How to Put a Hole in a Wooden Desk for Telephone Wires Without Splintering the Wood

An organized desk helps add a sense of productivity and order to a workspace, and minimizing the clutter of wires and cables can be a key part of that organization. Rather than drape the wires over a side or end of your desk, particularly if walls prevent it, you can easily add a hole to route the telephone line through the desktop. You can adapt the procedure for larger holes, such as for computer or printer cables, to help minimize workspace clutter.

Tape measure
2-inch masking tape
Awl or nail set
Electric drill
3/8-inch brad-point drill bit
Block of scrap wood (optional)
Clamps (optional)
Fine sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Determine the approximate hole location on the desktop.
- 2
  Apply a piece of masking tape over the hole location, then use a tape measure to accurately mark the desired center point of the hole. The masking tape provides additional assistance in preventing splintering of the desktop surface.
- 3
  Position the tip of the brad-point drill bit on the center point marked in Step 2 and hold the electric drill vertically. Begin drilling the hole at a very slow speed, while applying light downward pressure, to allow the drill bit’s edge cutters to gently cut into the wood surface. Once the bit has fully cut the hole’s circumference, increase the drill speed slightly to complete the drilling of the hole.
- 4
  Remove the masking tape by pulling from one end across the hole location, parallel with the desktop. Do not pull the masking tape upward as this increases the potential for damaging the surface of the desk. Use a small piece of fine grit sandpaper to ease the edge of the drilled hole.

Drill Press Hazards

How to Seal Handrails

Woodworking