How hard is astraight holes through my intermediate posts?
Hmmm…. You have to understand that even ‘The Big Guy” can’t drill straight and level through a post each and every time. And since the drilling through intermediate posts is repetitive work, you really need a Jig / Template. Â This can be really nothing more than some scrap material you have around the place. Â However, we recommend that you use something light, square, and cheap – like Lawn Edging. Â You can clamp it to your post, mark the holes and then drill through the template. Â Â This applies to drilling both your end posts and your intermediate posts.
Once you have the template, there are a couple of methods, so pick which one will suit you best and make your own variation if need be. Rest assured though – both methods will keep all of your mistakes hidden from view (inside the post)
Drilling Level Intermediate Posts Method 1
- First, mark out the position of the hole to be drilled on one side of the post  (You should do this by using the template).
- Repeat, marking the same distance on the other side of the post.
- Then just free-hand drill in past half way (you can put a piece of tape on your drill bit so you know you have not gone too far).
- Finally, free-hand drill in from the other side to meet up with the hole you have just drilled.
Drilling Level Intermediate Posts Method 2
If you are very unsure about drilling through posts, you can make up an additional jig with 2 pieces of scrap wood.
- Mark the holes on either side of the post as noted in Method 1… then
- Nail or screw these 2 pieces of wood (framing stud timber works well eg 90 x 35 mm or similar) together at 90 degrees to form a right angle (Ends must be square or the bracket will not work correctly).
- Place your drill with drill bit in it, onto the timber bracket and slide the bracket down or up until the drill bit touches the hole marking.
- Reclamp your bracket so that it is firmly attached to the post.
- Recheck that the drill bit is perpendicular (90 degrees) to the post. You can now drill through your post.
If you make the bracket piece that the drill rests on , fairly long , it will act as a guide to indicate if the drill is also drilling square to the timber and not angling across the face of the timber. Â This approach can also be used to drill intermediate posts at an angle – for stairs – but more on that elsewhere.