Drill guides are an easy to use tool which provides great accuracy to your drilling projects. Intricate projects can be made simpler using drill guides. They come in various types, sizes, and price points. While the options are seemingly endless, it gets difficult to navigate past the jargon and buy the best drill guide.
That is where we come in. This comprehensive guide to purchasing and using drill guides consists of 7 of our most favorite drill guides of 2020. Alongside this, we have included a buying guide as well as the answers to some frequently asked questions. We hope this guide helps you find a great drill guide for yourself!
7 Best Drill Guide Reviews
Reviewed below are 7 of the most reliable drill guides available on the market. The list covers all categories of drill guides – multi-angle, straight, handheld; you name it. Read on to find out what makes them the best!
1. Milescraft 1318 Drillmate Drill Guide with Chuck
Our first product recommendation is a great choice for those who want to be able to drill both angled and straight holes. With the ability to guide the cut from 45 to 90 degrees, this drill guide makes some of the trickiest angles very easy to achieve. It is one best multi-angle drill guide available on the market.
Moreover, it is a relatively inexpensive model, making it all the better. At under 50 dollars, the guide is compatible with ½” and 3/8” drills, which covers most of the popular drills handymen tend to own. It also comes with TPE feet which allows you to drill the guide down to avoid slippage and accidents.
The base of the guide is made with heavy-duty metal. An adjustable depth stop ensures that you do not drill too deep. It is difficult to find this many higher-end features on budget drill guides, so we recommend snagging this one up! We promise you will not regret it.
Pros
- Strong spring
- Has mounting holes
- Both angled and straight drilling
- Cost effective
- Adjustable depth stop
Cons
- Chuck is faulty
- Does not have the longest service life
2. Wolfcraft 4525404 Multi-Angle Drill Guide Attachment with Chuck
Portable drill guides are one of the most useful tools to have. They can help you complete projects both indoors and outdoors. This is why we are recommending this great multi-angle drill guide useful for straight, angled, and repetitive drilling.
The double guide bars on the base of the tool can be used to adjust the angle anywhere between 0 and 45 degrees. Additionally, the V-Groove base allows for round objects of up to 3 inches in diameter to be drilled. The guide can be used with all 3/8” and ½” portable drills for accuracy.
A removable handle adds added control and leverage for heavy-duty tasks. Additionally, a rubberized base ensures that the guide does not slip or move during use, hence preventing accidents and inaccuracy. The guide is also equipped with an adjustable depth stop. It truly is one of the best portable drill guide options!
Pros
- Portable
- Removable handle
- Rubberized base
- Multi angle
- Easy to set up
Cons
- Loose part may need to be tightened
3. Milescraft 1312 DrillBlock- Handheld Drill Guide
Handheld drill guides are loved by handymen everywhere, especially those who take it up as a profession. They are easy to carry and even easier to use. This particular product is one of the best hand drill guide owing to the several features that make it accurate and easy to use.
Firstly, the guide comes with a centerline to easily align the holes. It has 6 differently sized guides that accommodate almost all popular drill bit sizes and diameters. These diameters are 1/8, 3/16, ¼, 5/16, 3/8 and ½ inches. The V-groove allows for easy drilling of cylindrical objects, and TPE feet make the product totally non-slip.
Due to the thickness of the block, it is best to use longer drill bits. Sturdy and durable, this is probably one of the most straightforward drill guides to use. With great value for money, this product has a well-earned place on our list.
Pros
- Centerline for accurate alignment
- Non-slip
- V-grooves
- 6 diameter options
- Great value for money
Cons
- Straight holes only
- Will need long drill bits
4. Kreg KJMICRODGB Jig Micro Drill Guide System
Looking for the best drill guide for a jig? We’ve got the perfect product for you. Our next product is a micro dill guide jig. It is especially suitable for smaller projects and has three 7 mm diameter standard Kreg pocket holes. And it is perfect for narrow stock as the reduced width allows drilling into very narrow stock.
The holes made by this guide 25% smaller than those of a standard guide. This is very useful for thinner objects and tighter repairs where standard drills are too big or wide. It is compatible with 5 different jig models from the same manufacturer. The black-colored tool is easy to differentiate from the standard guide.
As smaller holes require less material to be taken out, this micro guide makes drilling faster and easier. Being very small in size makes the guide super portable and convenient to carry from one job to another. It is one of the best companions for a jig.
Pros
- Suitable for smaller projects
- Good for narrow stock
- Portable
- Faster and easier drilling than standard size
- Easy to use
Cons
- Not suitable for ½” plywood
- Better used in addition to standard sizes guide
5. Kanzawa drill guide support K-801
Your first instinct, upon looking at the price tag of this product, might be to make a sharp U-turn. But let us tell you why it is worth every penny. This is one of the most accurate drill guides available. Made of very high-quality steel and aluminum, the build is durable, rust-resistant, and scratch-resistant for extraordinary service life.
The base of the guide features four holes, which you can use to mount it to your work surface if needed. If not, the stable base itself makes sure the guide does not budge during operation. .Moreover, friction pads on the bottom also make the guide non-slip. This guide allows you to drill angled holes as well.
Additionally, a V-groove on the base allows for round stocks to be drilled too. Due to the unit being very sturdy, it performs exceptionally well with all types of material. The hole at the bottom of the guide is 2 ½”, making it possible to drill holes bigger than that of several other guides.
Pros
- Stable base
- Durable, rust-resistant
- High-quality build
- Can be mounted
- V-groove
Cons
- Relatively expensive
6. Drill Guide Dowel Kit Jig with 6 Bushings
Drill guides don’t always have to come in intricate-looking designs with a fairly hefty price tag. They can also come in neat little sets and do the job just as well. Our next product is a 9 piece set, which includes 6 bushings, one square base, and 2 centering pins. The whole set comes in at right under 15 dollars. What a steal!
The 6 bushings come in 3/16”, ¼”, 5/16”, 3/8”, 7/16” and ½”. As they are 6 separate bushings, you can easily pick and choose which ones to take to jobs and such. Additionally, the set comes with a clear see-through 3” base, which can be used to hold the bushing in place while drilling.
This kit may seem simple, but that’s what makes it so great. The clever design also has provisions for disposal of sawdust and debris. It truly is one of the simplest yet most effective drill guides available for purchase – especially for beginners and those on a budget.
Pros
- 6 different sizes
- Very portable
- Very affordable
- Includes centering pin
- Accurate
Cons
- Straight holes only
- Problems with accuracy
7. Water Warden Drill Guide
Our next recommendation in a product-specific drill guide. It is designed to install all of Water Warden’s safety installations such as pool cover, pool fence, and pool net. The product has a fairly hefty weight of 5 pounds and is made of high-quality metal. It is meant for straight edge and in-ground installation only.
The guided gives very good accuracy while drilling. Additionally, it can drill holes of 5/8” only. The purchase includes the guide, drilling template, safety latch, plastic feet and caps, and rubber heads for poles.
If you have invested or plan to invest in Water Warden safety appliances, using this drill guide is the best, easiest and quickest way to have them installed.
Pros
- Accurate results
- Easy to use
- Works with all safety fence installations of same manufacturer
- Accurate alignment of drilled holes
- Measurements, guide and tools included in purchase
Cons
- Expensive
- Requires additional tools for installation
What to Look for Before Buying?
In this section, we will be looking into some of the features that make drill guides amazing. These are the specifications you should look into in order to find the top drill guide.
Accuracy
Drill guides are primarily used to make sure that the holes you drill are as accurate and flawless as possible. Some guides, however, have issues with accuracy. The angles on the guide may be off, the size of the holes may not be as advertised and so on.
So it is important to check that your guide provides results as accurate as possible!
Straight and Angled Drilling
Different tasks require different types of drilling. Some call for straight drilling while others call for angled. That is why it is very important to know the nature of your project and buy a guide accordingly.
Multi-Angle
If you are looking into angled drilling guides, keep into consideration the range of angles you can achieve. Some models offer a set number of angles you can set your guide to whereas others allow you to set the angle anywhere within a given range. Having the option to choose angles will make your work more accurate and better!
Size of Drilled Holes and Drill Bits
Drill guides do not have a set size of holes that it allows you to drill – the size varies greatly from one model to another. Additionally, some guides even require drill bits of different lengths (especially for handheld models).
Portability
Some drill guides can be carried from job to job while others are too big or heavy, hence keeping them limited to the work station. The type of drill guide you opt for will depend heavily on the kind of tasks you undertake.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the midst of all the jargon, some basic information may go amiss. That is why we have taken it upon ourselves to answer some of the most frequently asked questions below.
Q: Is it mandatory to have a drill guide?
Ans: For a product that comes in at such a low price, drill guides really do make a difference to your project. We recommend buying a drill guide for more accurate results and consider it somewhat of a staple tool.
Q: Are drill guides and drill press the same?
Ans: No, the drill guide and the drill press available in the market for metalworking and woodworking are not made for the same purpose, rather for quite different purpose. Drill presses are equipped to do more intricate tasks, whereas the drill guide only helps to make accurate holes.
Q: What is a drill block?
Ans: Drill blocks feature V-grooves, which allows for cylindrical objects to be drilled. It adds great versatility to your project.
Q: Do I need a special type of drill to be used with drill guides?
Ans: No, drill guides are to be used with the conventional rotary power tool. You do not need any other equipment to put the guide to use. However, before purchasing a guide for your drill (or vice versa) ensure that the guide allows for the size and diameter of the drill bit.
Q: How much can I expect to spend on a drill guide?
Ans: Drill guides come in varying designs, sizes, categories, and qualities. Thus, it is difficult to boil it down to a single price point. Our list covers drill guides that cost right under 15 dollars to a little over 100 dollars. The expected price point will depend heavily on the type of guide you choose to buy.
Final Words
As you can see, drill guides are really not that complicated to understand. The 7 products recommended by us are all tried and true. Not only that, but they are also widely popular for their performance. With our recommendations and buying guide, we hope you will find the best drill guide and perhaps a new hobby!
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