Here is what I did today. Don't be telling to everyone

[Alex Elias]

I felt pretty silly when I did it but I'll share it with you. I went to drill dome pocket holes. Did the set up as usual and when I went to do the first whole the bit would not go in at all (we are talking poplar) so as a normal male I decided to push a bit harder and then a bit more. Since the bit would not go in at all I decided to inspect the bit and see if there was something stuck inside the whole of the jig. Nothing was wrong. So I decided to step on a stool and lean all my weight on the #(&$)(**^% drill I figure that even if the bit was dull that was going to do it, but it did not. As you might imagine by now the one thing I did not look at was to make sure that the drill was spining on the right direction. So when making a whole make sure you check that before going for the stoll
Anyway when that happened I thought I would put a smile on someones face and share the story. Don't be telling everyone about it.
Regards,
Alex

[Brad Townsend]

Even professionals will do this. Years ago, a cable installer came to my house to add a run to my basement. (Could have done it myself, but they would do it for free.) As he went at the brick facing with a 1/2" drill and two foot long masonry bit, I went into the basement to wait for it to break through. After about ten minutes of grinding, I went outside to see what was wrong. He was complaining bitterly about the hardness of the mortar on my house, when I pointed out to him that it would go much faster if he ran the drill forward. I left him alone to finish up.

[Don Bullock]

Thanks for the light moment Alex. I just did that recently. Woodworking can be such a humbeling experience.

[Larry Conely]

Years ago I responded to an ad for a Rockwell radial arm drill press advertised for a VERY low selling price.

When I asked why the price was so low, I was told it "didn't work so good." I went to look at it. The motor was rotating the wrong way. I bought it, fixed the rotation by wiring it properly and am still using the drill press today.

Larry

[frank shic]

alex, thanks for bringing back memories of my first cabinet project with pocket screws: the wood is smoking but the bit just won't feed!

[Kevin Beck]

Alex,

I also attempted to drill pocket holes with my drill in the reverse position. And like you I pushed with all my might. To add insult to injury I convinced myself that something was wrong with the drill bit and went and purchased another and lo and behold had similar results.

After scratching my head for a little while I finally gathered enough brain cells together to check the drill direction

Kevin

[Mark Rios]

Even professionals will do this. Years ago, a cable installer came to my house to add a run to my basement. (Could have done it myself, but they would do it for free.) As he went at the brick facing with a 1/2" drill and two foot long masonry bit, I went into the basement to wait for it to break through. After about ten minutes of grinding, I went outside to see what was wrong. He was complaining bitterly about the hardness of the mortar on my house, when I pointed out to him that it would go much faster if he ran the drill forward. I left him alone to finish up.

I'm not arguing Brad but....I just don't consider cable installers "professionals".

[John Lucas]

Wait just a darn moment. You mean to say that there is a directional thingie on the power drill? I thought it was part of the speed shifting section.

[Cary Swoveland]

For those who do this a lot, I think you can buy reverse-turning drill bits.

Cary

[Brad Townsend]

I'm not arguing Brad but....I just don't consider cable installers "professionals".

Here in the rural midwest, we're a little more generous about what we consider a "profession".

[James Carmichael]

Wait just a darn moment. You mean to say that there is a directional thingie on the power drill? I thought it was part of the speed shifting section.

Drills have a reverse switch

So if I drill a hole the wrong size or wrong place, I just run the drill in reverse, and it fills the hole back up, as if it was never there? Sweet!!!

Where do I find saws and routers with reverse switch????