Flatpack furniture often comes with pilot holes, both to show people how to assemble the furniture and to minimize the need for additional tools.
A pilot hole is a small hole created in a surface to act as a guide for drilling, screwing, or nailing. There are various reasons for creating a pilot hole and several different techniques can be used. One of the most common involves using a drill bit with a small bit to drill the hole, although people can also create a pilot hole by partially driving in a small nail and removing the nail, leaving a clean hole.
One of the most common reasons for drilling a pilot hole is to prevent slippage. When drilling large holes, it is not uncommon for the bit to slip or skid, which can damage the material and endanger the drill operator. Small holes are easier to drill, so a pilot hole can be dug first, then the larger drill bit can be centered over the pilot hole to make it larger. This is much safer than starting with a large drill bit and can improve accuracy since the drill doesn’t slip and end up drilling a hole in the wrong place.
Drilling pilot holes with hardwoods is often recommended because they can be difficult to work with. Attempting to drive a large diameter screw or drill bit into wood without using a hole that has already been drilled can be a frustrating process. The bit could slip, skid on the wood and damage it, and the hole could be uneven or at an angle.
Another reason to create a pilot hole is to prevent cracking or splitting of the work surface. Both wood and plastic tend to crack when large holes are drilled or when a screw is inserted. A pilot hole reduces stress on the material, making it less likely to crack. This can be especially critical with delicate or irreplaceable materials; Although drilling the pilot hole takes time, it is preferable to cause permanent damage to something that cannot be repaired or replaced.
Pilot holes are also used as guides. Flatpack furniture often comes with pilot holes, both to show people how to assemble the furniture and to minimize the need for additional tools. Pre-drilled holes also eliminate the risk of cracking, a common concern with the cheaper woods and plastics used to make some flat-pack furniture products. For projects that people are doing on their own, a pilot hole can improve accuracy, since the hole that has already been started is the one that a screw, drill, or nail will naturally slide into.