[TheForge] Re: Drilling angles etc

[Mike Spencer]

Marc> The only trick I've used that works is to start the holes going
Marc> in straight.  Then when the hole is deep enough to "catch" the
Marc> bit at the desired angle, I stop and rotate the table or drill
Marc> head at the angle.

It may work even better if you:

    + Start the hole, with, say, a 3/8" drill, at right angles, but
      just enough to create a dimple, and just a tad -- 1/8" or so --
      "uphill" of the desired starting point,

    + center-punch the correct location inside of, on the side of, the
      dimple, 

    + reset the workpiece to the desired angle, and

    + drill a pilot hole, say 1/8" or so, where you center-punched.

It will be easier to keep the 1/8" drill from drifting out of the
punch mark than it would be with your final-sized drill, which latter
has a much wider chisel edge. And because you're starting the pilot
hole on the side of the dimple, it will be closer to right angles
anyhow. 


FWIW,
- Mike

-- 
Michael Spencer                  Nova Scotia, Canada       .~. 
                                                           /V\ 
mspencer at tallships.ca                                     /( )\
http://home.tallships.ca/mspencer/                        ^^-^^