Tip #26
Drill Press (continued)
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Laying Out the Work

Work carefully and slowly when measuring and scribing lines. The simplest and most accurate method of marking a hole location is to draw two lines that intersect at the center of the hole. A combination square is a good tool to have since it is used to draw lines square with the edge of the work and as an edge-marking gauge. Dividers work best when it is necessary to transfer a measurement from one piece to another or to mark off a line into a number of equal spaces.

Other methods may be used according to the job and the number of pieces to be drilled. Templates may be made of illustration board, hardboard, plywood, or metal, depending on how long they will be used. Some pieces of hardware are their own templates, for example, a hinge or a drawer pull.

Figure 7-5. Use headless nails to mark hole locations for the second piece.

One little trick that should be remembered for use on mating pieces, when ordinary layout may be impractical or time-consuming, is to insert headless nails in small holes drilled in one of the pieces (Figure 7-5). Let the points protrude about 1/16" and then press the piece against the mating part. The nail points will mark the hole locations on the second piece. Pull the nails with a pair of pliers and drill the holes to full size.

Figure 7-6. Jointing members can also be marked by using dowel center finders.

Another method of marking jointing members (especially when employing dowels) is to use dowel center finders (Figure 7-6). After drilling the holes for the dowels in one piece of wood, you insert dowel centers in these holes. Then you align the two pieces of wood as they will be joined. When you press them together, the points on the dowel centers mark the second piece of wood. It is now possible to drill holes at these center marks. When the pieces are connected with dowels, the blind dowel joint is perfectly aligned. Dowel centers commonly come in assorted sizes to fit holes from 1/4" to 1/2" in diameter. For larger holes, a dowel rod with a brad in the center works well.

Figure 7-7. Drilling accuracy depends on layout. Two methods are shown.

Figure 7-7 illustrates two methods of marking hole locations when boards are to be joined edge-to-edge by doweling.

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