Smoke and Mirrors: Drilling straight peg holes.

Here's a new tool available from the Guild's online store. All proceeds benefit your guild.



Just align the bit with it's reflection in the mirror. Your eye and brain are much better at detecting that two lines are parallel than they are at detecting right angles.

Here's a youtube video demonstrating how to use it.

Smokes only if the bit is really dull.

very nice clark.
i'm personally a fan of the single speed square method... (same principle - watch for parallel lines) -it takes practice.

this is a great idea...

I love the idea.

Is the metal mirror thick enough to be drilled and tapped?
Because I would need jack screws on mine. Old timber is not always square or have flat surfaces.

You probably could add some U clips to the ends that are tapped. A set screw to hold it to the mirror, and then a set screw acting as leveler.

Are these plastic?

Yeah, this is mirrored acrylic, so it's very easy to work. Can be drilled, sawn, etc. It's about 1/8" thick. CB.

I've got some spring clips that would work like that, but thats a lot of little parts to look for in the sawdust under the horses.
It needs to be thick enough leave the jack screws in place when there not jacking and not flex when it's only supported at the corners and heavy enough to stay put when your drilling. 1/8" might just do it

The old metal Boy Scout signal mirror I carry in my tool pouch has held up for 35 years. Looks like it's about to get a big brother.

You could glue something thicker on the corners where you wanted to tap it for the leveling screws. But it seems to me that since the mirror weighs so little, there would be hardly any stress on the threads, so it would probably be thick enough. CB.