Found a scrap wood jig for drilling pedal enclosures that actually works

I spent 3 hours last weekend trying to line up holes on a 1590BB with a hand drill and the bit kept wandering. Clamped a piece of scrap pine to my workbench, drilled a pilot hole for the bit guide, and used it as a depth stop. Anyone else got a jig hack that saved them from buying a $200 drill press?

2 comments

2 Comments

taraj111mo agoMost Upvoted

Honestly I've been there. That bit wandering is the worst when you're trying to get clean holes on a pedal enclosure. I took your scrap pine idea and went way overboard - I glued two blocks together at a right angle with a stop block at the back so the enclosure sits snug in a corner every time. Then I marked out all my hole positions on the jig itself with a center punch so I never have to measure again. Total cost was like $4 for the wood and some wood glue. Saved me from buying that drill press too, at least for now.

the_tara1mo ago

The real game changer for me was using the scrap jig as a drill bit sharpener too. After drilling a few enclosures my bits got dull and started burning the powder coat. I stuck a cheap diamond file into a groove I cut in the wood and ran the bit against it at the right angle a few times. Now I get cleaner holes and my bits last way longer. Also works for cleaning up burrs on the inside of the hole after drilling.