Depth marks for drill bits

[Phil Pascoe]

Cable ties -surprisingly difficult to move when pulled up tight.

 

[MikeG.]

Tape. I use red insulation tape.

 

[sunnybob]

I rarely need depth gauges, but have used red tape in the past but it doesnt last. As you drill down for the tape to touch, it rides up, so each hole gets progressively deeper.

The cable ties might be stronger. I shall try to remember next time i need to.

 

[Nick.]

Interesting, never thought of that - will try it & see - thanks

I always just used to mark in big permanent marker around the bit & do it by sight.

Cheers

 

[MikeG.]

I rarely need depth gauges, but have used red tape in the past but it doesnt last. As you drill down for the tape to touch, it rides up, so each hole gets progressively deeper.........

There's a simple fix to that, Bob: drill down until it almost touches.

As an aside, if you mangle up the tape, you know you've mangled up the tape. If you inadvertently go a little deep with a cable tie as a marker, you'll move the cable tie and leave yourself no clue that it's now out of position.

Also, I want to see a cable tie stay in place on the shaft of a spade bit.

 

[marcros]

it is my last remaining use for tipex. I find it easier to see than a marker.

 

[sunnybob]

There's a simple fix to that, Bob: drill down until it almost touches.

As an aside, if you mangle up the tape, you know you've mangled up the tape.

But if you only go down till you almost touch the tape, the hole is too small, and youre guessing how far short of the tape you are on every hole.
And if you mangle the tape you have to put new tape, every time, hole after hole.
If I need to drill this kind of hole i put the screw against the drill tip and see how much spiral is to be left visible and just judge it by eye. Untill of course I bought a drill press. But then I had to remake the depth stop because it was plastic and bowed alarmingly under pressure.
some days you just cant win.

 

[MikeG.]

If the depth of a hole is so critical that a mm makes all the difference, then fit that depth-stop which came with the drill and you haven't seen for the last 5 years. I can't think of the circumstances where that degree of accuracy is necessary, but others may well.

 

[CHJ]

If the depth of a hole is so critical that a mm makes all the difference, then fit that depth-stop .......

Use them regularly, if just a guide I need I use masking tape but for anything critical not drilled on the pillar drill I use depth stops, they are cheep enough (if they did not come in a kit in the past).

 

[MikeG.]

Ah, I meant those steel rods which fit through the handle of your portable drill, not those collars. Again, they'll struggle with a spade bit!

 

[Peter Sefton]

Coloured cable ties such a simple idea, beats the tape I would usually use.

Thanks for sharing, Peter

 

[CHJ]

Ah, I meant those steel rods which fit through the handle of your portable drill, not those collars. Again, they'll struggle with a spade bit!

Think a bit of tape is about on a par accuracy wise for spade bit use

 

[matt]

For critical depth holes I use my router. For those where that either need to be deep enough or not so deep to come through the other side, I eyeball the the drill bit and get a fix on roughly how deep to go. For those that just need to be near enough, I use tape and stop shy of the tape. I have used depth stops in the past but have yet to find any that instil any confidence - they all seem a little dodgy.

 

[Sideways]

Not super precise but very quick, my method is simply to put the stock to the side of the bit and pull the drill press handle round until the bit is at the depth I want. I do it a 3 or 4 times to memorise the feel of the handle position, then reposition the stock and do it for real.

For a cordless this trick looks good. Maybe better than the fold of tape like a flag on the bit (it starts to sweep the dust away when it begins to touch the surface).

Drilling for wall plugs I always need a stop but thats what the drills depth stop bar is for

 

[JimB]

Never tried this but the cable ties made me think of the loom bands the grandkids were mad on for a while. Of course for those agriculturally inclined there are always elastrator bands :wink:

 

[owen]

I'll give this a try next time I need a depth stop, looks like a good solution!

 

[Bm101]

Cable ties -surprisingly difficult to move when pulled up tight.

Good call Phil. I use these a lot at work as makeshift lanyard ties for tools for work at height. One/two round the handle another one/two looped into it for the karabiner. Adding another and twinning them up works well. Surprisingly strong. You cant shift them by hand up something like a reach and wash pole. I've hauled up fairly large (relatively) bits of equipment over busy places like Regent Street confident they won't break.
I never thought to use them as depth stops on drills mind. =D>
I thought I was ahead of the curve buying some dedicated bits like CHJ but they didn't really work for me at least in practical terms, could well be my incompetence. Just found them a faff. For repetitive jobs they would be ideal I suppose.
In the end I settled on tiny elastic bands or seal washers. They work as a guide rather than a stop (obviously) but they work ok too at least for my limited needs.
Cheers
Chris