accurate straight drilling with an automatic center punch and square, Digi Mart USA News: Drill bits often wander when they start a hole, especially in woods such as pine and oak where the bit follows the open grain, or on smooth surfaces where there is nothing for the bit to grip. Applying too much pressure can make slipping worse and leave an ugly scratch on the material.
According to the publisher’s article, two simple tools can help. An automatic center punch has a hardened steel point and a spring-loaded internal mechanism, so it creates a precise dent without being struck with a hammer as classic versions required.
You mark the spot, line up the point, and press down on the top.
The article notes that the spring tension is adjustable, so it can be turned up for metals and down for plastics to avoid damaging the material. Its rounded top is described as comfortable to hold and easy to grip.
The dent gives the bit a starting point, but keeping a hand-held cordless drill at a 90-degree angle to the surface is the other challenge. The article says a small engineer’s square or a general-purpose speed square can be positioned against the surface being drilled as a visual guide, a simple method that the publisher describes as more effective than it sounds.
