Drill precise pin holes four times faster
My large bookcase project would have required drilling dozens of shelf-pin holes and a jig to ensure those holes matched up.
My large bookcase project would have required drilling dozens of shelf-pin holes and a jig to ensure those holes matched up. To save time and improve accuracy, I came up with this handy technique that creates perfectly aligned pin holes.
First, machine 1⁄2 "-deep, parallel grooves in the case sides where you want the shelf-pin holes. Then, cut 2 1⁄2 "-wide stock (you can laminate thinner pieces for this) thick enough to fit in the grooves. Lay out the shelf-pin holes on the edge of this stock, drill through-holes on the marks, and then resaw the stock to make four strips of equal thickness. Using a full-kerf blade will yield shelf-pin hole strips that stand just 1⁄32 " proud of the grooves—just enough for sanding flush. Glue all the strips in the same orientation and each set of holes will match up perfectly.
—Stephen Gross, Hilo, Hawaii