There are lots of knowledgeable people here and most likely everyone has a different set of tools to draw upon to get the job done. It is always interesting to see how other people do things in their workshops, what tools they use and how they overcome challenges. So, show us how YOU get it done.
Some things to discuss...
What do you use to drill your holes? Hand drill, drill press, mill or something else?
How do you set things up for drilling? Do you use a drill vise, a cross slide vise, milling vise, tool maker's vise, no vise, 123 blocks, table clamp, etc.?
How do you align your work for drilling? Do you use punches? Do you align things by hand, or use a center finder? Maybe you use a fully automated CNC and just program the X/Y coordinates?
Tell us about your bits
![smirk :smirk](./images/smilies/smirking-face.png)
![smiling halo :smiling-halo](./images/smilies/smiling-face-with-halo.png)
What do you use? Spiral flute jobber bits? HSS or Cobalt? Do you use straight flute reamers? Tell us what you like to use.
I'll start..
I use both a drill press and a mini mill for drilling. I use the drill press 85% of the time and I use a mini mill when I need to maximize the precision for whatever reason.
To align most holes I simply use a punch to create a divot and align the part under the drill bit by hand. In most materials a simple hole that is smaller than 3/16" will find the center of the divot easily if held by hand and allowed to settle gently into the divot. Typically I don't make an initial hole any larger than 1/8". I then step them out from there if I need a larger hole. If you start too large, holding it by hand gets dangerous. The one thing to watch out for is that the part stays held down and isn't allowed to climb up the drill bit. If the hole is small enough, hand pressure is enough to keep the part in place.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/z3XmIbQl.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/UWMiscXl.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/gdgIHIel.jpg)
If I need to hold the part down, I align it by hand and then clamp it down with a table clamp.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/mF3R4D2l.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/raFJAcNl.jpg)
Which brings me to 123 blocks.. I use them constantly. There is no more useful tool for drilling set-ups than a set of 123 blocks IMO. You can see them in pics above and below. They do about a millions things..but in this case they allow you take a level surface and separate it into 2 pieces with a gap for drilling in between. Or, you can use one of the holes as the recess for your drill bit. The more you use them the more things you find you can do with them. I find them so helpful, I have 3 sets..a daily user set, a precision set and an ultra-precision set with no holes.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/gaa58iol.jpg)
If I actually have to hold a piece in a vise to drill it (maybe if it's metal and the hole is large) I use a couple of things..
If it's a basic hole and ultra precision isn't needed I simply use a cheap drilling vise and align it by hand as well. Then I can either hold the vise with my hands or clamp it down depending on what I need.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/nMGWtDvl.jpg)
If it needs to be precise I hold the part in a precision tool maker's vise. They are made to work well with 123 blocks and together you can create a very accurate level drilling surface for the part to sit on while it's in the vise. Also, for a precise hole I will clamp the part in the vise and use a spot drill to locate the punched divot and hold it down while I lock down the vise. I'll then widen the divot with the spot drill before starting any actual drilling. This way when I change the bit It's aligned and there's a good starter hole to make sure the bit can't walk and doesn't even wobble as it begins cutting.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/3i8GhMLl.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/5HaLCF8l.jpg)
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/b2canZ4l.jpg)
For drilling bits I use mostly spiral flute jobbers with 135 degree tips. They can also be purchased individually and that makes it easy to stock up on just the sizes you use. I have found cobalt bits are well worth the slightly higher price. But, if it's critical that a hole be truly round spiral flute bits just aren't good enough. That's when I use straight flute reamers (also cobalt) to ensure a nice round hole.
For corbys and loveless style fasteners I prefer to use carbide counter-bores that are specially made for corbys and produce a perfectly round hole that is about .002 oversize to account for the swelling that happens due to heat in most handle materials.
![Image](https://i.imgur.com/Phiyhoh.jpg)
Who's next? Now let's see how you do your drilling.
![cowboy :cowboy](./images/smilies/cowboy-hat-face.png)
CK