Self-Centering Bits

This is one of those tools that you end up wishing you had gotten years ago. Along with the shelving jig, it will raise your level of precision and provide you with personal satisfaction in your projects. If you do happen to accidentally dismantle the spring loaded assembly like I did, the easiest way to put it back together is to assemble it without the spring first and lock down the set screw. Then remove the spring retaining spring clip which is at the front below the chip clearing holes, slide the brass washer, spring and stainless washer in that order over the assembly! compress these three parts with needle nose pliers and snap the spring clip back into position where the score mark is around the barrel. I found using a bench vise to hold the base of the bit while doing this is best.

These bits together with the shelf jig-it make drilling shelf pin holes a breeze. Word of caution however if you need to adjust the depth of the bit - do NOT unscrew the small inset screw more then necessary to loosen the bit. Removing the screw farther results in the entire spring loaded mechanism to fly apart. It can be put back together but takes some patience.

I wore out my first 5mm self-centering bit and bought a replacement. The newer bit doesn't leave a round dent around the hole and I found I get no tear out if I use maximum RPM setting on my drill. This is one of my favorite Rockler products.

I have owned and used this self centering bit and the shelf jig it for years and drilled thousands of holes with it and it works great and is a big timesaver.the problem with chip removal,if yoy drill your hole and then run the drill bit back into the hole a second time it clears the chips most of the time.Also a dull drill bit will clog more often and a corded drill that runs higher rpms works better than a slower cordless drill.

The bit was awesome, and worked with the shelf pin jig-it jig brilliantly. Sometimes wood chips would build up in the spring mechanism but that was of no consequence. Well done Rockler.