- Thread starter mitchel.
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Gareth J
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Any will be a huge improvement on a handheld drill. I picked up a used generic nasty one for about £15 on eBay for drilling pilot holes. Everything about it was pretty horrible and frankly it was £15 too expensive but it was better than nothing. I replaced it with a used quality one that cost less than a new cheapy one would and conversely, almost everything about that one is lovelly.
How much should I budget for?
skotl
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I bought a budget one ~15 years ago. It was probably £75 then so perhaps £100 new now?
It's been immensely useful and I wouldn't be without it, but it would be hard pressed to drill 13mm in steel. I managed to stall it a couple of times yesterday doing 10mm holes in wood.
It's been immensely useful and I wouldn't be without it, but it would be hard pressed to drill 13mm in steel. I managed to stall it a couple of times yesterday doing 10mm holes in wood.
skotl
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That's got a 350W motor.
Here's one from Screwfix with a 500W motor for £23 more, and you get a drill vice with it (essential, IMO).
skotl
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Actually, they have a 350W one too cheaper than the ebay one. If you don't want to stretch to the 500W one then I'd rather buy from screwfix than an ebay seller (assuming the price is the same).
500w one is fine for my budget I'll go get one tomorrow hate drilling stuff with my combi drill it's a nightmare haha
skotl
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Good stuff
dunno if you've used a pillar drill before but, if not, it will be a revelation compared to a hand drill especially with the drill vice 
Just remember to take the chuck key out and double check that you have before turning it on!
gaz1
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i started off with a budget one did what i wanted thats it
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Press-Ben...124718?hash=item33adcb76ee:g:XvEAAOSwAL9UiAvc
then again i also did it by hand as well
the budget ones are ok but sooner or later you will head to the older ones
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Press-Ben...124718?hash=item33adcb76ee:g:XvEAAOSwAL9UiAvc
then again i also did it by hand as well
the budget ones are ok but sooner or later you will head to the older ones
Don't doubt that would love an old record just not many about and wanna get something into my workshop asap
cumbriasteve
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I have had a Clarke bench drill for a lot of years, it has been great for my use and I have drilled 13mm now and again using a good amount of cutting oil, I should imagine though continual use at that level would result in problems, they are simply not made for that sort of work on a regular basis.
So: Yes they are a damn sight better than a hand drill, they will do more than you should expect from them but you would be pushing it's limits.
So: Yes they are a damn sight better than a hand drill, they will do more than you should expect from them but you would be pushing it's limits.
winchman
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I too had a B&Q one with a 350w motor, it was ok but no good for bigger stuff.
I picked up a brand new 500w one from a car boot sale, still boxed, it was originally sold by screw fix and look like the current one, whilst its still no Rolls Royce the extra 150w is very noticeable and its been very handy as I cant justify anything more expensive
I picked up a brand new 500w one from a car boot sale, still boxed, it was originally sold by screw fix and look like the current one, whilst its still no Rolls Royce the extra 150w is very noticeable and its been very handy as I cant justify anything more expensive
Think I'll get one from screw fix your names winch man do you make winch bumpers?
I'd go for the screwfix 500w one rather than the ebay 350w one for the following reasons, the screwfix one has 9 speeds as opposed to the ebay one having only 5 speeds, so the lower speed of the screwfix one may come in useful. also the depth stop on the screwfix one looks much easier to use, but if you only drill through holes thats not an issue. some 16mm chucks only go down to 3mm closing so may not be good for very small holes.
I had a small 5 speed one (350watt) for over 20 years until the motor died on me, then got a 12 speed clarke one as a replacement, and its a bit flimsy. and I still using the jacobs chuck that I got 20 years ago on the new drill.
I had a small 5 speed one (350watt) for over 20 years until the motor died on me, then got a 12 speed clarke one as a replacement, and its a bit flimsy. and I still using the jacobs chuck that I got 20 years ago on the new drill.
winchman
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I used to fix winches for off roaders, recovery vehicles etc. I have made a few bumpers in the past why do you need one?
Might still have some knocking about.
I had a cheapy "nutool" one for a tenner off ebay years ago, and it was bloody lovely compared to a hand drill. Mine was only 350W, but was fine for my hobby type engineering (mainly drilling exhaust flanges etc for cars).
I then got myself a vertical mill (reasonable size one), and as I could use that as a drill, I got rid of the drill and the little lathe I also had. BIG mistake - it was too much of a faff to use, and almost every time I went in the workshop I missed the little rubbish nutool pillar drill, and I ended up selling the mill when I moved because it didn't fit into the garage at the same time as the car...
I have now finally got myself a pillar drill again - it's nothing special, just some old "Ajax B16" drill, but it's *SO* lovely to use a pillar drill in the garage again.
My point is this: Get one - you will not regret it if you're a hobbyist.
I then got myself a vertical mill (reasonable size one), and as I could use that as a drill, I got rid of the drill and the little lathe I also had. BIG mistake - it was too much of a faff to use, and almost every time I went in the workshop I missed the little rubbish nutool pillar drill, and I ended up selling the mill when I moved because it didn't fit into the garage at the same time as the car...
I have now finally got myself a pillar drill again - it's nothing special, just some old "Ajax B16" drill, but it's *SO* lovely to use a pillar drill in the garage again.
My point is this: Get one - you will not regret it if you're a hobbyist.
This is what I plan to use mine for to be fair I like making winch bumpers
