Big Gator Tools MDG1000NP V-Drill Guide

Great little thing. Well-machined. Used it so far with wood drillbits but tested with a titanium coated HSS & didn’t seem to have a problem (might worry about heat buildup if drilling thick metal but take it slow). Pity it doesn’t go below 3mm but suspect that with bits less than 3mm being a bit more fragile they might risk catching & breaking. Obviously not as good as a drill press, but more convenient, better for tight spaces & cheaper even at what seems a bit of a steep price. Works well held on by hand (on wood at least) - just make sure that drill bit is straight in hole so it doesn’t catch - but would imagine better results could be had if clamped in place. Not had reason to use the feature but allows drilling into a square corner using groove on base which a drill press might struggle with without a jig.

This is a product that I didn't know existed and didn't even know I needed until a few days ago. I was looking for a way of making sure I drilled holes straight through 36mm MDF board, so the screws came out in the right place on the other side without wandering, not that easy to do. I looked at small portable drill presses, but these seemed awkward to use and rather expensive. Then this product popped up in my search, a well machined block of steel that guides the drill bit accurately through the workpiece. It's a simple idea but works really well and is very nicely machined. It's the sort of tool I like, a real little gem, and it will be staying in my toolbag at all times. Costs a few quid but more than worth it if you are going to use it regularly.

This is a well-made piece of equipment for the DIYer, and does the job it's designed for (to guide drill holes at 90degrees to the surface on which it's mounted). It has reference marks for each hole guide down both sides, so if you mark the drilling position with reasonably long squared pencil marks that project beyond the guide, you can position the hole reasonably accurately. This particular model is for metric drill bits from 3 to 9.5mm, a total of 17 sizes. To work best, it needs to be clamped to the workpiece, but at a push can be held in place with one hand while you drill with the other. It's approx. 20mm deep, so you need to take this into account if you're drilling to a specific depth - could be an issue with deep holes using smaller / shorter drill sizes. The underside has a square v-shaped recess, which could be useful if you want to drill at 45degrees into a corner of a workpiece. I haven't tried this yet. It's only real downside is the price, which seems somewhat excessive for what is basically just a piece of machined metal. It's to be hoped that this will be justified in terms of its longevity and and retention of accuracy, i.e. that the holes don't ream out with repeated use. Too early to say for the moment.

Useful for drilling accurate, square holes even on flat stock (I've actually never used the V-slot feature). I use this with brad-point drills, put the drill through the guide, place the brad-point on the mark where I want my hole, and then lower the guide down onto the workpiece (and hold it steady or clamp it) before drilling. Kinda expensive for what is basically a piece of steel with a few holes in it, but it feels very high quality and I don't regret the price.

I one made a keyrack and I tried my best to drill straight holes, but when I put the hooks on, they poked at at different angles. Grrr to my meticulus nature, but my wife didn't notice until I pointed it out. I looked at buying a drill press but I didn't want to spend out a fortune on yet another tool that will mainly sit idle. I then found this drill guide, and I am happy with it. I poke my drill bit through the correct hole, line up my drill bit on the surface i am about to drill and then hold the guide onto the surface. At that point, I drill and so far, I am happy with how straight my drill holes are. I could clamp this down, but this just guides the drill and if precision is vital, I may do that but I prefer to know I have my drill bit exactly where I want it using my above method. Its expensive, but the metal is tough, I have smacked my drill onto the top of the guide many times while drilling as fast as my combi drill will let me, and whilst there are marks on the guide, nothing I am concerned about. Its expensive for a small lump of metal but I reach for it every time I drill now, so I am glad I got it.

As someone who couldn't drill holes and have them to 100% square or perpendicular to the surface, this is an absolute god send. If you want accurate holes, you can hold in it place by hand. If you want super accuracy along the lines of using a drill press, clamp in place first with a G-Cramp or quick clamp. Its such a simply neat piece of kit, that you can drill perpendicular holes on material where the use of a drill press would be nigh on impossible. For instance, I used mine to drill holes to fasten pre-assembled shed panels together. Sure- its expensive, but the range of drill sizes is excellent and it works. It lives in the drill case and goes everywhere with me now! I really rate and recommend this little block. Wish I bought one ages ago.

It isn't surprising that this tool is so popular, as the alternatives are unwieldy jigs. It’s one of those "must haves" for any professional or serious DIY'er. This is a really simple accurate solution for guiding hand drilling. The V-DrillGuide very well made and it has a nice heft to it. It's a tool that you'll be glad you have it in your workshop or tool box when the need arises and there's no other way to get the job done right except with this little gem. When I look back at past projects, I wish I’d had this and dare I say things would have gone a lot more smoothly.

I like it... the kind of tool that you do not know you need until you buy it. I needed to drill straight holes in post to secure ground anchors and it did a great job (compared to "guesstimating"; it went 300% faster with better results) Very good indeed. Now if you want to be very accurate, it is better to use a clamp with it and for some application, the tool could do with being a little broader for stability but I like it a lot. Very pleased with the purchase. I would recommend it.

Je cherchais un moyen pour percer droit er j ai testé plusieurs systèmes plus ou moins encombrant et pas toujours efficace. Le Big gator est une solution que je recomande volontiers. Testé sur la mise en place de lambris, le système est simple et permet de percer correctement à la perpendiculaire. Ça ne vaut pas un tour de perçage mais c est pratique et transportable. L outil tient bien dans la main et le foret engagé dans le bon diamètre ne présente pas de jeu. Il a l air assez qualitatif pour faire dans la durée. Le seul petit reproche que je peux lui faire et qu' il demande d être bien maintenu. Bon, je l ai fait à main levée et ça demande un peu de force... Si j avais un établi, j aurai simplement bloqué l outil avec un serez joint. Donc c est vraiment un petit reproche qui n en est pas vraiment pas un :)

Alternativlos für mich. Zum Vererben. Präzise und maßhaltig, grundsolide. Tonnenschwer. Nichts anderes käme mir ins Haus.

Love these drill guides - quality made. I bought most every one they make. Very pleased!!

Oggetto che ammetto un pelo costoso, ma di eccezionale fattura. Blocco di acciaio spesso, lavorato a laser per le tacche di precisione per poterlo posizionare e fori perfetti per forare dritto in tranquillità. Fa il suo lavoro alla grande essendo spesso non permette movimenti alla punta e fai i fori dritti. Più che soddisfatto. Arrivava da Amazon UK ed è arrivato veloce e puntuale come sempre.

Buena calidad. Algo caro, pero de calidad.