Pillar Drill (Britool No. 10)

[Sam Leland 1Participant @samleland1]

Any info on this m/c (see pic) is welcome as all I can find on the web is a one-line mention from a school text book that dates it at pre-1933, way before my time. I found it thrown out for kerbside collection with a 1/2″ bit in it as a perfect fit and covered in about 75 years’ worth of rust. For other sizes it looks like I’ll need to buy the lathe I’ve been humming and hawing about, make a 1/2″ shank and thread it to fit a chuck (No. 1 Morse Taper is too small, No.2’s too big). Before I do that, however, any better ideas would be appreciated along with any info or stories attached to it. My plan is to drill out wood to make the soundboard for an arch-top guitar and/or violin rather than risk a slip-up with a power drill.

[Sam Leland 1Participant @samleland1]

[VersabossParticipant @versaboss]

Sam, you cannot post where the picture is ON YOUR COMPUTER , you have to upload it to the photo area of this forum or use the ‘insert image’ button (second from right)! 

Hansrudolf

[Sam Leland 1Participant @samleland1]

[Sam Leland 1Participant @samleland1]

Edited By Sam Leland on 22/12/2009 04:51:55

[Sam Leland 1Participant @samleland1]

Edited By Sam Leland on 22/12/2009 04:49:38

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Sam,

                From the slot in the spindle shown in your first picture it would suggest that it was

originally a morse taper fitting. (The slot is to insert a drift to remove the taper.) The collar on the end of the spindle looks like it may have been modified to take a plain shank. It is normal to insert pictures into the post. This can be done with the tool bar button to the left of the You tube button. This can only be done after the picture has been uploaded to the site. It took me some time to work this out last week. I thought clicking the insert image button would allow selection of a file on your own computer.

Les.

[Sam Leland 1Participant @samleland1]

Hi Les

Thanks, I  wondered what the slot was for. As it now is, the spindle is bored one and a half inches deep to take a 1/2″ shank. I’ve since found a similar drill of another make (at http://www.britishblades.com/forums/showthread.php?t=86879 if you’re interested) and it looks like it uses a hand drill chuck with a male spigot. So far it looks like I’ve still got an excuse to get that lathe after Christmas. Thanks too for the picture how-to (Hansrudolf  too)- think I’ve got it now ‘though I’d be happy to know how to remove the practice accidents. Good job I’m not on Face-book, huh?

Sam

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

My black smiths’ wall drill has a Jacobs 34 (1/2″) chuck,the chuck has a 1/2″ dia shaft with a Jacobs taper into the chuck,the 1/2″ piece goes up the mandril,and is retained with a grub screw.The black smiths drills have a 1/2″ shank.I got sick of cranking so I fitted a 1/4hp motor,and run the drill at 120 rpm.The machine has a simple auto-feed system.You should have no problem getting blacksmith drills,we can get them here in NZ either carbon or HSS,either singels or boxed sets.Ian S C

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