Drill Presses

Whether you are drilling into metal or wood, having a drill press makes the job of making consistent holes possible. A drill press consists of a metal post on a stand with a drill head mounted at the top. It has an adjustable table mounted to the post under the head for supporting the workpiece. Floor-standing drill presses have posts that are long enough that the head is shoulder height (more or less) making it comfortable to operate while standing at the tool. A bench-top model has a short post that allows the base to be placed on a work-bench.

Speed Control

Not all bits should be operated at the same speed. In general, the larger the bit, the slower the drill press should be operated. Large bits generate more heat that may dull your bit. Manufacturers publish recommended speeds for different bits. Most drill presses are belt driven. Speed is changed by moving a belt up or down on a pulley. This requires that you stop the tool, open the top, adjust the belt, and then restart the tool. It's a bit of a pain and the result is that often the speed is not changed when it should be.

Variable speed drill presses offer the ability to change the speed without moving a belt. It's a lot more likely that you'll use the right speed if it's easy to make the change. The problem with variable speed (VS) drill presses is that they range from expensive to very expensive. It is difficult for hobbyists (and even most professionals) to justify the price.
 

Uses Other Than Making Holes

Although the primary function of a drill press is boring holes, it can do a number of other things that use either is rotational capability or it's press (or both). There are attachments that accept mortising chisels. It seems like a pretty good idea, but the one we tried didn't work very well. A real mortising machine provides a great deal more downward power than a drill press and does a better job holding the work.

If you don't have an oscillating spindle sander, the drill press does a pretty good job of sanding inside curves using a set of sanding spindles. You'll need to clean the sandpaper to keep it from getting clogged, but the drill press will get the job done.

Other applications include sharpening systems that use the drill press to rotate the sharpening media and even custom heated brands for marking pieced that simply use the press and don't rotate at all. These are systems that were developed knowing that virtually every shop has a drill press, even if it is a small one on a desk top.
 

Drill Press Analysis

Average Grade Average Price products B $200.11 39 Bench-Top For a shop with limited space, a bench-top drill press is a welcome addition. Although it is ...  To read product reviews in this analysis and the overview, click here.

Average Grade Average Price products B $587.14 33 Floor Virtually all serious shops, whether they are working metal or wood, have a floor standing drill ...  Click here to read the entire overview and product reviews in this analysis.