Drill Presses
A drill press is a fixed style of drill that may be mounted on a stand or bolted to the floor or workbench. Drill presses allow you to drill holes in metal, wood and a variety of other materials. Certain important points are to be considered before buying drill presses.
Types:
Drill presses are of two types - floor-standing or bench-top. Bench-top models are more compact and tend to be less expensive. They are best suited for smaller workpieces and less demanding jobs. Floor-standing models offer more power and can typically handle a wider range of materials.
Capacity:
The size of a drill press is typically measured in terms of swing. Another capacity consideration is stroke, or quill stroke, which determines how deep you can drill.
• Bench-top models usually have a swing of 10" to 12"
• Floor-standing models have a swing between 15" and 17"
Power and Speed:
Floor-standing models have a larger capacity; they need a more powerful motor. Floor-standing models tend to be 1/2 to 3/4 hp (horsepower), while bench-top models are typically 1/3 or 1/4 hp.
Specialty Drill Presses:
Depending on your needs, you may want to consider a radial drill press or a magnetic drill press.
• Radial drill presses are ideal if you do a lot of angled drilling or work with very large items
• Magnetic drill presses offer extremely powerful operation along with easy portability
