The Original V-DrillGuide! Big Gator Tools STD1000DGNP Standard V-DrillGuide® Sizes 1/8" - 3/8"

I do farm maintanence, and part of my job, is fixing bin augers. These augers are driven from one end, by a hub that fits over the end of the shaft, that has a bolt that goes through, coupling everything together. What happens, is that every now and then something will work loose, start to wobble, and wear out the end of the auger shaft. The fix is simple, cut the bad part off the end of the auger shaft, bolt on an extension sleeve, re-connect everything, and go. The problem, is drilling a new hole in the end of the existing auger shaft. The hole must be square and centered, for everything to fit properly. This job used to mean that I had to pull the entire auger shaft out of the assembly (some of these are 20+ feet long, and weigh maybe 80 pounds), haul it to the shop, figure out a way to jig it up in the drill press, all to drill one hole. With this guide, all I have to do, is pull the shaft out far enough to gain clearance for the drill, clamp this to the shaft, and drill the hole. Turns a 3 or 4 hour job into one that takes less than one hour. While maybe not Space-Shuttle precise, it does VERY well, guiding the drill bit straight and square. Just be sure you have it clamped securely, so it can't wiggle.The way it works, is very simple. This is a simple jig, that has a series of holes precisely drilled through it, which act as a guide for your drill bit. It is of hard enough steel, that the bits don't seem to be able to bite into it, and enlarge the holes. On the backside of the jig, a V-groove is machined, so that if you clamp it to a shaft or pipe, the jig is automatically centered, and squared to it. You are only limited to using it for the drill bit sizes on the jig, and in spaces where you can securely clamp it. However, for bigger holes, I also have had good luck using it to drill the pilot holes, and then following by carefully enlarging the hole with the proper bit, just go slow and careful.For drilling through flat objects, follow the tip I read in another review. Shine a light down the V groove, and you can look down the hole you will be using for a guide, to center the jig.It is one of those tools, that is so simple, and error proof, everyone who does any amount of drilling, should have one.

I bought this drill guide about a year ago to use for its intended purpose, and I've been very pleased with the results I've gotten with it in various projects. It really is a big help when I need to drill/align a few holes and getting to my drill press is not feasible. I see some reviews on here indicating that a few users have experienced problems with either getting it positioned correctly and/or keeping it in place during the drilling operation. It's important to realize that this is guide....and not a drill holder. So my advice...(and there is NO charge for this...[G!].)....is to follow the suggestions about placement carefully...use the guide marks on the side and end, and if needed, scribe two additional lines at right angles through the dimple you have made for the exact spot and then line the guide up with those scribed lines. A 'double check' by looking down through the correct hole will verify if you are right on the money. The hint about shining a flashlight through the V-groove to light up the marked spot is a good idea, as is the technique of sliding the drill through the appropriate hole, placing the bit end on your marked spot, then lowering the guide down to your work. At that point everything should be ready to go....but for a final check, remove the bit and visually sight down the hole...if you are even slightly off the mark, it will be very obvious.When starting to drill, trust the guide to get your drill bit started....take it slow, don't apply any side force to the drill, try to relax your grip on the drill so that it does not put any pressure on the sides of the guide....all the while keeping a firm grip on the guide. Clamping it is THE way to go with this, but if done correctly, there should be close to zero torque applied to the guide itself.A few people have remarked that they were unable to drill longer or deeper holes due to the size of the guide. Once you have the hole started, you can remove the guide, re-insert the drill and bit back into the correctly aligned hole and drill to the full depth of your bit.In addition to the 'normal' use for this guide, I've found it very helpful in a few other 'non-traditional' applications. When I am trying to decide what hole size and bit to use for a wood screw, I use the guide holes of this tool to find the outside diameter of the wood screw and then select a drill bit a size or two smaller...depending on the wood involved. It's a lot easier and more precise than trying to hold a bit alongside the screw threads and make a guess about how big...or small...the bit needs to be. This is also the easy way to identify the actual drill size of that bit that you picked out of the junk drawer and wondered what size it really is....I've also used this tool to help make perfect 90 deg. joints with plastic rods that I needed to glue with Super Glue (CA). Since you have just a few seconds to position the rod or tube before the CA starts to set up...and the joint needs to be held perfectly still during this 10-20 second period, I use the guide to get my alignment accurate, apply a small amount of CA to the end of the rod/tube, slide it through the guide quickly and it goes into perfect position where I can apply pressure for the set-up time and not have to worry about any wobble on my part. Some caution needs to be used when doing this so that you don't glue everything together....but that's part of the challenge...!!! The truth of the matter is that if you are using so much CA in your joint that this might happen, then you probably are using too much CA in the first place.And...since this guide is moderately heavy....just under 1/2 pound, it gets used occasionally as a weight during gluing operations.

This is high quality tool that you will be able to pass down to future generations. It excels at the job for which it was designed. The value is unquestionable and the accuracy is uncompromised. The size is no greater than it has to be and no less than it needs to be.

I have lots of tools, jigs, and specialty items. Thought I had drill bit alignment down to a science, then while helping with a project at a friend's shop, ran across his Big Gator V-DrillGuide. Wow. Very cool, very easy to use, and highly accurate. As easy as marking, aligning the mark, clamping the guide, and drilling precisely. For those of you (like myself) who have ever fumbled with other guides (like Rockler's which requires four pieces to fit together and three hands to use it) this was a cool discovery. As an engineer, I appreciate form and function and the inbuilt simplicity that indicates good design. This tool has all of that, and is so sturdy that you won't wear it out, and maybe you son or daughter won't either. Good tool at an attractive price. Buy one. You'll like it.

Awesome tool to add to my box. This is exactly what I need to complete an engine block thread repair.