There are several challenges when drilling angled holes. First is getting the angle correct, next is getting the direction of angle correct, and perhaps most important, you have to get the entry point correct. It's tough enough doing it on a drill press, but when you have to do it in the field or on a large workpiece, the challenges get...more challenging. Woodpeckers new AutoAngle Drill GUide marries the best features of the AutoLine Drill Guide to a clever protractor base that makes it amazingly simple to set up your drilling angle and hole location. If you can layout a crosshair on your material, you can put a hole through that crosshair at any angle you choose from straight up and down to a 40° angle.
The protractor of the AutoAngle works differently than most others on the market. While most designs rotate their angle from a pivot somewhere above the surface of the material, the AutoAngle has a "virtual" pivot point that is exactly on the surface of the material. This means the point of your drill bit enters the material at exactly the same point, regardless of drilling angle. Which, in turn, means you can locate your hole by aligning the index marks on the base of the AutoAngle to crosshairs on your material, even when you're drilling at an angle.
That feature alone puts the AutoAngle in a class of its own, but we didn't stop there. We built in a versatile fence and stop system that makes it a snap to position the AutoAngle at fixed distances from a square corner. The guide rods are extendable and work with both the fence and flip stops. You can add extra flip stops to drill a series of holes all the same distance from the edge of the material.
The protractor is locked in place by two large, comfortable hand-grips. They make it simple to lock the base and give you a safe, secure place to hold the AutoAngle. If you have to work tight in a corner, there is a multi-knob to replace one of the handles.
They've also included a pair of buttons that store on the base. Move them to the bottom of the base and place one on each side of your material to drill at the exact centre of your stock. Or, align the vee-blocks to each other and use them to align the AutoAngle on round stock.
The AutoAngle base makes it so simple to put your hole right where you want it. Align the machined reference points in the base to layout lines on your stock and you're on target. In fact, you only need three of the four marks to drill perfectly located holes. The chuck base slides off the guide rods easily for a clear view when you need to make a critical set up. There's ample room to add a clamp or two when needed, but the non-skid surface on the base handles the job in all but the trickiest situations.
The Basic AutoAngle includes the fence, a pair of 6-1/2" guide rods and a short multi-knob for close quarters work.
The Deluxe AutoAngle add sox 11" guide rods and two flip stops.
Like all Woodpeckers products, the AutoAngle Drill guide is precisely machined and carefully inspected at their Strongsville, Ohio facility, just south of Cleveland.
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