A drill press is a handy tool to have around when working on projects. It allows the user to make precise holes in the work piece with minimal effort on the part of the operator. Unlike most handheld drills, a drill press usually has multiple speeds so you can drill at the speed you want. As well, a drill press usually has a much larger motor than a hand-held drill, so it can use larger drill bits than a hand-held drill and it can drill faster than a hand-held model would allow. Drill presses can also be used for a variety of other tasks besides drilling holes. With the right accessory, they can be used for honing, sanding and polishing.
Drill presses are generally very safe tools to use. Still, basic safety precautions must be taken. Eye protection should always be worn to prevent flying debris from damaging the eyes. Ear protection should be worn to prevent damage to the ears from prolonged use of the machine. And loose clothing and jewelry should not be worn while operating a drill press as these can get caught in the machine and cause harm to the operator.
The West Seattle Workshop currently has two drill presses available for use during regular tool library members. Users must have completed a basic safety check before using the machines. As well, the Tool Library has two drill presses for sale, among other tools, during the West Seattle Community Garage Sale this Saturday.
The first drill press for sale is a Jet Drill Press in great working condition. It’s the drill press pictured above. It’s a bench mount drill press with a rotating work table to allow for accurate drilling at an angle. For more information about the Jet drill press, please stop by the West Seattle Tool Library during the garage sale this Saturday.
The Tool Library also has an antique drill press for sale during the garage sale. This drill press is meant to be used with a hand-held drill. This allows the user to have the accuracy and stability of a drill press, without the expense of a real drill press, with the added bonus of being much easier to store. The antique drill press is only as powerful as the hand drill used, but for the beginning wood worker, it’s a great tool to have around.
The West Seattle Tool Library has a collection of over 1,500 tools currently available, is free to use and run primarily on user donations. Our entire inventory is available online. For more information on becoming a member, please visit our website. If you are interested in volunteering at the Tool Library, please contact us at: library@sustainablewestseattle.org
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