Thrashsmith
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How much difference is there between geared and belt driven pillar drills? I'm talking 6ft 3MT types.
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eLuSiVeMiTe
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Noise. Vs ease of speed change.
Not a big deal to change belt pulley location.
Also gears are susceptible to damage if speeds changed accidently while running.
Not a big deal to change belt pulley location.
Also gears are susceptible to damage if speeds changed accidently while running.
belts will slip if too much torque is required, a geared drive may snap the drill if the motor is powerful enough. also if you have a backgear on the drill, that will be geared, so will give an increase in torque for slower speeds than a belt drive on its own will
Arclikeharrypotter
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Think most important regardless of belt or gear drive is that the correct speeds are available.
As mentioned above if an accidental speed change happens when under power it can be catastrophic for the gearbox. Don't ask how I know that!
As mentioned above if an accidental speed change happens when under power it can be catastrophic for the gearbox. Don't ask how I know that!
rtbcomp
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Get a belt-driven drill with a backgear (eg progress No2) then you have the best (or worst) of both worlds!
brightspark
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cant say I have ever had a problem with my Churchill bench drill. it was 30 year old when I got it and I have had it 42 years and it gets well used all I have done is put a new belt on and a new chuck . cant see any problem with belt or gearbox if maintained and you don't abuse them .that's what they are made for
Thrashsmith
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I'm looking for an upgrade from my Axminster belt driven bench drill. It's alright but I want something much more powerful that for example will drill 30mm holes. A local blacksmith/engineer (who is an undoubted genius when you see his work) I visited made it sound like a geared drill was the only way to go. How does that tally with general opinion?
8ob
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If you have the space I have a nice elliot cast slotted drilling table with three drilling heads on it that needs a new home, about four feet wide by 2.6" and stands about 6` tall. They are belts and gears.
bob
Thrashsmith
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I have one but want a decent pillar drill anyway.
I've often wondered about those types of drills in a series your talking about @8ob Don't they get in the way of eachother if you want to drill something awkward shaped? Eg curved.
8ob
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Not at all, undo the pinch bolt and move the heads not in use to one side. I used to leave a pilot in one on a fast speed , the middle one with gears was used on the bigger drills and the other had a tapping head. Useful but they do eat up a lot of floor space for what is just a drill.
Bob
brightspark
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geared is needed if your using large drills for slow speed
if you're thinking of something heavy duty, you might be better off looking for a small radial drill rather than a pillar drill, but that depends on the size of the work you are doing. if its a heavy item to have several holes drilled in it, the radial drill may be easier to use as the item to be drilled is mounted on the drill table and the whole head of the machine moves to different positions to drill the holes, rather than having to move item being drilled if using a pillar drill.
Thrashsmith
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To be honest I'm not at the level where I need something mahoosive to chew through thousands of 30mm holes in 40mm plate or anything, I just need a good workshop drill. As I'm the worlds least knowledgeable person on engineering maybe a simple belt driven drill is more my style as geared machines sound a bit complicated for my simple brain.
Arclikeharrypotter
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Something with a back gear would probably be more than suitable. Mind you if you can transport and power a decent 3 phase machine that may be a lot cheaper.
