portable drill guide at workbench

Portable drill guides essentially turn a handheld drill/driver into a small drill press. The drill attaches to a shaft that is connected to a chuck, which is guided in a straight line on two rails. The angle of the guide can be changed in relation to the workpiece, and most also feature a depth stop. It's a great tool to have if you don't have space for a full-size drill press or if you need to drill angled or repetitive holes when your drill press is either inaccessible or won't work for the application. The problem with most drill guides, however, is they tend to be a little flimsy and not very precise. The Rockler Portable Drill Guide has all of the features of previous drill guides, with the added advantage that it is also built like a tank. A large 1/2"-capacity Jacobs chuck glides amazingly smoothly on ball bearings.





Portable Drill Guide

Knob for adjusting angle on Rockler drill guide
The Rockler Portable Drill Guide features an overmolded handle and knob that are comfortable to grip. They adjust the drilling angle from 0 to 60 degrees. White markings make the protractor scale easier to read.


Brass depth knob for setting drilling guide stop
An integral depth stop with knurled brass knob sets the drilling depth for repeatable drilling.


Drilling through chuck on drilling guide
The Guide offers 9-5/16" of capacity from the end of the chuck to the bottom of the base.


Using drilling guide to capture and hold a round piece for drilling
V-notches in the base can hold round workpieces, such as dowels, for drilling centered holes.


Using drill guide setting pins to hold it in place on a corner
Mounting holes in the base can be used to attach the guide to your work piece or other shop-made jigs. Or, install a set of pins that come standard so you can straddle the Portable Drill Guide over the edge of a workpiece to drill centered holes and mortises. Install the pins under its base to straddle and center the bit over the edge of a workpiece.


Storing setting pins for drill guide on top section
The pins store in the top of the Drill Guide.


Self-Centering Drill Vise

You can take the Portable Drill Guide to the next level by pairing it with the Rockler Self-Centering Drill Vise. Its 3" x 3" capacity is ideal for small tasks, such as drilling mandrel holes in pen blanks, but the Vise is big enough to secure larger pieces, too. A rubber knob on the end opens and closes the aluminum jaws simultaneously. Use the Vise independently, or install it on the Rockler Portable Drill Guide with the pre-drilled holes to create a souped-up drilling station. These two tools are impressive on their own, but work even better as a team.



Vise for drill guide for holding small items for drilling
The Rockler Self-Centering Drill Vise can be used independently or mounted in the Drilling Guide’s base to create an integrated precision drilling system.


Rockler drill guide kit with attached vise
Purchase the Drilling Guide individually or as a set.

Edge Guide for Rockler Portable Drill Guide

The new Rockler Edge Guide combined with the Portable Drill Guide lets you drill multiple holes the same distance from the edge—great for dog holes, shelf pin holes and Shaker pegs. The Portable Drill Guide is a great tool to have if you don't have space for a full-size drill press or if you need to drill angled or repetitive holes when your drill press is either inaccessible or won't work for the application. The addition of this Edge Guide makes it even more versatile.





aluminum and wood edge guide rods
The Edge Guide sets the distance from the edge of your work, ensuring consistent hole location for projects like drilling a row of bench dog holes or pegs for a coat rack. The included 1/4''-dia. x 12'' aluminum guide bars (left photo) allow drilling 1-3/4'' to 8'' from edge. If more distance is needed from the edge, you can substitute 1/4"-dia. wood dowels for the guide bars (right photo).