Drill Press/Pillar Drill

TwoUpTwoDown

Hi all

Any recommendations for a good pillar drill? My budget is around £300 max. Would prefer bench mounted to floor standing.
I'm a DIY enthusiast and keen woodworker but never worked with this tool before.
I need something to do some forstner drilling in to ash (around 40mm) but hope to also use it to do more projects in the future.

I've read so many reviews and although you can get one for £100 I'm wondering if it's a false economy if i want to do more precise work in the future. Not sure i can get a lot more for my money only going up a couple of hundred?

Thanks

FreeBear

TwoUpTwoDown said: I've read so many reviews and although you can get one for £100 I'm wondering if it's a false economy if i want to do more precise work in the future. Not sure i can get a lot more for my money only going up a couple of hundred?

Avoid the cheap Chinese ones that you can pick up in one hand. The motor will be way under powered, and speeds limited.

Have a look to see if there are any second hand machinery dealers in your area. You should be able to pick up a decent bench mounted drill with a Morse Taper chuck for well under £200.

Why Morse Taper ?

If you want to use a drill bigger than ~13mm, most of them are taper shank. You also have the option of fitting a smaller (or bigger) chuck to suit the drill bit you are using.

maisie_cat

We have an Axminster craft one and it's great, the cheaper ones appear to be flimsy and have play.
We paid £297 in November and it is much better than the previous one we had, and old B&Q own brand mortiser & pillar drill. 

TwoUpTwoDown

maisie_cat said:

We have an Axminster craft one and it's great, the cheaper ones appear to be flimsy and have play.
We paid £297 in November and it is much better than the previous one we had, and old B&Q own brand mortiser & pillar drill. 

i did look a this one but unsure of the power rating for doing forstner bit work. at 250w it seemed like the lower end of the power spectrum. Not sure how much the issue of torque is or how it's relevant as just don't know enough on this side.
It did seem a bit nicer for the price and down to £240 at the moment