Locator Tool For Drilling Blind: Magnespot

Probably every person I have ever worked with uses your first technique. And most newbies will avoid drilling through a wall like the plague. The remaining "not scared to drill through this brand new million dollar building" installers are usually the ones fired the next day for hitting water line, electrical line or some other infinite amount of possibilities for disaster and lawsuit. 

That being said, it doesn't bother me anymore. I don't do installations much anymore, but have probably averaged 1 a day over a 20 year span of doing that type of work. But even if someone did 10 a day over their entire life, I guarantee you there will always be a new scenario where something doesn't go as planned and you will be standing there looking at that wall telling yourself "How did I f^ck that up that bad"?

I've never heard the term "blind holes" and if that was a standalone question I would say I never have drilled a blind hole. If you don't know where your bit will end up on the other side of a wall, then you shouldn't be drilling at all.

Best advise I can give is measure twice and drill once. Measure from the inside and outside and then measure again. You may have to drill from the inside out or outside in or both. Stud finders can come in handy. And those little mini snake cameras can really come in handy. I've had probably every tool available to man over the years but always come back to just a tape measure. Take your time, and drill slow.

Have quality bits and 2 of each size, and have every length they offer. Have every model too. Regular bits, pilot point bits, masonry, step bits, spade bits, wood bits.......... If you see them for sale in the hardware store and think you don't need a bit like that then you haven't been doing it long enough and probably been doing it wrong half the time. Buy every model that you can afford. Stick with the name brands too. Trust me when I say it's not worth saving 75% off the price going with cheap ones. 

If you are required to drill through a customer's wall, then those few minutes usually become the most important minutes of the physical installation. 

Oh, the stories I could tell ;)

My favorite success story was drilling from a basement through the exterior walls (no pop out) to the attic if a 2 story home.

My brother drilled horizontally through a lawyers library of legal books about 3’ wide.  You could see the books wiggling as we searched for the drill. 

So many more.....

I used to be the guy others would ask to drill. It's simply a matter of understanding how walls are constructed, how bits flex when you apply pressure to different points of the drill, and being the boss's son so you wouldn't get fired no matter what. 

Joking aside, learning how to drill precise shots and making holes exactly where you want them is a skill that only comes from long experience and practice (and, yes, making mistakes).  

I love bellhangers and flexibits, but only because I really know how to use them. I used to be scared to drill blind, but my father insisted I learn how. And I did. 

As the video points out, you can eyeball it, but you do need to walk back and forth a bunch of times to estimate where the bit will pop out. Having this tool will save a lot of time, and eliminate the need to spend years learning to do without it. 

Would like to see that magnet. Fits in your hand and works through 48" concrete walls.  Pretty sure that one isn't getting shipped through the mail. I had some rare earth magnets shipped to me one time with UPS. Got an empty box with a hole in the side. I imagine they caused a few problems when they made their exit. 

The Magnepul has enough magnet for both of them. Pretty strong.

I struggle at first about the price point, but in the end if it save me one mistake, it’s totslly worth it.

And you will never make use of a tool if you don't own one.

My favorite excuses for having too many tools. Or not enough in my opinion.

 With a drill that length he could come out way off, surely.

The powerful magnet guides the steel bit to dead center like a tractor beam ;)