If you're looking specialised advice about the right tool for your job, feel free to ask our experts for professional advice. Neatness and Accuracy - By being able to control every aspect of the drilling process with unmatched precision, users are able to create holes at an industry standard. Benchtop Pillar Drill - The most common type of pillar drill, the benchtop pillar drill is easily fixed to any workbench. Whilst not quite as sturdy and heavy-duty as a floor standing pillar drill, benchtop pillar drills make an excellent choice for those with limited space. DIYers and amateur woodworkers typically choose this type of pillar drill.

The working depth of the drill can be set to the nearest millimeter, and the RPM of the drill can be precisely controlled. This makes them suitable for reliable, effective drilling on almost any material.

An indispensable workshop tool across a broad range of industries, the mighty pillar drill is essential for professionals, hobbyists, and artisans around the globe thanks to their exceptional accuracy and drill depth. Floor Standing Pillar Drill - Floor standing pillar drills are typically used in more professional settings where heavy duty machinery is valued. They offer excellent drilling depth compared to benchtop models, but their bulk, size and power requirements make them hard to justify for home use. Floor drills are usually seen in workshops and factories. Some DIYers have converted their pillar drills to a mill; however it will never be as sturdy as a regular mill as pillar drills are not designed to handle the forces involved in milling. We would strongly advise against using a pillar drill as a mill. Drilling Hard Materials - Thanks to the nature of a pillar drill, users can exert far more drilling force than with a standard drill. This makes them excellent at creating perfect holes in hard materials such as steel or hardwood.

Clamping the workpiece keeps it steady and prevents it from coming loose and spinning with the drill, which can cause damage and injury. Mag Drill - If you're looking for a portable alternative to the traditional pillar drill, look no further than a mag drill. Similarly functional to a standard pillar drill, mag drills use powerful electromagnets to securely attach themselves to a metal surface. This allows the operator to create precise, accurate holes similar to a pillar drill, but with the portability of a handheld drill. Credit subject to status and affordability. Terms and conditions apply. Axminster Tool Centre Ltd trading as Axminster Tools is a credit broker and is Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Credit is provided by Novuna Personal Finance, a trading style of Mitsubishi HC Capital UK PLC, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Financial Services Register no. 704348. Pillar drills are trusted by professionals for their accuracy. With the correct operation, they guarantee to deliver perfect results - something that isn't the case with a standard handheld drill.The drilling table is a durable, cast-iron surface that a workpiece is placed on to be drilled. Most are height-adjustable, allowing for variable drilling depth. Some pillar drill tables can be tilted, so users can drill a workpiece at angles up to 90 degrees. Grinding / Polishing - Whilst other tools are more suited to heavy duty grinding and polishing, a pillar drill make do with the correct attachments. By utilising a round wire brush attachment, the pillar drill can even remove rust from metal workpieces. The machine consists of a powerful drill bit that's fixed to a sliding column. This keeps the drill in place as it is lowered into the workpiece via a rotating handle on the side. Often referred to as a 'drill press', pillar drills come in a range of shapes and sizes and are often specialised to suit the needs of a large number of industries.

Pillar drills are available in a number of configurations to suit any kind of drilling application. You can choose models that favour portability, power, or any mixture of both. The main configurations are: This 1998 standard states that all employers must provide fixed guards on pillar drills to prevent entanglement and injury whilst the drill is in use. Pillar drills are used across a range of industries on a range of materials. They are valued by workworkers and metalworkers alike, and perform very well in the following scenarios: One of the most common risks caused by negligent usage is the entanglement of hair, clothing, and accessories in the rotating drill. One way to prevent this is by using a fixed guard around the drill to prevent entanglement.