A portable drill press is a handy piece of machinery that is an asset to any workshop. It is primarily used for boring holes of a specific depth, diameter, and angle into almost any hard material. Some models even have attachments that can be used with them to perform other tasks. Before choosing such a machine, its' a good idea to find out what different types and features are available in order to select the best one.
There are four main parts to a drill press; the column, base, table, and head. The base provides support and may be secured either to the floor or a work bench. The head is the functional bit which does the drilling, the table is where the object to be drilled is placed, and the hollow, steel column holds both of these parts and is attached to the base at its bottom.
Such a machine is run using a geared chuck and key system. Its motor is most often a sealed ball-bearing design that is mounted near the back of the column. The capacity or size of the press depends on the distance from the front of the column to the chuck's center, this is referred to as the "throat depth" and in most cases measures from 8 to 17 inches.
The capacity of a press is two times its throat depth. This measurement is referred to as the "swing" which indicates the maximum size of the piece of cutting material the machine can reach the center of and bore. It will have the same diameter as its capacity and twice that of its throat depth.
The two most common types of drill presses are bench-top and floor models. The smaller bench-top models are easily stored and great for many household projects. They are typically about 23 to 48 inches tall and have a swing of 8 to 12 inches. Floor models are larger, usually measuring about 66 to 75 inches high and have more powerful motors and a greater swing of 13 to 20 inches. This type have more attachments and are capable of drilling tougher materials.
There are also other types of presses with some unique capabilities, namely the magnetic and radial designs. Magnetic types are ideal for boring structural steel, with a powerful motor and a swing of 4 to 8 inches minimum. Radial presses offer an increased swing capacity of at least 24 inches and can drill holes at various angles.
The size of the motors varies as well from one model to another. They normally range between 1/4 and 1 in horsepower, as this number increases so does the machine's ability to drill thicker materials. The "quill travel" is another aspect which refers to the boring depth the press has, the higher it is the deeper it will bore. The speed settings are usually adjustable too.
Other useful features to look for on a portable drill press include depth blocks, which ensure the the bit stops at a specific depth. Also if it has a fences function this is handy, as it blocks the material being drilled and allows for multiple holes to be bored. Finally, a movable table that can swivel around the base is ideal as it makes working on odd shaped pieces easier.
There are four main parts to a drill press; the column, base, table, and head. The base provides support and may be secured either to the floor or a work bench. The head is the functional bit which does the drilling, the table is where the object to be drilled is placed, and the hollow, steel column holds both of these parts and is attached to the base at its bottom.
Such a machine is run using a geared chuck and key system. Its motor is most often a sealed ball-bearing design that is mounted near the back of the column. The capacity or size of the press depends on the distance from the front of the column to the chuck's center, this is referred to as the "throat depth" and in most cases measures from 8 to 17 inches.
The capacity of a press is two times its throat depth. This measurement is referred to as the "swing" which indicates the maximum size of the piece of cutting material the machine can reach the center of and bore. It will have the same diameter as its capacity and twice that of its throat depth.
The two most common types of drill presses are bench-top and floor models. The smaller bench-top models are easily stored and great for many household projects. They are typically about 23 to 48 inches tall and have a swing of 8 to 12 inches. Floor models are larger, usually measuring about 66 to 75 inches high and have more powerful motors and a greater swing of 13 to 20 inches. This type have more attachments and are capable of drilling tougher materials.
There are also other types of presses with some unique capabilities, namely the magnetic and radial designs. Magnetic types are ideal for boring structural steel, with a powerful motor and a swing of 4 to 8 inches minimum. Radial presses offer an increased swing capacity of at least 24 inches and can drill holes at various angles.
The size of the motors varies as well from one model to another. They normally range between 1/4 and 1 in horsepower, as this number increases so does the machine's ability to drill thicker materials. The "quill travel" is another aspect which refers to the boring depth the press has, the higher it is the deeper it will bore. The speed settings are usually adjustable too.
Other useful features to look for on a portable drill press include depth blocks, which ensure the the bit stops at a specific depth. Also if it has a fences function this is handy, as it blocks the material being drilled and allows for multiple holes to be bored. Finally, a movable table that can swivel around the base is ideal as it makes working on odd shaped pieces easier.
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