Drilling accurately placed holes can be difficult, even with a drill press. Fences and clamps can help but they add setup time and still can't guarantee accuracy. Set those aside and improve your results by practicing this simple technique.
Before You Begin
You'll need:
- A drill press.
- High-quality brad point drill bits. A poorly milled or dull bit won't be accurate, so avoid buying the cheapest of the cheap.
- A pencil, ruler and fine-tipped awl for marking.
Install the bit in the drill press. Tighten the chuck by hand first, then with the chuck key using all three keyholes to apply even pressure around the bit. Doing so will reduce runout, which is the drill's tendency to wobble off-center as it spins.