Tool Review: Big Gator Tools Metric V-DrillGuide

Even highly trained automotive technicians need a little help sometimes. When it comes to drilling or tapping a hole, perfect alignment of the hole can be critical. Depending on the type and structure of the material, it can be difficult to align the drill and the material properly to ensure the hole is accurately drilled, especially if the material is round or square tubing Barry Hoyland, shop owner of Vehicle Service Solutions in Salem, Oregon, found the Big Gator Tools Metric V-DrillGuide to be the perfect solution to that problem.

“The V-DrillGuide allows the technician to drill through the material in a straight line, or angle depending upon the surface level of the material, the small size of the tool allows the technician to access even narrow areas while providing stability to the drill bit,” Hoyland says. “With a flat surface, drilling completely straight is simple and the v-groove allows the user to drill through both sides of round or square tubing perfectly aligned in the center of the material. Even though the V-DrillGuide is small, there is plenty of room to add a gripping clamp to hold the tool steady while drilling.”

Hoyland found the easy-to-use Metric V-DrillGuide did not require a manual and came out of the packaging ready to get to work.

Around the shop, Hoyland was able to find many uses for the V-DrillGuide that allowed him to save time and energy on those repairs.

“In the fabrication area, we used the tool to drill through square tubing and round tubing in order to mount accessories,” Hoyland says. “In the repair shop, we used the tool to drill through broken exhaust manifold bolts and the tap guide – a separate companion tool [offered by Big Gator Tools] – to guide the tap straight for cutting new threads.”

When putting the tool to action, Hoyland was impressed with the material it is crafted from. He emphasized this material adds to the V-DrillGuide’s heavy weight, saying “[The tool is] well-built enough so to ensure drilling will not damage the tool, but still light enough to be easy to use.”

Overall, Hoyland is impressed by the Big Gator Tools Metric V-DrillGuide.

He notes, “While using the tool, I was asked by other technicians and fabricators where to buy the [guide] as they wanted the tools right away. It is so simple and easy to use.”