Let’s say that a piece of furniture in your backyard is wobbly, and needs some extra reinforcement. Or a piece of PVC pipe in your bathroom needs some adjustment. What do you do?
Do you call a repairman to do something that would take 10 minutes of work and could cost you a hundred dollars for the hour? Or do you bring out your tool kit and sort the problem out yourself?
Best Drill Guide: Reviews
In this review, we talk about the 6 best drill guides you can buy and help you pick out the best one according to your needs.
1. Milescraft Drillmate Drill Guide with Chuck
This drill guide is a good option not only for straight drilling but also for angled drilling. It has two legs for support, and the support shaft sits at a distance from the work surface. This distance can be changed by a screwed side on one of the legs, making it convenient for drills of all lengths.
This drill guide can be used for drilling on edges of a board and round stocks as well. The attachment size is free as well, and it can be attached to ⅜” and ½” power drills. The metal base has a built-in angle reader and can go from 45 degrees to 90 degrees with ease.
Specifications
- Item weight — 4 pounds
- Drill diameter size — 3 inches
- Color — Silver, Black, and Maroon
- Attachment types — ⅜ inches and ½ inches
Pros
- The drill guide has an adjustable depth top and spring control for the head, making it very convenient to attach to drills of any length.
- The angular system on the drill guide makes it easy for you to make angle cuts from 45 degrees to 90 degrees.
- The centering channels are built into the bottom of the base, and drills up to 3 inches in diameter can be used easily.
Cons
- The chuck on this drill guide is not the most stable.
- Because of the adjustable distance between the drill bit and the work surface, there is room for slight errors while working on a project.
2. Wolfcraft Multi-Angle Drill Guide Attachment
This drill guide from Wolfcraft can be used not only in vertical and angular positions but also a horizontal one. If you’re working on a project that requires repetitive drilling, the guide bars have springs in them. The drill adapter has the option to slide up and down on guide bars.
Both legs of the adjustable depth system have a screwed design on them, making your arrangement more sturdy and less prone to error than normal sliding designs. The base comes with rubber pads that hold the guide in place during drilling.
Specifications
- Item weight — 3 pounds
- Drill diameter size — 3 inches
- Color — Silver and Blue
- Attachment types — ⅜ inches and ¼ inches
Pros
- Freehand drilling becomes extremely easy with this drill guide because of its stability.
- The rubber pads in the base of this drill guide ensure that there is no slipping while your drill is active.
- The drill guide is very flexible in its utility, giving you the option to make vertical, angular, and even horizontal holes in your projects.
Cons
- There might be some instances of wobbling. So, if you’re looking for extreme precision this might not be the best fit for you.
- If you do not calculate your holes properly, you might end up ruining a project because of improper use.
- This drill guide is not meant for heavy-duty projects, just for light projects at home.
3. General Tools Precision Drill Guide
The interesting thing about this drill is that it has a built-in protractor in the base so that you no longer have to rely on just 45, 60, and 90 degree angular holes. You can easily set it to any angle you want and make accurate holes with it.
The drill guide also has an accurate depth stop so that you do not drill too far into your piece and cause damage to the project.
There are anchoring pins included with the drill guide to hold it in place and allow it to be stable while using an active drill.
Specifications
- Item weight —0.01 pounds
- Color — Silver and Black
- Attachment types — ⅜ inches and ½ inches
Pros
- The drill guide is compact and lightweight, so if you’re looking for something that you can carry around and is extremely portable, this could be a great fit for you.
- The drill guide works with dowels as well, as it has a v-groove for positioning round stock, pipe, or tubing.
- The drill guide folds into a completely flat design, providing you with the ease to carry it around in a bag without much hassle.
Cons
- The lightweight nature of the drill guide might not be the best fit for everyone, as it will result in decreased stability with high power drills.
- The base and the slider are made out of plastic, not metal. If you’re looking for a more stable guide, this might not be the right choice for you.
4. Water Warden Drill Guide
If you believe that less is more, this is an excellent drill guide with fewer moving parts than the previous options on this list. This guide has a strong, stable, and minimalistic interface with three anchor pins on its triangular base.
You will not be able to make horizontal or angular holes with this drill, as it is mainly for use on flat, horizontal surfaces like adding pegs in the ground for fencing and netting. If you’re looking for fence installations, however, this drill guide will work well for your needs.
You may also need a rotary hammer drill for installing the drill guide properly.
Specifications
- Item weight — 3 pounds
- Color — Black
- Drill diameter size — 5 and 8 inches
Pros
- The drill guide has a minimalist design that is strong and sturdy in nature.
- If you’re looking for making holes in the ground for fencing or netting purposes, this drill guide is an excellent option.
- The drill guide has options to drill large 5-inch and 8-inch holes.
Cons
- If you’re looking for something to drill holes in wood, this might not be the best fit for you, as it is specifically meant for grounded holes.
- If you’re looking for something to make angular or horizontal holes, this is not the drill for you.
5. Kanzawa Drill Guide Support
This drill guide from Kanzawa has a ⅜ inch chuck installed on it and can handle drills of up to 2.5 inches diameter quite comfortably. The bars are made out of quality steel, and the base and the top are made out of a high-quality aluminum alloy. The holding pieces are tight and hold the drill firmly while allowing smooth flow.
The base has four countersunk screw holes for proper mounting and securing of your project.
The drill guide can be folded into a completely flat design for convenience and portability.
Specifications
- Item weight — 2.88 pounds
- Color — Silver and Black
- Drill diameter size — 2.5 inches
Pros
- The drill guide comes preinstalled with a ⅜ inch chuck, making it easy to keep it stable.
- The guide is made completely out of quality metal, which lets it handle drills of high power as well.
- It is quite portable and can be easily folded and carried around.
- The presence of countersunk screws at the base lets you secure your projects to avoid wobbling.
Cons
- The chuck size is not too large, and if you use more than what is specified, you might risk damaging the guide.
- If you’re new to using this, the drill guide does not come with instructions in English. You might need to look it up yourself or face some inconvenience during the initial stage.
6. Life Saver Pool Fence Drill Guide
Like the ground drill guide before this, this guide is also meant specifically for ground use. This means that you can use large drill sizes on this guide, and its high strength, sturdiness, and stability will ensure that you will get neat and accurate holes.
The drill guide comes with an attached bubble level, which takes out the guesswork from the drilling process. It comes with a triangular base that you can clamp down on the ground with the three screws attached to each corner.
Specifications
- Item weight — 1.5 pounds
- Color — Silver and Black
- Drill diameter size — 5 and 8 inches
Pros
- This guide is an excellent option for groundwork involving fencing and netting situations.
- The drill guide is highly stable and will work brilliantly if clamped on the ground properly.
- The attached bubble level feature on the drill guide takes the guesswork out of drilling and gives you clean, accurate holes.
Cons
- If you’re looking for a drill guide for wood, this drill guide will not serve you well, as it specifically meant for ground fencing and netting purposes.
- The drill guide requires you to own a rotary hammer drill, as it cannot be installed without one.
Buyer’s Guide
Now that you have a comprehensive idea of the specifications, pros, and cons of each drill guide on this list, it is time to know which one is the best option for your specific needs so that you can choose the best drill guide for you. We have curated a condensed buyer’s guide for you for this very purpose.
- Ground Drill Guides: If you’re looking for a drill guide to help you in your backyard for setting up a fence or putting up netting, you should check out the Life Saver Pool Fence Drill Guide or the Water Warden Drill Guide.
- Effective Woodworking: If you’re looking for a drill guide that works well on wood and is flexible in use, you can check out the Milescraft Drillmate Drill Guide or the Woodcraft Multi-Angle Drill Guide.
- Portable: If you’re looking for something that is portable and can easily be carried around and used for light drilling purposes, check out the General Tools Precision Drill Guide.
- For Expert Use: If you know exactly what you’re doing with your drill bits and woodwork and need a solid metal drill guide, check out the Kanzawa Drill Guide Support.
Wrap Up
Every house needs a tool kit for day to day emergencies. As a functioning adult, it’s your job to ensure that you know how to fix easy problems around the house. If you are completely new to this and are clueless about how to approach it, check out this guide to home repairs that will help you get started.
An important part of the tool kit that you will be using is a drill. If you’re going to put a screw into something for reinforcement, you first need to dig a hole into it. And to make sure that your power tool does not cause more damage than good, you need a drill guide to keep your hands and the drill steady.
We hope that his review has helped you pick out a good one for yourself! If you’re interested, please feel free to check out our other reviews on these topics as well. Good luck with your projects!