Jig For Drilling Siding

Abstract

A jig designed to support a bit for drilling vent holes in siding of frame buildings, comprising a base-plate having fixed posts journaling a bit for drilling vent holes at substantially a uniform optimum angle in siding. The tool is also designed to take simple accessory fittings for adapting it to operate on siding of different types and thicknesses.

Description

My invention relates to portable tools, and has to do more particularly with such a tool specially designed for drilling holes in wooden siding in place on a building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The problem, solution of which is the prime object of my invention, is well stated in an article which appears on p. 20 of Chicago Sun-Times for Sunday, Aug. 11, 1968, entitled, "Put a Stop to Peeling Paint," by Herman Baum. As explained in this article, the serious problem of peeling paint encountered in modern homes, regardless of the quality of the paint, is due to humidity within the building together with the efficient sealing of the structure which amounts to their being almost airtight. Because of this combination of physical conditions, moisture within the building, in the form of vapor, tends to pass through the clapboards, condensing to liquid immediately below the cold inner face of the paint, resulting in blistering and peeling of the latter.

One of several solutions of this problem suggested in the aforesaid article is the drilling of holes from the exposed edges of the boards at an acute angle to the face thereof, terminating at the inner faces of the boards and adjacent the sheathing, and in some cases also through the sheathing.

Thus, water vapor from within the building may pass through the sheathing and continue to the outer air, through the aforesaid drilled holes.

See also U.S. Pats. to Joppich No. 2,782,464; Broussard No. 3,006,223; Turkel No. 2,402,306 and Stibits 2,505,013.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

With the use of an ordinary portable drill alone, it is difficult if not impossible to drill the vent holes referred to hereabove efficiently and uniformly. Such an attempt is almost certain to result in holes produced at nonuniform angles, with a likelihood of serious damage to the siding.

An object of my invention, therefore, is to produce a jig specially designed for the support of a portable drill for use in the drilling of vent holes at a predetermined angle in siding, as hereinabove described.

Another object is to provide a jig of the character described which is adaptable for different types of siding construction, and therefore having wide versatility.

Another object is to provide a tool of the type referred of knockdown construction, whereby it may be packed and shipped in a small, compact package, and thus is especially suitable for mail-order distribution.

A further object is to provide an article of the character referred to which is simple and inexpensive in construction and thus may be produced and sold at relatively low cost, and is generally satisfactory for the purposes in mind.

Various other objects and advantages may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art as the description proceeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to the drawings forming a part of this specification and illustrating a preferred embodiment of my invention,

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a tool embodying my invention, shown in operation on siding of the rabbeted type;

FIG. 2 is a similar view in elevation, partly in section, showing said tool in modified form in operation on siding of the lap or bevel type.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of said tool, substantially as seen from a plane along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of said tool;

FIGS. 5--7 inclusive are fragmentary elevational views, partially in section, showing said tool in operation on lap siding of different widths;

FIG. 8 is an elevational view taken substantially from the plane represented by line 8-8 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a clapboard of the lap type which has been drilled by a tool embodying my invention, and showing insertion in the vent hole of a vent member designed to bar the entrance of insects and other foreign matter and to keep the vent holes open;

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a vent member of the character seen in section in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of the vent member seen in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of an adjustable foot constituting an element or accessory of tools embodying my invention as employed in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a support bracket also forming an element or accessory of tools embodying my invention as employed in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The preferred embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings comprises a main body portion 10, preferably a casting of aluminum or other suitable stiff material (it could be molded of any suitable synthetic resin or plastic), having relatively light weight and rigidity and comprising a flat base portion 12, preferably with suitable stiffening ribs or flanges, as seen in FIG. 3.

Formed integrally with said base portion 12 on the front-to-rear centerline thereof is a forward post 15 and a rearward post 16, the latter rising somewhat higher than the former, said posts having coaxial passages extending entirely therethrough at an acute angle to base portion 12 to journal a drill bit B.

Forwardly of post 15, base portion 12 is cut out as at 18, permitting passage of a bit B.

A pair of generally L-shaped peripheral flanges is formed integrally on base portion 12, each of said flanges having a relatively short leg 20a at the front and a relatively longer leg 20b on the side. Said longer leg 20b of each of said L-shaped flanges is provided with a pair of spaced apertures for passage of a pair of threaded bolts 22 which, with the aid of nuts on the inside of said flanges, permit attachment of L-shaped adjustable feet members 25 (FIG. 12). Said feet members are provided with a plurality of apertures in the long leg thereof, permitting adjustable attachment to said flange 12b.

As seen in FIG. 3, said feet members 25 may be adjusted at different points by means of the holes therein to extend at various lengths from the baseplate so as to permit operation of the tool to accommodate siding of various thickness, as will be described more fully herebelow.

The aforesaid longer portion of L-shaped flanges 20b are also perforated adjacent the rear extremity thereof, which may be adjacent the mid portion of main body 12, providing a pair of longitudinally spaced apertures for the passage of other screw bolts 26 which serve, with the aid of nuts 27, for attachment of a bail or handle member H which, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 8, has a pair of side legs 28, the lower extremities of which are perforated to permit passage of said bolts.

Also attached to said longer side flanges 20b is a pair of generally L-shaped support brackets 30, 30 (FIG. 13), the longer legs of which are likewise perforated to permit passage of the same screw bolts which attach handle H to said main body 12.

OPERATION OF THE TOOL

In the operation of the tool just described, it should be understood that, before starting to drill any holes in siding, the old blistered paint should be completely removed from the siding, down to the bare wood, using whatever equipment may be required for this purpose. All siding is then fully tightened by renailing where necessary. The operator should then determine the type of siding, i.e., whether it is lap or bevel siding or is rabbeted. If metal corners are used, it may be necessary to remove one of the corners to determine the character of the siding.

If the siding is of the lap or bevel type, as seen in FIG. 2, it is necessary to reach only the air pocket directly behind the siding, and it is unnecessary to drill through the sheathing S. The thickness of the siding at its lower edge should be measured to determine the tool setting. The holes to be drilled through the siding are preferably at an angle of about 10.degree..

I consider it desirable to furnish with the tool a plurality of bushings of different lengths to be applied to the shaft of the drill bit rearwardly of journal post 16, the bushing in this case being indicated by numeral 35. I find it desirable to furnish as accessories with the tool 1/4-inch, 1/2-inch and 1 -inch bushings.

The bushing to be employed for siding of a particular thickness may be determined according to the following table, which should be considered exemplary only for the embodiment herein shown. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Siding Edge Thickness Set Feet 25 Bushing on Drill Bit __________________________________________________________________________ 1/2" 2 holes show beyond 1/4" body 518" 1 hole shows beyond 1/4" & body 1/2" 3/4" No holes show beyond 1/4" & body 1" __________________________________________________________________________

In this operation support brackets 30 (FIG. 12) are not used.

Setting up the drill with the appropriate bushing or bushings as seen in FIG. 2, the shaft of bit B is secured in chuck 40 of a suitable electric drill, the bit being preferably one-fourth inch or larger. The handle H of the tool is held in either hand and the pistol grip of the electric drill in the other, laying the base plate 12 flat on the siding surface with feet 25 touching squarely the bottom edge of the siding board immediately above the base plate 12, as seen in FIG. 2.

The operator should make sure that the baseplate is absolutely flat on the surface of the siding. The drill bit should then enter the lower edge of the siding approximately at a center point between the opposite surfaces of the board, as seen in FIGS. 5--7 with boards 50a, 50b and 50c, of 5/8 inch, 3/4 inch, and 1/2 inch thickness, respectively. Holding the tool securely against the siding, the electric drill should be started and the drill bit carefully pushed up and through the siding and into the air space therebehind, making sure the bit breaks through. One should not drill through the sheathing.

After the hole has been formed, the bit should be removed and reinserted until the hole is entirely clean.

If the siding should be of the rabbeted type, as seen in FIG. 1, the entire back of the board will be disposed tight against the inner sheathing and accordingly it is necessary that the vent holes be drilled not only through the siding but also on through the sheathing into the air space therebehind, between the wall studs. In this case the tool should be set up to drill holes preferably at approximately a 32.degree. angle through the siding.

The adjustable feet 25 (FIG. 12) in this case should be affixed to a position where one mounting hole is exposed beyond the edge of the main body, in the embodiment shown. Also, in this case, the support brackets 30 (FIG. 13) should be attached by the same bolts which hold the handle, so that the baseplate 12, instead of lying flat against the siding, will be tilted at an angle thereto, as clearly seen in FIG. 1. The support brackets 30 will be so attached that the shorter feet thereof will extend toward each other.

In this case a 1/4-inch bushing 35 should be arranged on the shaft B and the shaft is mounted on a 1/4-inch or larger chuck.

Maintaining the feet of the brackets 30 on the siding surface so that the bit extends at approximately 32.degree. from the surface of the siding (FIG. 1), the drill is started and allowed to enter the lower edge of the siding approximately at a point three-sixteenths inch from the outer face of the siding. Drilling is continued until the bit has passed through the siding and sheathing, making sure the drill breaks through the latter.

Otherwise, the procedure is similar to that described above for lap or bevel siding.

In any case, after a clean hole has been drilled, it is desirable to insert the outside extremity thereof a vent member V (FIGS. 9 and 10). Such a member is tubular in construction, having a shoulder portion 41 for limiting its entry into vent hole H', and will also have a suitable obstruction 43, such as a grid, screen or cross wires for prohibiting entrance of insects or other foreign matter which might clog the vent hole.

It will be seen that I have provided an extremely convenient and versatile tool for the purposes described.

Various changes coming within the spirit of my invention may suggest themselves to those skilled in the art; hence, I do not wish to be limited to the specific embodiments shown and described or uses mentioned, but intend the same to be merely exemplary, the scope of my invention being limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A jig for removably supporting a bit for drilling holes in siding, comprising

a. a baseplate having

b. a pair of spaced journal posts thereon, said posts being perforated with axially aligned passages designed to journal a drill bit at an acute angle to the plane of said plate,

c. a handle on the same side of said plate as said posts, and

d. longitudinally adjustable means for spacing said tool at predetermined distances from the lower edge of a siding board, said spacing means having a flat face adapted to bear against said edge.

2. A tool as in claim 1, wherein said spacing means is an L-shaped bracket, one leg thereof being fixable at spaced points on said baseplate, the other adapted to seat against said edge.

3. A tool as in claim 2, with accessory means detachably connectable to said base to provide a support at an angle different from that of the base.

4. A tool as in claim 3, said accessory means and said handle being secured to said baseplate by common attaching means.