NuTool N7 5/8" 16 Speed Pillar Drill - Information?

[steviec_lj]

Looking for any further information on the NuTool N7.

I've got a chance to buy one, cheap. Good working order, 16 Speed, comes on a plinth too.

I understand from searching that NuTool were a box mover of sorts, just down the road, in Doncaster. But that's all I can find unfortunately.

The CH10 keeps coming up, but thats a 5 speed, similar to the one I'm replacing so is of no use.

Anyone know of the secret internet vault where all of the useful information is held? Google just chucks me useless stuff, and its slow too! Cheers

 

[MattF]

Info is fairly irrelevant. You want to check it out in person. Check for runout on the spindle and chuck. That, if it's the usual type of import tat, will be the usual weakness and a constant cause of frustration.

 

[rtbcomp]

I suspect it may be a Clarke with a different badge on it. I've got a spare table, base and column which may fit should the need arise.

 

[Cyberprog]

What sort of money is cheap? I'd probably expect to pay around £50 if I were looking for one...

 

[steviec_lj]

Not quite as easy to simply go and check it out, I'm Scunthorpe the drill is Little Harrowden, around 2hrs 15min away. Seller assures me all is in good working order though.

Thanks for the heads up rtb, may come in useful if the seller accepts my offer.

Cyber - Cheap, I was looking at £90, but £50 would be even better.

The main reason for purchase would be the 16 speeds, far far better than the 5 I currently put up with.

 

[MattF]

Personally, if it were I, I'd give that one a miss. Good working order seems to be about as subjective as good condition, description wise, and that's one hell of a distance if it turns out to be a lemon. If it was an old English drill, then I'd probably say it was worth the risk as there's nowt you couldn't sort with a bit of time and effort, but a NuTool, I'd definitely pass on that in the circumstance.

Unless you're drilling large holes, five speed should be plenty. What's the problem you're having with your current setup? You can easily add an intermediate pulley if you need more variation, else add a 3 phase motor and an inverter for full range speed control.

 

[steviec_lj]

Personally, if it were I, I'd give that one a miss. Good working order seems to be about as subjective as good condition, description wise, and that's one hell of a distance if it turns out to be a lemon. If it was an old English drill, then I'd probably say it was worth the risk as there's nowt you couldn't sort with a bit of time and effort, but a NuTool, I'd definitely pass on that in the circumstance.

Unless you're drilling large holes, five speed should be plenty. What's the problem you're having with your current setup? You can easily add an intermediate pulley if you need more variation, else add a 3 phase motor and an inverter for full range speed control.

This is very true, quite a distance should any problems arise. It was an option against purchasing new, although that would end up being a Sealey unit to be honest.

The main reason for upgrading what I have, is the visual movement on the chuck when applying pressure while drilling. There's quite a bit of play. I'm also finding that I need to drill larger holes than my current set up is capable of, 580rpm is a little fast for anything over 10mm in steel, most of what I'm doing at the moment is 11.5 - 16mm, and it takes some real care.

An intermediate pulley would be a nice addition, but I'd need to look at the play in the chuck too.

 

[MattF]

What's your current drill?

 

[ajlelectronics]

If it is a Clarke, will it have the same issue as the 1/2" ? I.e. The chuck key is not standard and can only be bought from Clarke? Very annoying and I am making do as a result. Not ideal.

 

[DanielW]

If mem serves me correctly? B&Q stocked this range of cheap tools over 10 years ago and soon dropped it from their sales because of too may come backs with the products,Chinese junk it was called.

I remember buying my first router from B&Q which was NuTool and it went back the following day because it lit up like a christmas tree ie the brushes were sparking like mad and if I remember the plastic was slightly melting with the heat it emitted.

You don't see many stockist now selling this NuTool brand.

I bought an aldi bench drill and converted it to a single belt drive with electronic motor speed and changed the bearings in the shaft for a more expensive bearings which gave it far less play than what originally was in it.

Maybe you could do the same? most cheap bench/pillar drills can be modified to give better results,you have the basics so why not enhance it.

 

[taycat]

ive got my dads sip drill he bought 25yrs ago and apart from 2 new bearings on quill, it still works lovely.
and its had loads of use even stood test of dad letting us kids use whilst learning.

 

[steviec_lj]

What's your current drill?

Current drill is a Ferm 5 Speed, 50mm spindle travel. Had a brief look today and I think it would be a little tight to mount an extra pully under the cover unfortunately. It will suffice for woodworking though.

If it is a Clarke, will it have the same issue as the 1/2" ? I.e. The chuck key is not standard and can only be bought from Clarke? Very annoying and I am making do as a result. Not ideal.

Most of the potential replacements I've been looking at are MT2, so wouldn't pose an issue with the chuck key to be honest, as I can replace the lot.

If mem serves me correctly? B&Q stocked this range of cheap tools over 10 years ago and soon dropped it from their sales because of too may come backs with the products,Chinese junk it was called.

Unfortunately, thats the way our economy seems to have gone, 90% of everything is imported as the English made stuff is too highly priced. Sad to see it come to this, but I can't afford £350+ for a pillar drill, a Clarke at £290 is seriously pushing my limits to be able to do the stuff I need to, so that I can manufacture parts in house, rather than outsourcing, which would save me money in the long run!

You don't see many stockist now selling this NuTool brand.

True, but then I suspect it is in some way related to the Silverline company. WhiteArrow the courier still technically exist, by they go under the name of Yodel now, it was Home Delivery Network Limited until they merged with DHL.

ive got my dads sip drill he bought 25yrs ago and apart from 2 new bearings on quill, it still works lovely.
and its had loads of use even stood test of dad letting us kids use whilst learning.

This is what I'd like to do, but with Brammer potentially being the only stockist of the parts I need in the area, it would work out cheaper to buy a house. Its something that I will definately be looking in to, but I could still do with a replacement that I can slow down a little more for the finer things.

 

[Robotstar5]

If it is a Clarke, will it have the same issue as the 1/2" ? I.e. The chuck key is not standard and can only be bought from Clarke? Very annoying and I am making do as a result. Not ideal.

I've got a Clarke and they can't even supply a chuck key! too old apparently.

 

[brightspark]

well buy a decent jacobs chuck and change it i got a mint one of ebay for less than a tenner for my churchill drill

 

[the snooper]

I've got a Clarke and they can't even supply a chuck key! too old apparently.

they might think you'll hurt your self, send someone younger

 

[hotrodder]

Personally i'd take an old Meddings/Elliott/Fobco/Pollard etc over any of the usual cheapnese rebadged suspects. Yeah, often get more speeds on something new but all of the one's i've used are severely underbuilt for the capacity their chuck/spindle suggests... i've seen tables that flex if you sneeze near them, sloppy quills that get notchy if you try to adjust the slop out and chucks that fall out becasue the tapers are badly made out of chocolate. Granted some of that (and bent quills) apply to used stuff as well but as long as you're patient while looking for one...

There's a Meddings single phase bench top on a popular auction site that ends tomorrow. Zero bids so far, £50 start or £70 BIN, may be an abused POS, might not. Plenty of others on there too. Personally i run my Pollard on it's origional 3 phase motor via a VFD to fill in the gaps/extend the rpm range

 

[Rig Pig]

Just Keep an eye open, decent second hand drills come up from time to time, don't waste money on another cheap imported drill, my drill was £150 if I remember, I had to drive a few miles to get it but it's ancient, built like a tank and will easily outlast me! Just remember to take some tools to dismantle it to go in a car and preferably a strong mate to help load and unload!