When drilling, which action should occur before you begin the actual drilling of a pilot hole?

Creating a start point before drilling a pilot hole is crucial for achieving accuracy and precision in your work. The start point serves as a reference that helps keep the drill bit from wandering or skidding during the initial penetration into the material. This is especially important when working with softer materials that can easily be damaged or marked by a misaligned drill bit.

By establishing a firm start point, typically done with a center punch or a similar tool, you ensure that the drill bit has a defined location to engage with the material, which leads to a more controlled and effective drilling process. This step is integral to producing clean, round holes that meet the specifications of the project.

While selecting the right drill bit, checking the power supply, and clearing the area are all important steps in the drilling process, they do not directly address the need for precision at the moment the drill bit begins to penetrate the material. These other actions can enhance safety and efficiency but do not focus on ensuring the drill bit initiates correctly at the designated location.