Small drill press that doesn't need fixed to surface?

Frequent question about boxes and accessories: painting, etching, clearcoating, lettering, glueing, and so on.
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Jonotron
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Post by Jonotron »

Hi there,

Does anyone have any recommendations for a small drill press for drilling enclosure holes for sockets, switches etc (preferably available in the UK) that doesn't need to be bolted or fixed to a floor or bench? I don't have a dedicated workshop and would like to be able to remove the drill for storage when not in use without having to unbolt it.

Many thanks for any suggestions!

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bato001
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Post by bato001 »

Jonotron wrote:Hi there,

Does anyone have any recommendations for a small drill press for drilling enclosure holes for sockets, switches etc (preferably available in the UK) that doesn't need to be bolted or fixed to a floor or bench? I don't have a dedicated workshop and would like to be able to remove the drill for storage when not in use without having to unbolt it.

Many thanks for any suggestions!
A rotary tool from craftsman or a dremel with a plunge router attachment work fine for PCBs. I have never used the rotary tool for drilling enclosures though.

Dremel Rotary Tool: http://www.sears.com/dremel-300-series- ... ockType=G9

Dremel Rotary Tool plunge Router attachment: http://www.sears.com/dremel-plunge-rout ... 10?prdNo=1

Not sure where you would pick these up in the UK, but I am certain this tool or something similar is widely available.
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astrobass
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Post by astrobass »

It's precisely the smaller ones that DO need to be bolted down somehow - they don't have a heavy enough base to be stable otherwise.

Anyhow, just get a big ol' vise and clamp it down. Not permanent, but stable enough.

I never tried a rotary tool. I will say that being able to just put a hole in a box any time I want to has been well worth the $120 I spent between the drill press and then stepping bit.

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Jonotron
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Post by Jonotron »

Thanks for your input, I think I may go down the route of buying a folding workbench with the bolt holes ready drilled and look at a small drill press of some description. I work in a high school so use the pillar drills in the Metalwork rooms which are awesome but would like my own little facility!

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