An organized gun drill inventory saves time during setup and prevents the wrong drill from being used on a job. I’ve seen shops waste hours looking for the right drill.
Here’s how I organize gun drill inventory.
Labeling System
Every gun drill gets a label showing:
- Diameter (in mm)
- Length (in mm)
- Type (standard, carbide-tipped, solid carbide)
- Condition (new, used X holes, needs regrind)
- Tool ID number
The label is attached to the drill shank or to the storage slot. I use color-coded labels for quick identification — green for ready to use, yellow for needs inspection, red for needs regrind.
Storage Layout
Gun drills are stored in dedicated racks arranged by diameter. The rack has individual slots for each drill, labeled with the diameter.
I organize the rack from smallest diameter on the left to largest on the right. This layout makes it easy to find the right drill quickly.
Here’s the storage recommendation system I follow by drill diameter:
| Drill Diameter Range | Storage Method | Label Color | Inspection Interval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 6 mm | Vertical rack, tip down | Blue | Before each use |
| 6-15 mm | Horizontal, V-groove slots | Green | Weekly |
| 15-30 mm | Horizontal, U-groove slots | Yellow | Weekly |
| 30-50 mm | Horizontal, full-length support | Orange | Monthly |
| Over 50 mm | Horizontal, dedicated cradle | Red | Monthly |
Inventory Tracking
I track each gun drill’s usage:
- Number of holes drilled
- Material drilled
- Regrind count
- Reason for removal from service
The tracking data helps me predict when drills need replacement. A drill that’s been reground five times is near the end of its service life.
Regrind Management
Drills that need regrinding are stored separately from ready-to-use drills. The regrind rack is labeled clearly.
Each drill in the regrind rack has a note showing the number of regrinds and any special regrind instructions.
Quick Setup Station
Next to the drill rack, I keep a setup station with:
- A clean surface for handling drills
- A micrometer for checking drill diameter
- A magnifier for inspecting the tip
- A coolant hole cleaning tool
The setup station allows the operator to inspect and prepare the drill without leaving the storage area.
Key Takeaways
An organized drill inventory saves time and prevents errors. The most important element is the labeling system. A well-labeled drill rack reduces setup time and prevents the wrong drill from being used.
I review the drill inventory monthly and remove any drills that are damaged or past their useful life. An inventory full of worn drills is worse than a smaller inventory of good drills.