Power tools and machinery

Drilling

Drilling tools bore holes, drive fasteners, countersink screws, and create repeatable locations for hardware and joinery.

What to Know About Drilling

Drilling tools include cordless drills, drill presses, impact drivers, right-angle drills, doweling jigs, countersinks, and specialized bits. Each offers different control over torque, depth, angle, and repeatability.

Working principle

A motor rotates a bit while the cutting edges sever fibers and clear chips. A press, guide, or jig controls angle and depth more reliably than handheld drilling.

Major Types

Choose by hole size, precision, repeatability, access, and whether the tool is drilling, driving, or both.

Cordless Drill/Driver

A portable tool for drilling and driving.

A drill/driver handles pilot holes, clearance holes, countersinking, and screws. Clutch settings help prevent overdriving fasteners.

Drill Press

A stationary machine for square repeatable holes.

A drill press controls vertical travel, depth stops, and table support. It is best for accurate holes, repeat drilling, and safer use of larger bits.

Impact Driver

A compact driver for fasteners.

An impact driver uses rotational impacts to drive screws and bolts with less wrist torque. It is not the cleanest choice for precision drilling.

Right-Angle Drill

A drill for tight access.

A right-angle drill fits inside cabinets, between framing, or near assembled parts where a normal drill body cannot align.

Doweling Jig

A guide for aligned dowel holes.

A doweling jig controls spacing and angle so mating holes line up. It turns a handheld drill into a joinery layout system.

Brad-Point Bit

A wood bit with a precise center spur.

A brad-point bit starts accurately and cuts cleaner entry holes than many twist bits. It is useful for furniture hardware and joinery.

Forstner Bit

A bit for flat-bottomed and overlapping holes.

A Forstner bit cuts clean flat-bottomed holes, partial holes, and overlapping holes. It works best with drill-press support or careful handheld control.

Countersink Bit

A bit for screw-head recesses.

A countersink bit cuts a chamfer so screw heads sit flush. Combination bits drill pilot and countersink in one setup.

Common Woodworking Uses

Pilot holes, clearance holes, and screw driving.
Hardware holes for hinges, pulls, and slides.
Doweling, shelf pins, and joinery alignment.
Flat-bottom holes and mortise waste removal.
Countersinking and counterboring.

Choosing Drilling

Use a drill press for repeatable square holes.
Use jigs when handheld drilling must align with mating parts.
Match bit type to hole quality and diameter.
Use impact drivers for driving screws, not precision bit work.

Setup

Mark hole centers clearly.
Use backing boards to reduce exit tearout.
Set depth stops for repeated holes.
Clamp work on the drill press instead of holding small parts by hand.

Accessories and Consumables

Drill bits
Depth stops
Doweling jig
Drill press vise
Countersinks
Bits
Batteries
Screws
Painter's tape for depth flags

Maintenance

Keep bits sharp and clean.
Charge and store batteries properly.
Clear chips from deep holes often.
Check chuck condition and drill-press belt tension.

Safety

Clamp small or round work before drilling.
Keep hands away from rotating bits and chucks.
Remove chuck keys before starting a drill press.
Back out often in deep holes so chips do not bind the bit.

Companies & Brands

Companies are grouped by the products they currently make for this type of woodworking.