Drilling Accurate Holes in Thin Sheet Metal With Twist Drills

[mklotz]

Sorry, but I just can not understand for the life of me why I see so many people not take the extra time to secure the work piece to the table.

I have to loudly agree. Freehand drilling in small parts is difficult and dangerous at best. Sheet metal is extra dangerous and difficult to hold securely in the average drill press vise. What's needed is a finger plate. The term is inherited from the British where the form has a single "finger" clamp to secure small parts. My version...

More versatile finger plate

provides a table to which multiple clamps of differing types can be attached to secure almost any odd shape. Most important is the fact that the plate has projections on the bottom that allow it to be clamped securely in the drill press vise once the part has been secured to the top of the plate with suitable clamps.