Drill guides are becoming more popular these days, and with good reason. However, they all share one slight but common and annoying flaw. With their small bases, they tend to tip over easily, which invariably moves the bit and possibly ruins the cut.
To solve this, I added the base and step you can see in the photo. This brand of drill guide already has four holes tapped and threaded to accommodate 1/4"-20 screws, making it an easy addition. The base adds a great deal of stability, preventing any tipping.
In addition to the base, I also added a step to the rear of this add-on. This serves two functions. The first is a deeper V-groove, which allows me to drill through dowels usually too large for the guide. Second, a few holes drilled in the back offer storage: two holes to hold the guide rods and a third for the key for the chuck. A slight chamfer on these made with a countersink bit helps make it easy to quickly slot the rods and key in place.
With just a scrap of plywood and a few screws, you can transform an ordinary drill guide into a more stable, precise, and user-friendly tool. Whether you’re drilling dowels, hardware mounting holes, or joinery, this simple modification helps ensure every hole starts and ends exactly where you intend.
