Microsoft Word - Woodshop 101 Part 1 of 3

Note to Parents

On using a cordless or electric

drill

I don’t recommend children using a

power drill until they have mastered

the brace and bit drill and are much

older, and then only under strict

parental supervision. Using a

smaller diameter drill bit such as a

1/8” in a cordless drill is safer than

using a larger diameter bits but

there is still a danger of the bit

grabbing. When a bit grabs (using

an electric drill) it can spin the piece

of wood right off the workbench. If

the bit stops turning completely the

drillitselfwillbeginturningandjerk

your wrist which can be very

painful. The way to avoid both of

these situations is to make sure the

work piece is clamped securely in

place and to have a firm grip on the

drill’s body with your left hand (if

you’re right handed) and your right

hand on the trigger.

Lesson 5

Drilling

Drilling holes is something that you’ll do almost as often as using a

handsaw. Obviously there are two things you need to make holes in

wood, a drill and bits. Let’s look at the drill first.

There are many ways and many tools you can use to

drill holes. Some are hand powered, some are

powered by electricity, and rechargeable batteries

power others. I highly recommend starting out using

a hand-powered drill such as a hand brace drill. They

are far less dangerous than the power drills, and are

actually really fun to use.

Using a brace drill is very simple. After you have a

bit secured in the jaws place the tip of the bit on your

mark where you need a hole. Place your left hand on

the head of the drill and, while pushing, put your

right hand on the handle and turn clockwise to drill a

hole. It is much easier to use the brace and bit with

the work piece on the ground or at least below waist

level with a backer piece of wood underneath to keep

from damaging the bit. By placing it on the ground

you can also place the top handle with your hand

over it against your chest as

you turn the handle. This

will exert more force against

the drill making it cut faster.

An alternative way to use

the brace and bit drill is to

clamp the work piece in a

Items You’ll Need

Brace (Hand Drill)

Bits

Scrap wood

Clamps

Safety glasses