Knifemaking tools advice: pillar drill?

[redcollective]

Hello all,

I rushed, the holes went wonky, now I have two highly figured but useless scales.

I've had great success drilling by eye in the past but tonight it didn't work. I think I should shell out for a pillar drill (I only have cheapo domestic cordless.

Not too expensive mind: has anyone got any experience with one of these?

It only needs to do light duty drilling into blocks of wood.

Any advice welcomed.

 

[warthog1981]

ive got one thats almost the same as that one well worth the £40 very handy thing to have should have bought one years ago

 

[JohnC]

You may try one of these http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=18808&ts=28706 if cost is an issue. I've used one with my hand drill and its been ok for light duty, but I agree the Axminster one looks good value

 

[Toddy]

I've got one of those Redcollective, it works fine but the guard is a pain; it's just always in the way.

Cheers,
Toddy

 

[Martyn]

These are Chinese made drills and are pretty ubiquitous, you can find variations in Wicks, B&Q etc. Often, they go for under £30. They are fine, great bits of kit for the money. Go for it.

 

[Marts]

As above. I've got exactly that one from axminster. It's served me well for drilling and drum sanding for nearly a year now. Go for it.

 

[scanker]

I have that one from Axminster and it's fine - good value for the price, but as Toddy says the guard's a pain - I took mine straight off again and use safety glasses instead.

One thing to remember when ordering from Axminster....always order all the bits you need and then some more. I often put an order in and then a week later think, "I could do with some emery tape or sandpaper". It's always the little bits that aren't worth ordering on their own - drill bits, emery, tung oil, pen blanks for firesteel handles etc. Don't forget anything!

 

[Marts]

the guard's a pain - I took mine straight off again and use safety glasses instead.

I was lucky - when mine arrived the safety guard was broken and couldn't be mounted. It did look like it would've been a pain too.

 

[mick spain]

All the drills mentioned work fine makes you wonder how they can sell them so cheap


www.msknives.co.uk & www.msknives.net

 

[demographic]

These are Chinese made drills and are pretty ubiquitous, you can find variations in Wicks, B&Q etc. Often, they go for under £30. They are fine, great bits of kit for the money. Go for it.

Yep, as you have said theres a few places that sell them, pretty good kit for the money.

Both me and my girlfriend had one each (she makes jewellery) but I gave one to a mate last week as they are much of a muchness and we don't need two.
She got hers from Machine Mart and I bought mine off a bloke I worked with for 20 quid or so.

About the only thing to look out for is that they have a No volt release switch as that makes them safer.

They might not be made to the most exacting standards but they do the job just fine for making brackets for motorcycles and joinery jobs.

Plus, if its at his workshop I get to use his workshop

 

[redcollective]

Thanks folks that's been really helpful.

All I 'need' now is a table saw and a grinder and I'll be a happy man.

 

[demographic]

Thanks folks that's been really helpful.

All I 'need' now is a table saw and a grinder and I'll be a happy man.

If you mean a circular table saw when you say table saw, I think that a normal portable circular saw that you push along by hand does just about anything that one of those does and takes up less space as well, a couple of sawstools and an 8 foot straight edge (otherwise known as a ripping off the good edge of a sheet of plywood) do the job as well if not better.

I have all sorts of joinery tool in my van ranging from planes through cordless drill,110 volt drill, two gas powered (Framing and finish) nail guns, Jigsaw, Portable circular saw, Chopsaw and a whole lot of other stuff I can't be bothered to mention and I still have no intention of having a circular table saw.

They are worth having if you have a proper joiners shop with surface planers, thicknessers and so on but be aware that in order to cut a sheet of plywood you need over 8 foot before the blade (infeed) then over 8 foot of space after the blade (outfeed) in order to get a sheet through the machine, with a portable circular saw you only need about 10 feet which is 8 foot for the length of ply plus a foot at each end to get round it and place the cramps on.

Just my take on it anyway and I am pretty sure theres someone out there who will disagree.

Regards Scott.

 

[redcollective]

Fair point Scott. I used a straight edge and my circular saw to cut a few metres of Skirting board once. What can I say: "Don't buy my house."

Cheers.

Stu

 

[g4ghb]

I'd opt for a small bandsaw myself!

 

[James_m246]

I was just browsing axminster and saw this, that can't be right can it ?
The pack of blades is more expensive !

 

[Martyn]

flippin 'eck, that is cheap!!!

 

[Marts]

Good bandsaw too. My axminster fetish ended up with me buying that at full price

If it is a mistake take advantage of it now!!

 

[Banjobill]

Might be worth having a look on ebay, as Axminster now have a shop on there.
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Axminster-Tool-Centre

I bought a belt/disc sander off there two weeks ago - it was £5 cheaper than buying from them direct, still had free delivery, 12 months guarantee etc. No faults and works perfectly.

Oh, I also have one of those pillar drills - at the price you can almost treat it as a consumable!