Flexible shaft drill thingy? Where to buy?

[cgallery]

I would like to use this pivot hinge:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?O...Select=Details

In a cabinet I've already constructed. I need to drill a 11/32" hole 11/16" away from the corner of the face frame. My current drills will not get that close to the edge and still allow me to drill the perpendicular to the surface.

I thought of using one of those flexible-shaft accessories where a cable chucks in your drill on one end and the other end has a chuck. My recollection of these is that they can be used in pretty confined spaces.

I tried searching Harbor Freight and Grizzly, but didn't find one (though they both seem to offer high RPM carving tools that are similar).

Anyone know where I can buy a flexible shaft extension for my drill that won't break the bank.

[iceman61]

Lowes has them for sure, as I have seen them. I'm sure HD does also. I just don't know how much they flex or how much you need them to flex.

[TheRic]

I have a couple of flex shafts, but they are designed to hold a bit / hex shank. Have not seen one with a chuck on the end. I would not try to use one to drill a hole. The flex shaft flexes moves as it spins. I would think it would either break the bit or make the hole in some strange angle. I would definitely test it first.

Have you thought about a drill chuck that you can adjust to any angle, even somewhat backwards. I thought it was called an Orbit or something like that, but I couldn't find a link . It's a ball shape item. There is a handle attached to the middle. Two halves spin, since the chuck and the insert to the chuck are offset on their halves, it allows you to drill in about any angle. Was thinking Lowe's or HD sold them for about $30.

[cgallery]

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_i_...ll%2Ci%3Atools

Found some at Amazon, but I woulda sworn I have seen them at HF, but can't find them now. Story of my life. I don't want to spend $30 to drill two holes.

[Mr__Bill]

There are drill bits that have a flexible shaft.
or
Use a flex drive for 1/4 drive and a drill bit with a 1/4 hex end on it.

Sears among others have the flex drive thing

Bill

[LCHIEN]

i have this drill that will do the job...
only 1" diameter, so it can drill a hole 1/2" from a surface.
Got it from Brookstone oh so many years ago. Probably about $10 if you can find something like it. Might have to take a silver and demming style bit (reduced shank to 1/4")

try this link: http://www.shopping.com/xPO-Fiskars_...Drill_85116984 or
http://www.amazon.com/Fiskars-8511-6.../dp/B00004T80S
http://www.acehardware.com/sm-fiskar...i-1348232.html (yes, your local Ace Hardware)
looks identical except for color and logo.

[nz5d]

I recently had to drill a hole very close to the back of a cabinet and there wasn't room even for a flex shaft with a regular chuck on it--after a lot of head scratching, used a flex shaft from sears (the kind of shaft used for extending socket drives with a 1/4 male hex on one end and a 1/4 inch female hex on the other). On the female end I attached a 1/4 inch "snappy" drill adaptor (Hartville Tool part 88048). This drill adaptor is for 1/4 inch drill bit so you would have to find a 11/32 reduced down to 1/4 inch. This setup worked well enough to drill about 30 holes. Sorry for all the words--good luck.

[cabinetman]

It's called planning. I drill those before the cabinet goes together. Pivot hinges work like a champ when they are installed perpendicular. You might be able to get away with a brace and bit. Or, a regular sized hand drill like below might be easier to control because of it's height, using the side of the cabinet to brace your hand.
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http://woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=8512
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[cgallery]

It's called planning. I drill those before the cabinet goes together.

I had originally planned on using non-mortise inset hinges. But the project is coming together better than expected so I figured I'd try to find a hinge that you don't see from the cabinet front.

[cabinetman]

I had originally planned on using non-mortise inset hinges. But the project is coming together better than expected so I figured I'd try to find a hinge that you don't see from the cabinet front.

Just a thought. If the top or the bottom of the cabinet doesn't show, or it will be painted or veneered, why not just drill out the hole from the outside, and then plug it.
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[cgallery]

Just a thought. If the top or the bottom of the cabinet doesn't show, or it will be painted or veneered, why not just drill out the hole from the outside, and then plug it.
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Yep, I considered that. Nobody would notice, but... I'd have to drill through the face frame (1-3/4") and it would require a great deal of precision to make sure the hole is in the right spot on the other side.

I think I'm going to try Loring's hand drill suggestion.

[cabinetman]

Yep, I considered that. Nobody would notice, but... I'd have to drill through the face frame (1-3/4") and it would require a great deal of precision to make sure the hole is in the right spot on the other side.

I think I'm going to try Loring's hand drill suggestion.

Here's a suggestion. You know where the hole is supposed to be. You run a piece of masking tape over the top edge of the FF, down the face of the FF, and on the opposite side of the FF. Transfer the measurement to the opposite side with a combination square or a try square, and make a dot. Punch the dot with a scratch awl. When drilling, stand up a combination square on the cabinet to get a bearing on the angle of the drill to keep it 90 degrees.

Hold a block on the other side to prevent blowout. You'll get a better hole with a power drill or cordless than by hand (unless you've drilled many holes by hand). DAMHIKT
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[cgallery]

Hold a block on the other side to prevent blowout. You'll get a better hole with a power drill or cordless than by hand (unless you've drilled many holes by hand). DAMHIKT
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I'm squeamish about trying that with a hand-held drill power drill. Even small errors in my angle could be disastrous.

My thought was to drill a small block of wood with the 11/32 bit to act as a drilling guide. I'd clamp the guide to the face frame where I want the hole, and use the hand-held, hand-powered drill Loring suggests to do the drilling.

So the hand-held drill won't do a good job at this? If that is the case, I could still use my "block of wood drilling guide" and order-up on of the cable-type extensions. Or I suppose I could purchase the hand-held drill that Loring suggests and at least try it on some scrap, too.

[cabinetman]

I'm squeamish about trying that with a hand-held drill power drill. Even small errors in my angle could be disastrous.

My thought was to drill a small block of wood with the 11/32 bit to act as a drilling guide. I'd clamp the guide to the face frame where I want the hole, and use the hand-held, hand-powered drill Loring suggests to do the drilling.

So the hand-held drill won't do a good job at this? If that is the case, I could still use my "block of wood drilling guide" and order-up on of the cable-type extensions. Or I suppose I could purchase the hand-held drill that Loring suggests and at least try it on some scrap, too.

A guide block might keep you out of trouble.
.

[docrowan]

I purchased a flex shaft from Harbor Freight last year. Not sure if they still sell it, but I've tried it a few times connected to my drill press and it worked well. IIRC, it was around $10.00.