See a review of tools to use for making a center hole mark for precision drilling.
Some are far better than others, and you’ll see the holes each make and which ones I favor using.
Enjoying this tip?
Improve your shop skills
See more Woodworking Basic Tips
Tools
These are a few of the tools featured in this tutorial.
- screwdriver
- nail
- screw
- ahl
- solid steel punch
- automatic center hole punch
Video
Transcript highlights and images are below the video too!
Subscribe to Heartwood Art on YouTube
Tutorial
In this Woodworking Basics tutorial we’ll cover the best and worst tools to use to make center hole punches in your wood.
Why You Need a Center Hole
If you need to do precision drilling, it’s best to make a divot in the wood first.
That way the pointed tip of the drill bit can catch on to it and ensures that it is dead center of where you want to drill.
All the Tools We’ll Cover
These are the tools we’ll test:
- Screwdriver
- Nail
- Screw
- Ahl
- Steel punch
- Automatic center hole punch
Screwdriver – Why Not to Use It
Most folks grab the first tool that’s handy for making a dent in the wood.
That’s usually a Phillips head screwdriver.
To keep from stripping screws, the head of the driver needs to set deeply into it.
Pounding the tip into wood blunts it.
Plus, the handle is not necessarily made to take pounding on by a hammer.
So, this is not a good tool to use.
Nail – Makes a Great Hole, But…
A good sized framing nail makes a good center punch.
And of course, it’s made to be struck with a hammer.
Some nails have a squared tip, which doesn’t make for a round hole.
And, most of the time you have to wiggle the nail to get it loose, which widens the hole.
Plus, it’s easy to lose and maybe hard to find in your toolbox.
And, you need a hammer.
So, it’s an okay substitute for a true center hole punch tool, but maybe not the best one.
Screw – Makes a Great Hole
A decking or even a drywall screw makes a super round hole that’s just the right size for your drill bit tip.
And it can definitely take hammering on too.
The screw threads keep it from going to far into the wood, which is great for soft woods, like pine.
But like the nail, it can be easy to lose or hard to find in your toolbox.
And, you need a hammer.
Overall, it works just fine, though.
Ahl – Great Tool That’s Made for This
An ahl is a super tool for punching holes.
In fact, that’s what it’s made to do!
You can punch into wood, metal, leather, etc.
It will usually have a large handle that’s tapered, which will keep your knuckles protected from the hammer strike.
And the very top of it will likely be metal, which is made to be struck with a hammer.
Basically, it’s like a big nail with a handle.
And that handle makes it easy to find in your toolbox too.
And, you need a hammer.
So, this is a super tool to use.
Solid Steel Hole Punch – Made for the Job
This is also a tool made specifically for the purpose of making a hole dent in wood or other materials.
Most often it is made of solid steel and will last you forever.
Unfortunately, most of them are short and black.
I find the short height makes me nervous, as my knuckles and fingers seem even more exposed to missed hammer whacks.
And being short and black, it can be super hard to find in a toolbox.
And, you need a hammer.
So, while it’s made for the job, between all of the above, I’d rather have an ahl.
Hammer Required
For all of the tools we’ve covered so far, a hammer is required.
That means digging out a second tool.
And that’s a pain.
Automatic Center Hole Punch – The Very Best Tool For the Job
I LOVE my automatic center hole punch.
No hammer needed!!!!
That’s one less tool to grab.
It has a sharp tip that makes a perfect hole for the tip of your drill bit.
And it doesn’t take much downward pressure to punch the hole.
The body and parts are usually pretty hefty, so a decent one will last you for decades.
And they come in all manner of colors, making them pretty easy to find in your toolbox.
And did I mention that you don’t need a hammer? Lol
That also means zero risk of hitting knuckles.
So, to me, an automatic center hole punch is the VERY BEST tool for this job.
Wrap Up
I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick review of center hole punches.
Check out more Woodworking Basics tutorials.
And subscribe to the Heartwood Art YouTube channel and click notifications so you always know when I release a new tutorial.
Care to Share?
Leave a Reply