![]() Clamp the board to your work surface to keep your hands free of wandering bits. You should also be aware of where your hands are in relation to the drill bit. Cheap drill bits can actually shatter under too much heat and pressure, and you don't want that going in your eye! While drilling a hole doesn't seem dangerous, you should wear safety glasses just in case. Here's a quick chart of the most common screw sizes and the drill bit you'll need to make a pilot hole in soft wood like pine: Screw Sizeĭrilling pilot holes is an easy task, but here are a few things to keep in mind to make your project successful. If you're drilling into softwood, you can get away with a smaller pilot hole. If you're drilling into hardwood, err on the side of a slightly larger pilot hole. You'll also need to consider the type of wood you are using for your project. Those tiny numbers can be hard to read, but you can check the diameter with a drill bit gauge or digital calipers if you're not sure. Look for the size inscribed on the shaft of the drill bit, or in the storage case. Most drill bit sets come with the standard sizes required to make pilot holes. The higher the number, the thicker the screw shaft. You can find the size of your screw listed on the package. The thickness of your screw will determine what size drill bit you'll need. In addition to reducing the likelihood that the wood will split, the pilot hole also serves several other purposes. Many wood screws don't have threads at the head end of the screw, and a pilot hole clears enough space for the shaft to fit through. When joining two boards together, you should only predrill a hole through the first board, not the mating piece. This will clear the way for the shaft of the screw through the first board, while leaving enough wood for the threads to bite into and hold the screw in place. Typically, a pilot hole is created using a drill bit that is the same diameter as the shaft of the screw, not the threads. The goal of the pilot hole is to remove material from the wood, so the screw doesn't force the board apart and cause it to split. What is a Pilot Hole?Ī pilot hole is sometimes called "pre-drilling" or a clearance hole. Please visit my disclosures page for more information. Purchases made through these links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Use a Guide or a Stop Collar if Necessary.
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