I will be Googling but any advice and recommendation welcome
Cost £250 - £350
It will mostly be for wood work but should be up to light metal work
Sit on top of a work bench
Better build quality preferred over features I won't use
Tips on things I should avoid welcome too
Perhaps something like this in the January sales?
https://www.sesautoparts.co.uk/product/2175-bench-pedestal-and-floor-standing-pillar-drills/draper-02016
Shirley the middle isle at Laldi or Decathlon.
I did that with the band saw and while it works, I would not describe it as well built or accurate
An older second hand drill might be better constructed than something modern. Have a look on Gumtree etc?
Idly looking for one too. The last two I bought for work have been RJH Woodpeckers. OK, but some issues with the collet.
To be honest, not being in a mega rush, I think I'll just keep an eye out on marketplace or ebay for something old, heavy cast and local being pulled out of somewhere industrial that just keeps going forever. Obviously avoiding the 3 phase ones I'll struggle to set up here.
[i]Worth the trip before lockdown?[/i] - bit of a trip from Southampton and not sure it would fit in hand luggage on the plane
For that money look for an old Fobco/Startrite etc.
Been a few similar topics, also worth reading up on UK Workshop and MIG welding forums.
I got a single phase drill for that money, three phase costs less because its generally harder to shift. Fling on an inverter and you can have a digital speed control.
Are you going to actually use it, as it'll be a bit of hassle getting one, fitting it and then using it, that tends to be my first question whenever i get a thought for another tool, i really want a hydraulic press, but for the few times i'd use it every year, and the actual level of quality i require, a bodge is just as easy for now.
After that, it's just a case of making sure it ticks the boxes you require, honestly they're not exactly cutting edge technology, they've got a motor, belt and gearing, give them a check over, make sure spares are available like belts, and that they cover the speeds you require for whatever you're doing, the bigger the drills you want to use, the more expensive they get from memory.
For a bench one, honestly can't see you having issues with many if you have 250-350 to spend, especially if you can find a secondhand one, i wouldn't be too bothered about hunting an older 'better' make/model either, it's on a bench, so less issues for going wonky, it's hobby, so no issues on any modern motor/system, as long as it's got a decent bed, the clamps all work well, it has the bits you need, i.e. depth stops and so on, it'll do the job.
I agree with agree
😕
Just buy something simple and don't go overboard trying to track down something from yesteryear. You might got something weighs a ton, and is 'overused', and its probably too problematic which is why they're selling it cheap.
My old Rexon has been in use for over 20 years and cost under a hundred. It's not brilliant, but it does the job.
https://www.axminstertools.com/axminster-craft-ac285pd-bench-pillar-drill-105105
https://www.axminstertools.com/axminster-craft-ac315pd-bench-pillar-drill-105106
Neither are super accurate, but probably for the majority of jobs you'd use it for they would be fine.
Axminster premium delivery costs only £6.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-parallel-quick-lock-clamps-cardboard/dp/B00766C1A8/
If my vintage drill press died, which is highly unlikely, I'd replace it with the Bosch PBD40. Comes in at your budget and (having had one) I wouldn't go near a budget Axminster drill; I had one of their supposedly superior 'Trade' drills and it wasn't anything special.
Are you going to actually use it, as it’ll be a bit of hassle getting one, fitting it and then using it
Umm, pick up drill, plop on bench, drill holes for bolts, attach, plug in, use. Hardly the biggest hassle in the world. Of course they're heavy as hell but again, that's only an issue if you want to move it.
The Clarke bench drill we have at work (for occasional drilling in the labelling room) is an absolute shocker and is just about falling apart, the collar bearings are goosed, return springs are shot and it sounds like a tumble dryer full of rocks when it runs.
Whereas my Startrite Mercury was wanting for nothing besides a new belt.
i wouldn’t be too bothered about hunting an older ‘better’ make/model either, it’s on a bench, so less issues for going wonky,
IIRC WCA does a bit of metalwork where runout is more of an issue so I wouldn't discount something with more accuracy. Depth stops are handy but you can knock up a DRO from a digital vernier.
I agree it can turn into an epic if you go to great lengths tracking down the "perfect" drill but the consensus of nearly everyone is buy cheap buy twice. Nothing for that money should be shagged and depending where you are in the country there will be plenty of choice.
These all look in decent enough nick. Add Meddings to the list as well. Search the usual suspects and the forums I already mentioned.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/353790748299?hash=item525f92668b:g:jVYAAOSw8aNhplGj
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304268212255?hash=item46d7cc781f:g:AN4AAOSw9chhp5u8
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/334093688818?hash=item4dc9891ff2:g:eAEAAOSwiQRhAlq2
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/115087463760?hash=item1acbbf5550:g:bpQAAOSwwFdhioW0
What’s the difference between that and a mill? Maybe you need a mini mill?
You might got something weighs a ton
Can sometimes be in for a surprise with eBay / gumtree ads buying on the basis of a photo. A friend bought something that, based on a photo very much like that gumtree ad, looked a 'bench drill' shown with very little contaxt. Went to collect it... it was an extremely burly 6ft tall floor standing pillar drill. The motor was so big and the column so thick that proportionally it looked like a smalll bench top one. Weighted over a ton 🙂
I would be concerned that that bosch drill would not have enough torque at low speeds using the speed control. Obviously if you change belts to slow a drill down you are going to increase the torque. Its a nice package though.
I have had a small bench top drill (similar to the one posted on gumtree) I got from Machine Mart about 20 years ago, its nothing special but for banging holes in aluminium and steel its an order of magnitude better than a hand drill. I am lazy at changing the belts though, so the Bosch would be good on that front, though would have to be convinced the torque was there using large bits or hole saws.
If I want to make holes with any precision I now have a mill so will drill and ream them.
Was looking at the Bosch when this can up for £150 : Sealey GDM150B Pillar Drill Bench 16-Speed
Phots show it looking new with no scratches or dents so seem a nice drop from the £420 theyt retail at
That one looks fine, for 150 quid it's pretty much easy to use, has all the features you'd need and should work well for what you're after.
The secondhand market for this type of tool is a bit of a minefield for me, mainly as a lot of tools are being sold by people who haven't a clue about them, they've inherited them, or got them from a sale or whatever, so no clue of how they've been treated, or how long they've not been used, the ones like the sealey are easy enough to check over though, so good luck with it, it sounds like a really good deal, with 16 speeds i'm guessing it's going to cover a wide range of sizes/materials.
That’s what I have. Bought it new because I couldn’t find a suitable old drill (everybody recommended an older drill). At £150 that is amazing value!! It is a great bit of kit. Very heavy and you do need a bit of room for it.
I’m amazed you don’t have one already. I don’t know how I coped without it now..
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Interested for a future purchase.
Looking on eBay and saw one for £12.99 new - guesses that's what you want to avoid!
nearly everyone
That sounds like a slur to me 😆
The first startrite in the ebay link is about 60 years old, and the 2nd one looks like its come out of an oldy worldy engineering blacksmiths, so yeah, had gentle use i guess.
You've even quoted about goosed collar bearings and duff return springs so it should be easy to accept that many of the very old drills are probably past it and buying such is just some sort of nostalgia trip, when in reality they're probably going to need some serious overhauling. IF you can get the long discontinued parts.
I think for WCA workshop something like that Electronic Bosch PBD40 would be more than adequate.
That digital bosch ones is pretty cool. I've had a pillar drill for over 10 years now, still on the same original one I bought from Aldi. Works fine, only use it for hobbyist stuff. When I need it it's really helpful to have it, but I also don't use it all the time. It definitely has a place in the workshop
I'd love it if it had the crank arm height adjustable table as mine is quite basic. Does the job though
Mine generally lives on my pretty large workbench but there's space under the workbench to store it if need be
Is no one else going to comment on why @timbog160 seems to be making some anti aircraft rounds in the background of the picture!
As most have said, my needs are simple and pretty much all the drills would be adequate. I am happy with the Sealy for £150 as that is less than the painting I sold last Sunday so it basically counts as free, right?
Better than free actually!
Lols they are not anti aircraft rounds they are 30mm Rarden rounds and yes they are inert. They go in this…
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We have this floor standing Multico which is dead handy when you need tall clearance.
It's not mine, I just share it and don't really enjoy the sketchy bodged handles.
Then I have this nice old bench-mounted one by Continental International which is nice and heavy. Rarely use it though.
No recommendations sorry, just joining in with the pillar drill love-in/show and tell.
I will post photos of the injuries when IU get it 🙂
You’ve even quoted about goosed collar bearings and duff return springs so it should be easy to accept that many of the very old drills are probably past it and buying such is just some sort of nostalgia trip, when in reality they’re probably going to need some serious overhauling. IF you can get the long discontinued parts.
Sorry, you're talking rubbish. I'm not saying modern drills are all crap but certainly in the price bracket quoted you won't get much for your money when buying new. I looked at those Bosch machines (as I have the table and saw to match) and read a few things that concerned me enough to give it a miss. YMMV.
For the Startrite's at least, parts are actually quite well catered for, there are a few bits and pieces you can't get but that's to be expected and are easily fabricated or sourced elsewhere.
As for major overhaul, as I said I bought mine with nothing other than a cracked belt needing addressing. Other than throat bearings (which you should check before buying any pillar drill, old or new) there isn't much that can go wrong with these older drills as they are absolutely solid. Mine will be getting a rewire at some stage to get a reversing function and a modern NVR switch but as it is it's absolutely fine.
I can definitely see the attraction of an older drill and I looked quite hard for one before I bought the Sealey. In the end though I didn’t want to travel a long way, and then find something that was goosed or not suitable, hence I went new.
This felt like a bit of a cop out at the time, but the Sealey has been really very good, although it is at the upper end of the ‘cheap’ price range so maybe not unexpected…
I went for the Sealy because it was available today and less that 10 miles away, plus they dropped the price from £200 to £150 as soon as I asked. It had been on FaceMarket for 3-4 weeks so I guess they just wanted rid of it before Christmas
Is the Sealy single or 3 phase?
I went for the Sealy because it was available today and less that 10 miles away, plus they dropped the price from £200 to £150 as soon as I asked. It had been on FaceMarket for 3-4 weeks so I guess they just wanted rid of it before Christmas
Hey, you do what works for you, I'm sure going by the original RRP it should be a decent machine.
Enjoy, they really are next level stuff.
Looking forward to the 'Are you bored enough to watch me boring' YouTube series. 😂👍
I mainly use mine for drilling out snapped bolts and repairing threads - also looking forward to WCA doing something more creative!!
It is in the back of the truck waiting to be put in the garage, and having helped lift it into the truck it can frikkin stay there until there are more people here
Have you split the head from the post?
[I]Have you split the head from the post?[/I] - I haven't gone further than putting it in the back of the truck when I collected it. Why would I want to split the head and what would I be looking for if I did that?
Makes each piece lighter.
Not all come apart.
My meddings isnt coming off without lots of heat.
I have to move mine with the engine hoist. Me n mcmooonter nearly put our backs our getting back into our van.
Makes sense, thanks. I think I can manage to get this out of the car onto a trolley. It is only a bench mounted one thankfully.
Ah, didn't realise not all split. As TR says it makes it lighter to move, from ridiculous to manageable. I still need to get mine out the loft which I'm not looking forward to.
If it does split I'd be looking for some sort of clamp, much like a seatpost, which will be bolted or QR of some variety.
EDIT: Looks like it will split, there are two set screws on the bottom of the head, see Fig.4 in the instructions:
https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637189040/16-speed-bench-pillar-drill-1070mm-height-650w#
Was going to say you could borrow my bosch one and have a play if you liked as I picked one up recently ready for the new workshop which is slowly getting there
[i]Was going to say you could borrow my bosch one and have a play if you liked as I picked one up recently ready for the new workshop which is slowly getting there[/i]
Thanks but It is one of those tools that I didn't need for any specific task but I definitely NEEDED for the workshop. Just spending the art work money before I have done the painting 🙂
Yes it does all come apart - head and base and table come off to make it more manageable
I can copy you the instructions if you like, but being Sealey you will probably find them online somewhere..
Edit: here they are
https://www.sealey.co.uk/product/5637189040/16-speed-bench-pillar-drill-1070mm-height-650w
Picked up a Clarke one from off of faceache for £25 the other week. Small benchtop one but fully functional and only ever used for drilling cards (random). Not the cleanest as been in a printing shop but for the money I am more than happy. Still sat on the floor in the garage though. Need to pull my finger out and get the benches finished.
Also thinking up a sliding mount for it so I can swap it out for my metal vice. Either dowel pins and simple clamp or a tapered/"T" slot.
Fitted a keyless chuck to mine - lovely. Went for the most expensive of the cheap ones!
You got yours set up yet WCA?
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They go in this…
Nice! Is that a Scorpion?
CZ - close but not quite! Its a Sabre. They started life as Scorpions, but when the Scorpion and Fox armoured car were retired at the same time (late 90's), they mated the Fox turret to the Scorpion to create the Sabre, very similar to a Scimitar. They were never terribly successful and were sold off after a relatively short period of time, which is how I came to acquire one.
After 40 years of squaddie maintenance, there's plenty to keep my bench drill busy! 😄
Mine is now sat on the new wooden stand I built for it. I haven't actually used it yet but it is nice and big and heavy looking like a proper bit of workshop kit.
