near the edge of a wood sheet, I had to mount it in a piece of wood to get the work done.
PROS:
1. There's nothing like it in the market. So it solves a lot of my needs.
2. Fairly accurate, much better than drilling with your bare hands.
3. Fair price, not too expensive.
I didn't tested other angles besides 90ยช.
This guide would not replace a drill press. But it will definitely help with keeping the drill square to the surface, and there is an area where it is actually works better. Try drilling a hole square to the wall overhead with your drill press !
For more precise drilling, you want to drill a pilot hole, use a brad bit, and go slowly. Again, it's not a drill press, but it is definitely an improvement over drilling freehand.
On a negative side, the guide has somewhat excessive play in the chuck, and a tight fit for larger (corded) drills.
This is the second drill guide I have used. I used it to drill a number of holes through some pretty stiff hardwood and locations for bench dogs in my workbench. The holes came out sufficiently straight for my needs, probably could have made it more accurate had I screwed the base to a larger platform first. While I can see the springs could be handy for some purposes, they compress to three inches or so. Thus reducing the overall depth one can drill, although they can be easily removed in need be.
Overall it seems decently designed without any obvious flaws and seems robust enough to last a while. My only complaint is that there is no place to store the chuck key, would have been nice if they had included on on the base or crossbar when not needed.
I think if the designers of this product try then they can definitely improve the design. It has a good concept but does need further improvement. The problems are with the assembly and then with readjustment of the angle. Make sure to read the instructions before you try to assemble it. The instructions make the assembly less daunting. The thing seems to come apart if you loosen the bars from the top to try to adjust the angle or try to fold it for storing it. Funny thing is that the instructions first tell you how to put it togethor with the springs. Then it tells you to take them out.
Once I had it figured out and set then it worked ok and I think was quite useful.
I am very surprised that there are only two such products available and both very similar. An ideal product would be something similar to a drill press that would not use a additional chuck.
Kind of flimsy. Works OK with a light-cordless drill. Wobbles a lot I use one of the heavier ones, ending up with imprecise drilling. Gave up on it and hand-drilled the rest (slower but with the same level of precision!). So, if you want precise drilling go for a proper drill press.
I bought this to drill multiple shallow holes in the vertical sides of an entertainment center to use shelf pins for maximum shelf adjustability. For drilling the same holes repeatedly and wanting them the same this is just not the best tool. As stated by others the springs are too stiff, especially for a large number of holes (80) which will wear your arms out. The instability of the base combined with the lean "flex" of the guide rods caused as you apply the extra pressure you have to because of the springs make the difference between drilling by hand and using this device basically undetectable. I would have to say, if you're not that concerned, just drill by hand and if you want anywhere near precise, get a drill press of a better intermediate attachment. - Drill Accessories - Milescraft - Drill Press - Chuck'
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