Thanks for the replies. This gives me some good direction and a little more confidence.

Easier way...than the band saw trick....
Go to Sears & buy an adjustible angle drill guide, set it to 12 degrees as you said with a protractor, drill the pilot hole ....then use a 1/4" log rod as the hole saw drill guide/pilot(also use the drill guide). Drill 1/2 way thru, then drill from inside out. You can also purchase a really deep hole saw from HILTI at Home Depot. Drilling all the way thru from one side is not good & can cause chipping on the "punch thru" side, better to cut from both sides. Good luck !!