Supporting the Work

Figure 7-8 . Place a scrap block of wood between the work and the table when drilling holes through the workpiece.

When drilling through holes place a scrap block between the workpiece and the table (Figure 7-8). This protects the table and lets the bit point cut through into the scrap block so that it does not splinter the back of the workpiece as it emerges. Warning: Clamp the workpiece to a supporting surface to keep the bit from grabbing in the hole and jerking the workpiece out of your hands, particularly when the point is about to break through.

Use of the rip fence or miter gauge as a guide and support will lessen the need for clamping. When the workpiece being drilled is held against the rip fence or miter gauge, the twisting force exerted by the bit is taken by the fence or miter gauge and not by your hands.

The grain on some woods, such as fir, may pull a bit off center. When this happens, try clamping the work, drilling a small pilot hole, and then enlarging the hole to full size by drilling halfway through from each side.

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