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Drill Press
For years, we've wanted a drill press so
that we could drill perfectly aligned holes.
We finally bought one, and we're as happy
as can be. While hand drills and power drills are handy, nothing beats a drill press for
uniform drilling.
When comparing models, look for the total
distance the drill bit will travel (called
"spindle travel") -- this determines
how deeply the drill can penetrate (of course,
this is also limited by the length of the
bit that is exposed). A greater distance
may also save you time when you drill holes
that near the length of your bit since you
won't have to worry about positioning the
platform to minimize excess clearance between
the piece you are drilling and the bottom
of the bit.
You also want to look at the depth between
the drill bit and the support column holding
up the drill head (called the "throat
capacity"). This distance restricts
how far from the edge of a piece you can
drill. When you buy a 9-inch drill press,
this is the measurement they are referring
to.
The other factors to look at
are horsepower
and speed. Most presses allow
you to change
the speed with a trade off in
torque (higher
the speed, the lower the torque).
You want
to have a higher power motor
if you intend
to do deep, large holes in tough
materials
like oak without the bit binding
or stopping. |
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