Shed essentials: the humble drill press

There are tools that make the job easier, and there are tools that produce a higher quality job. And then in some cases, there are tools that do both, which is where this machine comes in.

Sure, a hand drill will get you a fair way when it comes to metal or wood projects. However, the biggest limitation that a hand drill has is no matter how good an eye or strong a hand you’ve got; it’s next to impossible to drill a perfectly straight hole without any external support. That’s not a slight on anyone’s skills – that’s the plain truth. For any drilling jobs that require a measure of precision, there’s only one real solution – a bench or pedestal drill press.

If you don’t think too hard about it, it’s all too easy to think a drill press is for ‘occasional use, but in reality, a drill press is a piece of equipment that you’ll keep reaching for time and time again. Whether it’s drilling holes in sheet metal, plywood or plastic, a drill press will ensure a high-quality result every time.

But the benefits don’t just stop at the overall quality of a job. Using a drill press is a lot safer than using a hand drill, because once the material is clamped in place, it would take something going drastically wrong for it to move. Drill presses also significantly extend the life of your drill bits over a hand drill, and especially so when drilling through heavier-gauge steel. The Hafco model shown here is $363 for a BD-325 bench model $407 for the PD-325 pedestal type.

Learn more at www.machineryhouse.com.au