The drill has been a staple in the arsenal of woodworkers, carpenters, and machinists for many years, and the versatility of this tool has only increased in recent decades. When accuracy is key to success, professionals will turn to a drill press, or a vertical drill that is fixed to a tabletop, workbench, or to the floor. Also known as a bench drill, it is capable of drilling accurately spaced holes at specific depths, widths, and straightness.
This tool is made up of a base, column, spindle, and drill head. The base can be a tabletop or it can be built-in legs made of metal; every one includes a table, or a surface to rest the materials to be drilled. It is positioned below the drill spindle and head, which spin and hold the bit respectively. A bench drill press is smaller and more portable, but a floor model is typically more powerful and has more accessory options.
The drill press has a three-armed handle attached to the head that raises and lowers the drill bit. These arms give the user more control over the movement of the bit and makes it easier to use. A depth-stop may be used to prevent the bit from moving past a certain point, allowing the user to make uniform-depth holes in various locations on whatever material is to be drilled.
The size of the tool is determined by measuring the distance from the drill head chuck to the column and then doubling it. For example, if the measurement between the center of the chuck to the column is 8 inches (20.32 cm), then the device is considered to be 16 inches (40.64 cm) press. This is because, while the press can drill a hole 8 inches (20.32 cm) from the side of a straight board, it can drill into the center of a 16 inch (40.64 cm) circle, which means that this is the largest diameter of board the press can handle.
A drill press is typically motor-driven and variable speed, which means the user has to expend less effort in using it than in hand drilling. The variable speed allows the user to use the tool for a variety of tasks, from drilling holes to sanding materials. The variable speed also allows the user to control the amount of force and friction on the drill bit, thereby preventing unnecessary wear or breakage.