Drill press for hand drill.

[JohnGC]

Unfortunately I don't have room to store a pillar drill and I want something to keep and reuse.

The hand drill I have is quite capable of drilling 11mm dia holes through 3mm 316 hand held. I use DeWalt colbalt bits, 3-in-1, pressure and go slowly.
But I have another job to do which will require more accurate alignment of the hole X/Y axis (the Z axis being the hole depth).

The pillar drill LIB linked to, is one I've owned in the past and comes in many brands. Mine at least, had rather poor chuck wobble.

Where I need real accuracy I'd get it laser cut.

 

[LittleSister]

I bought a drill press for electric hand drills from Machine Mart. It is advertised as fitting 'standard' drills, and has a plastic collar so you can use it with 2 different diameters of drill.

I had access to 3 different electric drills (mine, my partner's, my neighbour's, all different common brands), none of which has a cylindrical end needed to fit the press. The press has been useless to me and has just sat in the shed, gently rusting for a few years.

 

[migs]

I've had one of these for many years, and it's excellent.

Wolfcraft Drill Stand 5027000 | Conrad.com

 

[JohnGC]

I've had one of these for many years, and it's excellent.

Wolfcraft Drill Stand 5027000 | Conrad.com

It looks like one of the better ones I've seen., thank you.

What sort of tasks do you use it for and would you say the current model "looks" the same as your older version?

 

[migs]

I use the stand with a very cheap 650W Duratool drill (which could definitely be improved) and have had good results drilling both wood and metal. I've not attempted anything more ambitious than 10mm holes in 6mm aluminium and copper, but I feel that the stand would cope with much more ambitious jobs - given a better drill. It fits easily on a Workmate for general use.

I would say that the current model looks exactly the same as the one I bought back in 2012. Buying from Europe is currently 'problematic', but maybe there is a UK supplier?

 

[JohnGC]

I use the stand with a very cheap 650W Duratool drill (which could definitely be improved) and have had good results drilling both wood and metal. I've not attempted anything more ambitious than 10mm holes in 6mm aluminium and copper, but I feel that the stand would cope with much more ambitious jobs - given a better drill. It fits easily on a Workmate for general use.

I would say that the current model looks exactly the same as the one I bought back in 2012. Buying from Europe is currently 'problematic', but maybe there is a UK supplier?

That's helpful, thank you.

 

[Plum]

I've been wondering about those. Have you used one?

Yes, I have used one (I borrowed it) and is really good for taking to the boatyard. Used on the ground you can apply adequate pressure. The one I borrowed was of this type as my cordless drill does not have a collar like your drill Wolfcraft 4525404 Multi-Angle Drill Guide Attachment For 1/4In. & 3/8In. Drills,Silver: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk

 

[Daverw]

That's helpful, thank you.

I have two sat in the garden, happy to give you one for cost of postage

 

[Topcat47]

I had one a few years ago, it was OK for drilling wood and aluminium but struggled with mild steel, I very much doubt it'd do for SS. The trick with steel was to have a good sharp centre punch to give the drill a chance to bite. Not good for accurate work. I have a small pillar drill tin my workshop at home and if necessary I can take it down to the boat and run it from the marina mains but I prefer to do this sort of thing at home it at all possible. Cobalt steel recently sharpened drill bits for SS, and they're not cheap.

 

[Hydrozoan]

I have had for many years an older, blue version of one of these. They quite often come up secondhand, and are very heavy and very stable; small adjustments are easy, larger ones less so because of the head weight. (I am currently looking for a complementary drill press vice and am debating between a simple Faithfull VDP75 and one with a tilt facility too.)

Record Power DMS26 - Adjustable Drill Stand: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

 

[penberth3]

I have had for many years an older, blue version of one of these. They quite often come up secondhand, and are very heavy and very stable; small adjustments are easy, larger ones less so because of the head weight. (I am currently looking for a complementary drill press vice and am debating between a simple Faithfull VDP75 and one with a tilt facility too.)

Record Power DMS26 - Adjustable Drill Stand: Amazon.co.uk: DIY & Tools

I've got one of those, you're right - very heavy. I'm not sure the pillar is exactly square to the base on mine. I thought about shimming the mounting bolts but never got round to it. Not a problem with reasonably thin material.

I'd actually recommend the Wolfcraft, I've got a few of their gadgets and they're all good quality.

 

[Caraway]

Got to be better than pushing down on an electric drill!

It is. Despite what Rogershaw says it is a cheap improvement on a hand drill. Mine is a Silverline which looks identical.
I have drilled many consecutive holes in 6mm mild steel with it.

 

[Hydrozoan]

I've got one of those, you're right - very heavy. I'm not sure the pillar is exactly square to the base on mine. I thought about shimming the mounting bolts but never got round to it. Not a problem with reasonably thin material.

I'd actually recommend the Wolfcraft, I've got a few of their gadgets and they're all good quality.

Although I bought mine new, it is from Record's Sheffield days - how time flies! It has a rectangular slot pattern in the base, not the radial pattern of later blue ones and the green ones. As far as I know the pillar is square - it has two securing machine screws at the back of the base socket, I think. It is through-bolted to a bench, and is certainly not readily portable. Had I a need for portability I would get something else, but for my purposes it is fine - I think the runout of the mains B&D drill I use (ca. 43 mm collar) probably exceeds any play in the stand.

 

[andsarkit]

I have a Bosch one like this that I haven't used for years.

I'm just up the road from you so PM me if you would be interested.

 

[JohnGC]

Many thanks for the replies and the offers are also greatly appreciated.

The DMS26 and the Wolfcraft presses look like reasonable choices. It's clear they can be partially disassembled when I need to pack them away between projects. I'm also intrigued by the Wolfcraft guide suggested by Plum. Clearly they have different pros and cons. Maybe I need both

The hand drill I have is an ELU mains one. I bought it new about 25 years ago and it still has very little chuck wobble (for a hand drill). It's long since lost its rating label so I'm unsure of the power, gear box ratios, speed range or model number. It looks like this one; ELU SB 15E Electric Drill
It has plenty of power and speed control for drilling 316 at least 3mm thick with an 11mm dia cobalt drill. For me this is an exercise in getting a tool I have space for rather than finding a cheap option (there is a limit though).

 

[Hydrozoan]

I've just checked and the (later, green) Record DMS26 is 17.4kg (Record Power - DMS26 (dbkeighley.co.uk) ) whereas the Wolfcraft is 7.1kg (Wolfcraft Drill Stand 5027000 | Conrad.com).

I'm pretty sure you will have checked that for yourself, but I thought I'd mention it just in case - the Record is indeed very heavy, which may matter if your're intending often to be dismantling and storing whatever you do get.

 

[Adios]

This is excellent quality. Clarke CDS1 Drill Stand - Machine Mart - Machine Mart Its basically the same as the ones everyone had years ago when we made things. The cheaper one they sell is much less valuable.

It has a very quick and easy depth stop which is often used

 

[Bran]

Another vote for the Wolfcraft, not used much recently but it got me out of trouble with some mobile repairs to a truck clutch several years ago, drilling out sheared pins using cobalt drills. Should be more than capable for your requirements.

 

[TernVI]

I've just checked and the (later, green) Record DMS26 is 17.4kg (Record Power - DMS26 (dbkeighley.co.uk) ) whereas the Wolfcraft is 7.1kg (Wolfcraft Drill Stand 5027000 | Conrad.com).

I'm pretty sure you will have checked that for yourself, but I thought I'd mention it just in case - the Record is indeed very heavy, which may matter if your're intending often to be dismantling and storing whatever you do get.

The Record is heavier than a Clarke bench pillar drill!

 

[Hydrozoan]

The Record is heavier than a Clarke bench pillar drill!

I'm sure - which is why I posted lest my (and penberth3's) original 'very heavy' warnings were taken ... er ... too lightly.