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21 December 2001

Handy Drill Bits You Didn't Know You Had

by Jim Simmonds

Run some wires up from a crawl space inside a wall where you intend to mount an access plate. Making accurate measurements to locate the wall from the crawl space is not an easy task. If only one could purchase a long ,small bit to drill a test hole no measurements would be necessary. You likely have such a drill bit already. It's called a wire coathanger. From it you can make drill bits up to 12" that are slightly larger than 1/16". To transform the coathanger into a drill bit follow these instructions.

First, do not saw the wire. Instead use a pair of diagonal pliers (side cutters).

Do not bend the wire to break it. If you cannot break the wire with one squeeze, rotate the wire a quarter turn and squeeze again. The purpose of using side cutters is to produce a sharp cutting end that can drill through a 2 x 4. A single squeeze usually creates the sharpest end. You must also produce a strait drill bit. After you have placed the bit in the drill chuck. operate the drill Do not attempt to use if the tip of the bit wobbles more than 1/16". I recommend that you drill down from the top of the base board and not the floor. Leave the drill bit in it's hole and from the crawl space look for the coathanger.