Bench pillar drill or floor standing pillar drill

[AdamParticipant @adam]

Hi everyone, I have 3 kerry super 8 drills (3 because I plan on restoring them) and only intend to keep one. I have one bench, one floor and one sort or in-between height one which is a solid pillar.

I'm building a little workshop and only have room for one but cannot decide if to go for floor or bench. Obviously I can fit taller items on the floor one, but what other pros and cons are there for bench and floor types?

Thanks

[AdamParticipant @adam]

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

The height would depend on what you intend to build and if you are moving into a tiny workshop, a bench mounted one is more compact and you will have storage under the bench.

Paul.

Edited By Paul Lousick on 27/05/2019 10:00:54

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I have a bench mounted one & it does all my needs; as mentioned you will have more storage underneath. I have drilled to the max capacity on mine, 13 mm, with everything fastened down securely so if you plan on any larger holes then you'd be better off moving on to your lathe & use the tail stock facility, dependent on what size lathe you have dictates what size drill you can fit into the tailstock ( obviously ) then move on to boring out. Will you be posting pics of your restoration/s ?

George.

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

if you are to usefully exploit at the full height capacity of a floor standing drill you need "some" room each side. Simply sliding the drill into a near minimum space between benches gives you little more capacity than a simple bench drill. As proven by a friend of mine who did just that. Albeit mostly because he had a good floor standing drill and didn't want to mess around changing machines.

He later cut away the bench top immediately adjacent to the drill and installed lift out panels which won more depth down to first shelf level. Not the fastest or most convenient of arrangements but handy when needed. In retrospect shelves on wheels or one of the economy range mechanics cabinets would have worked better. I'd seriously consider retaining the floor standing drill and putting a set of mechanics drawers on wheels alongside it, on one or both sides. Possibly something like this :- **LINK** from US Pro.

Couple of years back I put some similar drawers that had been around in the garage for ages on wheels and moved them into the workshop. Turned out to be far more useful that I'd expected. Should have done it ages ago. Didn't appreciate how useful the move around ability was and how effective multiple smaller drawers are for tool storage.

Clive

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

It's very rare that you need to drill anything in the home workshop that will not fit in a bench drill, or can be done with a pistol drill. Have five bob each way and keep the bench drill, but mount it on the end of the bench so if you ever need to drill something bigger, you can pivot the drill head on its column so it can drill out over the end of the bench where you can stand your long jo on the floor or on a suitable box..

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, of course you need a bench or something similar, unless you like working down on the floor, for a bench drill and that at times can get in the way if you have something a little long or big that you need to work on the bench with. My floor standing drill is not fixed and can be moved with relative ease anywhere I choose, even outside if need be. The choice can only be your own and will be most likely be obvious by what work you are likely to do on it. A floor standing one can be moved into any crook or nanny nook or cranny when not in use, as Clive has suggested.

Regards Nick.

Edited By Nicholas Farr on 27/05/2019 12:22:45

[AdamParticipant @adam]

Thanks for the responses everyone. I like the idea of the floor standing but using a cutout in the bench. I'll take a photo later off my workshop to give a better idea of what I'm working with.

[John Paton 1Participant @johnpaton1]

If any of them have a crank for adjusting the table height then go for one of those – a godsend and I know how I missed mine when it was out of action for a while.

If it is on a round pillar you can always shorten the pillar to enable it to be mounted on a storage cabinet (I keep my longer lengths of bar stock in a strong steel cabinet under and behind my bench drill – the motor sticks out behind the column and table on mine)

[AdrianRParticipant @adrianr18614]

I have a bench one, I have always wanted a floor one. I fitted a cross slide vice, and there is not enough height if it is on the table, so has to go on the base. Lifting the head is a right pain when I need extra height.

[Nigel McBurney 1Participant @nigelmcburney1]

i bought a fobco bench drill 50 years and it surprising how many times a few inches longer column would have been really useful. Now also have a Meddings floor drill , my view is go for a floor mounted drill much more useful.

[charadamParticipant @charadam]

+1 for floor standing drill. My Qualters & Smith was too big for the workshop, so I put it in the garage.

Logically, cars are painted and can stand a bit of weather.

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

My benches tend to get filled up with partially finished projects. With bench space at a premium I suggest a floor mount drill.

[Paul LousickParticipant @paullousick59116]

Floor standing is good if you have the space but if you read the original post, it was for "a little workshop". What we do not know is how little.

Paul

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