Drilling Holes For Internal Scroll Saw Cuts



To make internal cuts with a scroll saw, you need to drill access holes to insert the blade. These holes need to be square to the top of the piece. If the internal cut is large, you can drill them without a drill press using a handheld drill. As the internal cuts get smaller, you must drill the as near to vertical as possible. For me, this means I have to use a drill press or other device.

I started with a Dremel drill press and a Craftsman rotary tool. The Dremel drill press worked great for me until I started making larger projects where I could not drill holes where I needed them.




Dremel Drill Press Stand Craftsman Rotary Tool
Dremel Drill Press Stand Craftsman Rotary Tool

My next tool was a small benchtop Central Machinery drill press. I bought this drill press because the chuck would fit the smallest bit I had at the time, and it was cheaper than buying a replacement chuck for my large floor standing press. Plus I was not too fond of the idea of changing the chuck when I needed to use larger bits. After a few years, I outgrew it. I had projects that it wasn't quite large enough for, and the keyless chuck drove me nuts. I almost needed three hands to get a bit installed. If I remember right, I paid about $30 for it at Harbor Freight on sale with a coupon. I used it for several years and sold it for $35.


Harbor Freight Central Machinery Drill Press Bench Top Drill Press
Harbor Freight Central Machinery Drill Press Bench Top Drill Press



I purchased a Grizzly G7943 - 14" Heavy-Duty Benchtop Drill Press used that worked but needed some TLC. I refurbished the drill press and swapped out the chuck for one that would hold my tiny wire gauge size bits. I am happy with this setup, and it will be my goto for drilling my scroll saw projects. When I got it all set up as a test loaded up my smallest bit and drilled holes in a toothpick.



Grizzly G7943 Drill Press Being Refurbished
Grizzly G7943 Drill Press Being Refurbished



When I reach the point, if I ever do, where the 14-inch drill press will not work, I will use a router base with a Dremel. One of these:


Stewart MacDonald Precision Router Base
Stewart MacDonald Precision Router Base

Veritas Plunge Base for Rotary Tools
Veritas Plunge Base for Rotary Tools

I lean heavily toward the Lee Valley tool due to its versatility.

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