Make a substitute step drill with long bit and dowel

A simple pocket-hole jig works great if you have a step drill bit—a ³⁄₈ " bit with a ¹⁄₈ " pilot tip. If you don't, here's an idea that will come in handy.

I use a standard ³⁄₈ " bit with a stop collar on it to drill through the jig and into the stock to make the counterbore for the screw head. Then, I drill a ⁵⁄₃₂ " hole through the center of a ³⁄₄ "-long piece of ³⁄₈ " dowel.

When I slip the dowel over a long, jobber-length ⁵⁄₃₂ " bit (sold in many tool catalogs) as shown above, the dowel follows the first hole and acts as a guide while I drill a pilot hole for the screw shank. When the dowel gets reamed out, make a new one. You can drill other sizes of pilot holes through the dowel.
—Leonard S. Treppa, Warren, Mich.