How to drill a straight hole?

[overland]

Any tricks for how to bore a straight hole in 1 1/2 inch material without a drill press? I've got one of those devices from Lee Valley that you attach a drill to that's supposed to hold it perpendicular to the work, but I don't think it's perfectly square. At least it didn't work the first time I tried it.

[Axehandle]

Get a block and drill a hole into it with a drill press of the size you are going to drill.

Use block as a guide.

But.....you did not specify if you have a drill press or not just that this job could not be drilled with one.....so I am assuming you don't.

Folks have always had good luck drilling a hole using two squares set perpendicular to each other on the point you are drilling on.

[Boatman53]

Buy a longer drill bit or a drill bit extension. With 12" or so of bit it is real easy to line up with the squares as suggested above.
Jim

[AspenII]

Another method that might work for you. Cut a V in a piece of 4 x 4 and use that to guide your bit. Another way would be two short 2 x 4's nailed to form a L and use the inside corner of the L. Unfortunately, anything might be less accurate than a drill press.

[JR1]

If you have this drill guide it will work but is pretty fussy to set up and needs to be checked with an angle. This drilling jig is easier to use. None of the methods mentioned will work if the surface is not true (at an angle to the side other than 90°)

[Routerman]

Long drill bushing in hardwood.
Only one? Then drill (with same drill) in 3/4" hdwd. stick
and use that as a bushing.
Retract the drill frequently.

[overland]

I have an older LV drill guide. The new one looks better.

[handi]

If your part can take it, cut two half blocks, rout a half round out of them and glue back together.

If your final part must be whole, then do the above, and use that as a guide block to drill the final part.

Ralph

[Lynden]

http://www.todayshomeowner.com/video/diy...es/#tabs-1

http://diy.stackexchange.com/posts/23287/revisions (scroll down)

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236...6a9867.jpg

[overland]

Lots of excellent ideas here. I'm going to set up my LV drill guide and try it on a scrap. If that doesn't do the job, I'm going to try the methods suggested here. Thanks to all.