I'm trying to drill holes for dowels in the edge of 3/4" walnut plywood but I'm not entirely sure of the best approach. I've read a lot about preventing tear-out and splitting, and I think using blue tape along with sacrificial pieces of plywood clamped on either side might help with that. Should I drill a couple of pilot holes before moving up to the 3/8" drill bit? I usually use Bradpoint bits but wonder if I should switch it up for this task. I really want to avoid any damage to the plywood while drilling these holes.
2 Answers
I recommend using a dowel jig for this project. I used one for a similar setup, and it helped me align everything perfectly while keeping the drilling consistent. You definitely want to minimize any risk of splitting, so it's great you’re planning to clamp those sacrificial pieces. I wouldn't use pilot holes; just go straight in with the final size bit. Just take your time and drill in stages, and if your plywood is decent quality, it should hold up well with the brad point bits. Good luck!
Honestly, sounds like you're overthinking it! You clearly know what you’re doing. I suggest just going for it—a test hole in a scrap piece is a great idea, and if that worked out perfectly, you should be good to go! Trust your skills!
I definitely was overthinking it! Did a couple test holes in scrap, and they turned out clean and perfect!