Knowledge Base
Guides to aircraft drilling and countersinking tools
Practical, shop-floor answers on microstops, countersinking, drill bushings, drill bars, attachments and guides.
How to Drill Straight Holes on Curved Surfaces
Drill straight holes on curved and contoured surfaces without a drill press, using a tripod egg cup or WES5723 drill guide with slip fit bushings.
Rivets Not Flush? How to Set Microstop Countersink Depth
Why countersunk rivets sit high (proud) or below the skin, why flush seating matters for joint strength, and how to set microstop countersink depth.
How to Use Round Shank Tools in a 1/4-28 Threaded Drill
How to use round shank bits and cutters in a 1/4-28 threaded drill or angle drill with a WES1605 threaded drill collet.
Microstop Vacuum Skirts: FOD Extraction When Countersinking
How a microstop vacuum skirt pulls chips and FOD away while countersinking: window styles, footpiece materials and vacuum adapter options.
Microstops for Aircraft Seat Tracks: WES396 and WES596-ER Extended Reach
The WES396 microstop fits most aircraft seat tracks, and the WES596-ER extended reach skirts fit the rest. Compare diameters, lengths and cutter threads.
Choosing Your Drill Guide: Egg Cup Bushing Holders, Mini and Dog Bone Guides for SF and Threaded Bushings
How to choose an egg cup bushing holder or mini drill guide: SF or threaded bushing, housing and footpiece, with tables matching guides to bushings.
Drill Bars Explained: Snatch Block, Steam Boat and the Types Wescon Makes
Adjustable drill bars, the snatch block or pull bar, explained: how to pull a misaligned hole step by step, SF and threaded bushings, and which bar takes which.
Pancake Drill Attachments: The Most Compact Way to Drill Where the Motor Will Not Fit
Pancake drill attachments explained: the flat offset angle head that drills where the motor will not fit, with the WES900 models and their offsets.
Choosing Your Microstop Countersink Cage
How to choose a microstop countersink cage: cutter thread, capacity, foot material, skirt style and the series that fit each aircraft job.
How to Prevent Surface Marring During Precision Countersinking
How to stop a microstop countersink cage from marring aircraft skins: foot material, surface contact and the settings that protect the finish.
Made in USA Countersink Cage: High-Performance Precision
Why a made in USA countersink cage matters for aerospace work: material quality, traceability and the depth control a microstop has to hold.