Drill Press Tips

The drill press allows you to to drill straight holes into wood much quicker and better than a standard hand drill. Drill presses are fairly straightforward to operate. Becoming comfortable with drill press enables you to use it more and more often for even simple projects.

  1. Wear Protective Safety Glasses

    • Wear actual protective safety glasses and not just sunglasses. Safety glasses protect your eyes from any danger by protecting the front of the eyes as well as providing some protection for the sides of the face and eyes.

    Mark Your Hole

    • Take a pencil and mark exactly where you want to drill. This will not only make a better hole, but also allow you to easily locate where you need to drill.

    Use a Vice or Clamp

    • The vice or clamp will hold down the wood you wish to drill on. Always use a clamp to stabilize the wood and prevent it from spinning or falling off the table.

    Run Drill at Correct Speed

    • Each drill press has different speed levels the drill will operate at. Lower the speed if you are drilling into a small and shallow piece of wood. For larger and thick pieces of wood? Bump the drill speed up.

    Immediately Shut Off if it Binds

    • Sometimes the drill will bind in the wood. Instead of forcing harder pressure on the drill, immediately turn the machine off. Turn the chuck backwards to free wood from bit.