Bench drill

[Captain Nemesis]

Or drill press, or whatever they are called.

Would like to get one. I dont do metalwork or woodwork as a hobby, just DIY, but sometimes it would be useful to be able to drill perfectly vertical holes etc.

I was hoping to spend £100-ish. Ideally no more, but could go to a bit more than £100 if it really did get worthwhile superiority.

But much more than that I cant really justify.

Half the word and its brother seem to sell this:

in various guises. That's a Clarke, but I've seen what looks like the identical machine but with a different paint job and a different "maker's" stickers from countless "makers".

No doubt all churned out in the same factory in China.

Are they actually all the same?

Are they any good?

Would I be better spending my budget on a better quality but used jobby on eBay?

Should I not bother at all at my price point?

Am I right in thinking that I could put a Jacob type chuck into a machine with a Morse taper, as I don't got no taper drill bits and don't want to have to.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Would I be better spending my budget on a better quality but used jobby on eBay?

Should I not bother at all at my price point?

Am I right in thinking that I could put a Jacob type chuck into a machine with a Morse taper, as I don't got no taper drill bits and don't want to have to.

At £100 you won't get a second hand industrial type machine even on eBay unless it is completely knackered (try £200 and upwards, even for a lightweight such as a Startrite Mercury or British-built Record) . At your price point the DIY machines are all badged clones and are much of a muchness, so you may be better off sticking with a brand where it is easy to return a duff one. You won't need to put a chuck on the drill, AFAIK they all come with a 3 jaw chuck (often on an MT mandrel), although it probably won't be a Jacobs one (although their quality has also gone down the pan since they moved production to China)

 

[Mottie]

For what you need it for it will be fine. We’ve had one in our garage for about 10 years and it’s great, as you say, for drilling perfectly vertical holes.

 

[lostinthelight]

I agree with mottie, for what you require it for would be a waste to get anything more expensive.
I have a dirty wet one and a dry one from lidl, the former along side the lathe for drilling metal and the latter , mainly for forstner bits and plug cutters for hiding screws in skirt,door linings,etc

 

[StephenOak]

Currently Lidl have this
https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/p/diy/scheppach-300mm-electric-bench-pillar-drill/p33705

I have no idea if that would do, but if it will you will probably need to get there soon.

 

[Captain Nemesis]

I'm sure it would. Although I saw a less-than complimentary review of a Parkside model on YouTube. The laser lines crossed somewhere other than where the drill went.

But do I want to go into a supermarket for the sake of £60-odd?

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Why would you want or even need a laser cross line on a drill press? Classic case if technology for the sake of it IMHO, not to mention a waste of money which would have been better spent elsewhere on the tool. Mark your hole position, strike with a centre punch and the work can be accurately located in the dimple (in metal). Woodwork bits have centre points which are easy to align onto a cross line.......

 

[EddieM]

Laser cross hairs on a pillar drill? I mean what is the point? A pillar drill by it's very nature allows slow precise alignment of the bit.

 

[SFK]

Definitely agree on lasers not being useful or good at this price point.

My frustration with Bench drills at this price point is not having a height adjustable drill plate using a 'rack and pinion' type handle. I seem to have to fight the 'slide collar' type to get them to the correct height and that frustrates me when I have several different sized objects to drill.

But saying that, for my infrequent use not sure that I would actually stump up the extra £100 for say this one (randomly selected):
https://www.toolstation.com/zipper-stb16t-630w-16mm-bench-drill-press-12-speeds/p52223

SFK

 

[Munroast]

if there is one near by, join a 'Man Shed' https://menssheds.org.uk/ you will get access to quality machines that you could never justify having at home.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I have the same one from Aldi from 10 years ago. Lots of play in the shaft bearing, the movable plate/base bends/spring quite easily with too much pressure, but for lots of jobs its fine.

 

[JohnD]

my BiL bought one and is pleased with it. He boasted to me that he fitted new bearings and a new motor to it to upgrade the quality.

hopefully he had them knocking about the workshop and did not buy them specially.

 

[Deleted member 174758]

hopefully he had them knocking about the workshop and did not buy them specially.

Does he have a 20 year old sweeping brush like Trigger's? If he keeps going that way his drill will last a lifetime.....

 

[Captain Nemesis]

Laser cross hairs on a pillar drill? I mean what is the point? A pillar drill by it's very nature allows slow precise alignment of the bit.

Definitely agree on lasers not being useful or good at this price point.

I cant see the point. But if you're going to have one, have it work properly.

 

[Captain Nemesis]

This'll do - think of the time I'd save not having to change bits so often.