A Nostalgic look down memory lane at Electric drills

[ford34/2]

In the Thread BENCH CHISLER, I said I would have a Nostalgic look down memory lane at Electric drills from a forgotten era.


Many of these brutes, some of us will have all used some time in our careers, and suffered the consequences of their power.

So here`s a reminder:: ENJOY.
my first personal use elec drill was Bridges Neonic with a 5/16" chuck, I followed on with various models ( `Cause the factory was in cramlington.) bit like Johnny Cashes "one piece at a time" car song



Stan

 

[brightspark]

crap and decker diy drills were rubbish but there industrial drills and grinders were the dogs danglies

 

[ford34/2]

I was quite intrigued that an option of two core or 3 core cable is mentioned on some models.

Stan

 

[brightspark]

I was quite intrigued that an option of two core or 3 core cable is mentioned on some models.

Stan

thats because some of them are class 2 double insulated

 

[chevy2]

I can remember using some of those old Wolf drills nearly ripping my arm off with the torque they had.

 

[ford34/2]

It was the age and the two core, I hadnt realy appreciated that double insulated stuff was on the market that far back and expected everything to be on 3 core and with the metal bodies threw me off on a tangent.
Expert knowledge and help is always appreciated.
Stan

 

[Hitch]

Got a wolf gut buster at work still. The taper isn't much good anymore though. Gets used about once every 3 years

 

[brightspark]

Got a wolf gut buster at work still. The taper isn't much good anymore though. Gets used about once every 3 years

whos the unlucky guy that uses it brown trouser stuff when the drill bit bites and u grit your teeth and go round with it

 

[Hitch]

Only ever me.... alright if you know what to expect. Helpful if there is something to brace the handle against though!

 

[Tigman]

Jve got the Black and Decker gut buster , takes taper drill bits , if you dont hold on to it it will whip you around , still works , museum piece now I will take a piccy and post it up tommorow

 

[Paul99]

We still have several heavy duty B&D and Wolf drills about that were among the first power tools my grandfather bought way back. I think the biggest (a Wolf) needs new brushes but the others still run perfect. The smaller B&D has been fixed in a Wolf drill stand for the last 20 years and gets regular use if we have to drill holes on site. I've broken more bits in it than I care to remember - if you were lucky the chuck slips if the bit caught, if you weren't though and the work couldn't spin around too then say goodbye to the bit - even half inch bits snap like carrots .

 

[DanielW]

I was quite intrigued that an option of two core or 3 core cable is mentioned on some models.

Stan

Yeah you plugged it into the light socket.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

A retired SWEB engineer gave me an ancient 110v 2 speed impact drill and fabric covered isolating transformer, the gearbox is metal but the body looks like yellow bakelite.
I don't think there is a makers name on it but it still works and gets dragged out occasionally.
I'll post a pic in the morning.

 

[julianthegypsy]

I used one of those beasts with a 3/4" reamer rebuilding a boiler on a fowler steam engine. Brutes they were, brutes!

 

[the snooper]

still got my old mans metal cased B&D drill and had an old wolf very low geared and would twist your arm off if it got stuck

 

[wristpin]

crap and decker diy drills were rubbish but there industrial drills and grinders were the dogs danglies

Don't be too hard on BD DIY drills. I've got nor bought from Argos in the 70s that's been leant on, overloaded and abused and is still going strong. Also got a Wolf Safetymaster which was, I believe, the first double insulated DIY drills.
Also got a BD Valvemaster valve refaced ; probably 70 years old and still doing a good job.

 

[Paul99]

crap and decker diy drills were rubbish but there industrial drills and grinders were the dogs danglies

Several years ago I happened to be in a Tool sales / Repair place in Hereford for a few bits for work. Whilst there I thought I'd pick up a bearing to fix the old B&D planer that is used where we don't want to risk the better kit. Before getting on to the tools I was actually there to buy I put the bearing down on the counter and asked if they had anything about, I got a look as if I was an alien before he asked what's it off? B&D planer I say... but before even finishing the sentence saying "but it's a common size and fits a lot of other kit apparently" (I knew as I'd already looked up the size on the Internet) I was interrupted with "Oh no we wouldn't do that we only deal with quality tools" I paused for a moment wondering if I should educate him on what quality meant to B&D in the old days and if he didn't even know of the Heavy duty stuff they started out with perhaps he was in the wrong business. Instead I decided to shake my head and laugh as I walked out. I spent several £000s that day on bits and pieces for work elsewhere that day and I've never been back there since all over a snotty remark over a common bearing I managed to pick up from a bearing place 200yds up the road for less than £2!

 

[the snooper]

Several years ago I happened to be in a Tool sales / Repair place in Hereford for a few bits for work. Whilst there I thought I'd pick up a bearing to fix the old B&D planer that is used where we don't want to risk the better kit. Before getting on to the tools I was actually there to buy I put the bearing down on the counter and asked if they had anything about, I got a look as if I was an alien before he asked what's it off? B&D planer I say... but before even finishing the sentence saying "but it's a common size and fits a lot of other kit apparently" (I knew as I'd already looked up the size on the Internet) I was interrupted with "Oh no we wouldn't do that we only deal with quality tools" I paused for a moment wondering if I should educate him on what quality meant to B&D in the old days and if he didn't even know of the Heavy duty stuff they started out with perhaps he was in the wrong business. Instead I decided to shake my head and laugh as I walked out. I spent several £000s that day on bits and pieces for work elsewhere that day and I've never been back there since all over a snotty remark over a common bearing I managed to pick up from a bearing place 200yds up the road for less than £2!

some people think they are above everyone else, they are not worth giving them the time of day

 

[CRB]

Details tomorrow of the Bosch 2speed hammer drill I bought for my dad thirty years ago, alright not as old as some of yours'.

I am sure I have a brochure of a hand router, flaming massive, full body threaded height adjustment, which I remember using on a couple of occasions twenty years ago. That may take some digging out though.

 

[brightspark]

black and decker diy drills were just that. for light use for the handyman. anything work related on a daily basis was b and d industrial wolf or hilti .even now u rive the crap out of 600w drills augering house joists and drilling 20mm holes through double brick walls