If you’re having trouble drilling a horizontal hole with an electric drill, try hanging a plumb line from the bit’s shank as you bore the hole. I use a brass key ring or a metal shower-curtain ring and let it ride on the shank. From it, I hang a string tied to a couple of washers (see drawing). When a spinning bit is held level, the weight will hang in place. Make sure the ring doesn’t get hung up in the spinning chuck.
Dave Herbert, Laurence Harbor, NJ
