What bench drill

[Martin of WickParticipant @martinofwick]

Neil, I think you have had better luck than me. Possibly the FE machines I have seen on display have not been set up properly or were the Friday afternoon jobs, but they didn't inspire confidence. I have been within a gnats whisker of shelling out my £250 or so, but just couldn't bring myself to do it based on the slop in the quill system. Although I expect in use, as you say, such machines probably deliver perfectly satisfactory results in terms of hole production.

Anyway, my drilling blues are now over as I have just acquired a Denford Viceroy pillar drill, locally and at a sensible price, but in the most horrific cosmetic condition (presumably from being stuck at the back of a farmers barn unused for the last half century).

What swung it for me was just how smooth and solid the quill movement was, even under the grime and neglect. This was confirmed when I finally manhandled its 120 kilo bulk out of the car and got a clock on it. About 2 thou runout at full (4.5 in) extension.

There will be a considerable cost in elbow grease, and a bit more for paint and new switch gear. Hope the effort will result in a smooth, solid, dependable drilling machine for about half the price of an import machine. (permission to be smug sir!)

[clogsParticipant @clogs]

when I lived in Los-Angeles "JET" was then just Chinese old tat…..better now I guess……?

Axminster machines are also Chinese????? but perhaps somebody checks em for accuracy before they are shipped to europe……where do the bad'uns end up ??????.

Nothing wrong with Chinese/Asian tooling, it's when it's built DOWN to a price that causes trouble…….

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

Posted by Martin of Wick on 09/02/2020 10:16:42:

What swung it for me was just how smooth and solid the quill movement was, even under the grime and neglect. This was confirmed when I finally manhandled its 120 kilo bulk out of the car and got a clock on it. About 2 thou runout at full (4.5 in) extension.

There will be a considerable cost in elbow grease, and a bit more for paint and new switch gear. Hope the effort will result in a smooth, solid, dependable drilling machine for about half the price of an import machine. (permission to be smug sir!)

Proper job, good choice Martin

[Mike BrettParticipant @mikebrett89695]

Yep, I found that treasured specimen about two years ago, in the form of an Elliott floor standing pillar drill. Very heavy beast, the chap who I purchased it from luckily had a fork lift truck to put it into the back of my truck. Paid about 180 pounds for it . Its only fault was it needed a new chuck which cost me about the same again. Lovely machine , only drawback is you have to adjust table height by muscle power, and that table is so heavy. I plan to install a counter balance on it this year, as I am not getting any younger.

Mike

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 07/02/2020 17:36:01:

I don't think any of those criticisms apply to mine.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cdp302b-bench-drill-press-230v/

Nor mine, which is the same as Neil's.

[Mike 90Participant @mike90]

I like the look of the Clarke CDP 302 B, Chuck capacity 16mm, and it would be plenty powerful for me at 550w, and the price is about right but not sure about the size, my bench is is only 1’-7” in depth, so not sure, could you advise, me will it fit ?, the hight will be ok though, and I would have plenty of clearance there, thanks guys.

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Mike, the base is 42cm along its long edge. Another possibly important dimension for you or others considering buying is the rearward projection of the head/motor assembly beyond the base: projection beyond the rear edge of the base is around 16 cm.

[Mike 90Participant @mike90]

Thanks Bill but sadly it looks like I will have to keep looking, the maximum depth I have is 53cm, front of the bench to the inside wall of my shed, I will just have to look for a smaller drill. Or Spend more and get a pillar drill, that could be a possibility I suppose.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

This thread has made me look at my cheap bench drill with new eyes. It's an old B&Q job from 1998 and cost about 25-odd quid, but there's no play I can feel in the quill even at full extension, not much runout on a drill in the chuck, and I can get the table reasonably square to the quill travel.

But at an unremebered time in the past some crime, folly or misfortune of mine broke up the plastic guardholder moulding that carried the depth marker, and I've been sticking bits of 'insulting tape' on the drills as a rough guide to depth ever since.

So I've refurbished it with an alli clamp, a bit of M8 studding and a pointer made from scraps of black MS flat and alli strip. The clamp's held by some M6x50 Skt Csk screws left over from another project. Works OK.

Pity my bit of alli for the clamp wasn't quite big enough to mount it parallel to the front face, but hey – that's just cosmetic…

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Of course, if you are a MM customer, you will likely get periodic invitations to their “VAT free” sessions (actually simply a 20% discount opportunity, not VAT free). £200 would buy that drill on one of those occasions, if one is not in a hurry to part with the cash…

[Mike 90Participant @mike90]

Today I took delivery of my Clarke CDP152B bench drill, from Machine mart, ordered it last Sunday so delivery quite good, managed to put it together without any problems,
all i need to do now is build an extension to my bench, as at the moment it’s got my Chester DB7 lathe, shotgun shell reloader, and my bench vice, the drill should be plenty powerful enough at 350v, 16mm chuck and 12 speeds, just wishing the weather was a bit better so I can get down to the shed, to get the bench extension done.

[Mike 90Participant @mike90]

Correction to my last post my new drill is 450w and not 350w, even better !.

[not done it yetParticipant @notdoneityet]

Mike, you have PM’s. (See tool bar at the top of the page)

[Douglas JohnstonParticipant @douglasjohnston98463]

Posted by not done it yet on 09/02/2020 22:22:24:

Of course, if you are a MM customer, you will likely get periodic invitations to their “VAT free” sessions (actually simply a 20% discount opportunity, not VAT free). £200 would buy that drill on one of those occasions, if one is not in a hurry to part with the cash…

I used to get regular invitations to MM vat free days but have not had one for a long time. Have they given up on this marketing ploy?

Doug

[petro1headParticipant @petro1head]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 07/02/2020 17:36:01:

Try one of these, I don't think any of those criticisms apply to mine.

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/clarke-cdp302b-bench-drill-press-230v/

Or what about this one Machine Mart Pillar Drill

[Dave BarrParticipant @davebarr43722]

I'm looking at the Axminster 'Trade' ones right now, 2 models at £400/£500. From the photos look quite well made however looks can be deceiving I know. I like the switchgear compared to the Draper heavy duty machine we have at work and the worklight as well. Anyone got one?

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

I have a Startrite bench drill. Bought around 30 years ago second hand. This was back in the days when I only had a lathe and an off hand grinder as my onlt machines. Later I acquired a Myford VMC mill which has a quill so can do duty as a drilling machine. If I had the mill first I probably would not have bought the drill or at least bought a smaller drill with a higher spindle speed and only used it for small holes say up to 1/4" or so. The Startrite takes up quite a lot of bench space. I do have quite a large workshop but for now it's having to house the woodworking machines too (table saw and planer thicknesser) as well as a lot of wood. New woodworking shop is on the horizon which will clear space so I'm holding on to the drill untill then.

regards Martin

[Dave SParticipant @daves59043]

When I had a pillar drill it was a cheap Chinese import – I think this particular one came from B&Q, but they are all quite similar.
I cured the quill slip by pulling the drill to pieces and then, after drilling a hole in the front casting about halfway up, slitting the casting. After bolting on a couple of bits of 1” angle to the sides I made a bolt with a handle so I could “squeeze” the slit.

Made the quill adjustable from “locked” to rattling fit – and so vastly improved the drill.

Then I got a proper sized Mill, with a huge quill and haven’t used a pillar drill since…

Dave

[Peter Low 4Participant @peterlow4]

Pleased to discover the Clarke CDP302 through this thread and to find it recommended.

I am looking to replace the very modest Draper bench drill that has served so well for 25 years or so, and upgrade to something larger and this Clarke model seems to beat others from different brands on several poibnts at a lower price.

I'd be glad to hear that these bench drills are lasting well in use.

Pete.

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