DIY Drilling Jig for DIY Brackets

I went with Ultra Shelf because they provide a routing template, a drilling template along with the exact drill bit and router bit needed for the job. I thought it would make the work practically error proof. However, the drilling template didn’t work and I had to widen the hole on one side of the shelf by quite a lot to get the three pronged bracket to fit. It was super frustrating and took me hours longer than I expected to do a small number of shelves. After I did the first one, I thought it was user error. However, each subsequent shelf turned out exactly the same - the template must have been off fractionally. So frustrating!

Excellent product and support.

This is a BIG improvement over the wooden guides that were available when I initially purchased the shelf brackets a couple years ago. I bought 3 of the jigs so I could create a single guide for the brackets and drill all 3 holes at once. I would recommend using a brad point bit versus the auger bit with a lead tap. The lead tap pulls the bit into hardwood too much and is difficult to remove whereas a brad point doesn't have this problem.

Bracket was bent

Very helpful for a straight hole. Just need to make sure screws are aligned before drilling!

The aluminum was too soft to use with the steel bit. It ate it up really quickly and cause accuracy issues. Steel replacement would be much better.

Definitely worth getting this drilling jig. It aligns with notches in the template you can also purchase (also well worth the money) and firmly secures to your workpiece to assure perfect alignment with your bracket.It made this job easy!

They need to provide a multiple drill hole template. So if your bracket has 3 post, the template would guide you. It would be worth the cost.

Worked great

Pretty disappointed out of the 13 shelfs I ordered more than 1/2 of them had some kind of damage - they were either bent along the rail, or crooked posts. Perhaps all this happened in shipping? Since they where just shoved in cardboard boxes with no protection

The jig should be taller to ensure alignment of holesThe template was very good

Made drilling so easy.

Recommend Ultra Shelf advise customers only THEIR auger bit fits the jig. I chewed up my new, Bosch 9/16" auger bit as the jig was undersized and required reaming with the new bit to be usable, effectively ruining the bit.

I chose to purchase a new, Bosch 9/16" auger bit from my local hardware store rather than buy the same through Ultrashelf (I try to support local business as much as possible). I was dismayed to find the diameter of the jig was slightly smaller than the new auger bit. As a result, I needed to ream the drilling jig to accommodate the Bosch bit, effectively ruining it and requiring a new one for the actual drilling of the holes. I recommend you advise potential customers that the drilling bit only accommodates the UltraShelf bit.

The jig is a big help with alignment for a straight hole. Ship auger bits can get aggressive so remember to go slow-speed 1 on drill.