Handheld corded and cordless drills and drill presses may create holes to desired depths in varied materials, but these two tool categories differ in more ways than one. Handheld drills are portable choices for remote worksites, but often lack the power, precision, versatility and efficiency of a reliable drill press. This was first used for metalworking, however, the variety of drill bits and available attachments means the machines are now staples in woodworking, carpentry, and DIY projects, with the results speaking for themselves.

Parts and How They Work

To understand what drill presses do and why they’re so common in metal and woodworking workshops, a common understanding of the parts helps. A drill press, or pedestal drill, consists of several components:

• Base – the base or pedestal (and what gives the machine its name) supports the machine, reduces vibrations and is often anchored into the floor or a workbench.
• Column – this is a sturdy cylindrical post that extends upward from the base and supports other parts, including the press table onto which the workpiece sits, and the business end of the drill press comprising the head.
• Table – attached to the column, the table can be adjusted to varying heights, and accommodate workpieces of different sizes. Most can also be adjusted horizontally when drilling at an angle. Positioning the work table is done with the table clamp.
• Head – the head contains geared motors, a rotating spindle drive, a hollow shaft surrounding the spindle or the quill, and a chuck that holds the drill bits or tooling. The quill, spindle and chuck move up and down when lifted or lowered via a feed wheel. The head additionally houses the power on/off controls, the depth stop to vary drilling depth, and the speed adjustment.

Types of Drill Presses

There are several types of drill presses, each with different features, capabilities and power output. Different machines are also found in different work settings. The main types are the benchtop pedestal drill press, floor drill press, and radial and magnetic drill presses.

Benchtop types can be mounted on workbenches or tables, are more compact, ideal for smaller workshops and garages due to their portability, and can drill holes in varied materials to depths suitable for most uses. They’re the next step up for heavy-duty handheld drills, offering more precision, adjustability, speed and consistency in numerous metal and woodworking projects.

Freestanding floor drill presses are bigger in every dimension, equipped with more powerful motors, and have a large suite of features required in heavy-duty and industrial applications. They can accommodate larger workpieces, offer faster and safer operation, be equipped with a wider range of drill attachments and produce precise and detailed results in various metals, plastics, and wood.

Radial types have adjustable arms enabling drill heads to swing horizontally. They can accommodate larger workpieces, and besides drilling, they’re commonly used for reaming and tapping. Magnetic drill types are used with metals, are portable and include magnetic bases that attach to benches or supporting metal structures,

Typical Uses

Besides drilling through metal or wood, a pedestal drill press can perform a variety of tasks:

1. Drilling to a desired depth with the included depth stop.
2. Drilling holes at a specified angle.
3. Reaming holes to a desired diameter.
4. Threading and tapping.
5. Countersinking and counter-boring
6. Creating mortises in wood
7. Sanding when appropriate oscillating spindles are fitted with sanding drums.

Benefits They Provide

Drill presses offer numerous benefits, especially when compared to hand drills. The stable, fixed drilling position ensures high precision and accuracy, with holes drilled to the exact depth. This can also be done consistently, making repetitive work easier and faster. Moreover, powerful motors make drilling in thicker and harder metals and wood pieces simpler, with higher degrees of control and adjustability. The range of bits, attachments and accessories, both in terms of size and variety, far outpaces those used in regular drills, meaning more versatility in achieving desired results in a variety of applications. Lastly, with simple and easy-to-use controls, powerful motors and adjustable tables, drilling, machining and woodworking are less strenuous and projects are completed faster. The machine reduces employee fatigue levels, enhances safety and raises productivity and the quality of your products.

Features That Make a Difference

Power, drill capacity, stroke distance and design and operational specifics determine efficiency, speed and the materials that can be worked using a drill press. Motor power in smaller machines used in woodworking averages between 0.5 and 1 hp, while metalworking presses in large-scale applications often exceed 1.5 hp.

Drill capacity refers to the largest hole diameters and the type of attachments the drill press can take. The larger the press capacity the more versatility across workpieces in different materials and thicknesses. Stroke distance refers to how far the spindle can travel, or the overall size of what you’re drilling. The bigger the stroke distance the more precise results in exceptionally large workpieces. Similarly, throat depth is the distance from the spindle centre to the column and dictates the overall maximum width of the workpiece.

Lastly, consider the different design and operating details, like keyed chucks for outright stability, keyless chucks for quick bit and attachment changes, CNC-enabled drilling for higher precision, tilting and rotating tables to accommodate awkward items, variable speeds settings suited to different bit types and sizes and simple safety features to prevent accidents or injuries. Even basic presses are fitted with almost everything you need, and won’t cost much more than a decently-powerful cordless drill. As a rule of thumb, woodworking drill presses are smaller and less expensive than comparable types used with metals, but both are readily available at dedicated stores.