How to Drill Level Intermediate posts…

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.  This can be really nothing more than some scrap material you have around the place.  However, we recommend that you use something light, square, and cheap – like Lawn Edging.  You can clamp it to your post, mark the holes and then drill through the template.    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

  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).
  2. Repeat, marking the same distance on the other side of the post.
  3. 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).
  4. 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.

  1. Mark the holes on either side of the post as noted in Method 1… then
  2. 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).
  3. 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.
  4. Reclamp your bracket so that it is firmly attached to the post.
  5. 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.  This approach can also be used to drill intermediate posts at an angle – for stairs – but more on that elsewhere.