Right you are, Mart, but they are
more precise than using an electric drill. With its sharp “point” you hit the center point of the screw hole every time. And you can control the depth of the hole in ¼” to 3/4” wood a whole lot easier than you can with an electric drill.
The "dark"grain in the wood, especially oak, will often cause a drill bit to “jump” off center whereas with the gimlet you can keep the hole centered by tilting the handle until the “threads” gets a good bite into the wood.
And I had better explain what I meant by this statement, to wit:
“
They are pretty much a necessity when using tapered wood screws for installing door or cabinet hinges. etc.”
I should have stated …….. “
for installing hinges, latches, etc. on clocks, jewelry boxes, etc, …. or on doors or cabinets if the wood is ½” or less in thickness.”
All of those gimlets have a “threaded”
feed-screw point like an auger bit, …. like so, to wit:
So, when installing “wee” small wood screws …… then pick the gimlet that its “feed-screw”
matches the threads of the screw that you are using ….. and then twist the gimlet into the wood and then back it out (un-twist it) ….. and you have a “threaded” hole for the wood screw.
No fuss, no muss ....... and no splintered wood.
