Bench or Floor Pillar Drill? Speeds, Big Holes and Chuck Wobble

Bench or floor, and how slow must a pillar drill turn for big holes? Or does yours wobble or keep dropping its chuck? Here is how to choose well and cure both faults.

The Pillar Drill range at PartsForMachines has 48 products from Sealey, SIP, Draper and Clarke: 39 bench, floor and radial drills, four mini mill-drills, four replacement chuck guards and a bit stand.

Bench or Floor Pillar Drill: Which Do I Need?

It depends mainly on how tall your work is, though in our range only floor models drill over 20mm. Several drills come in bench and floor versions of the same head: the 01712 bench pillar drill and the 01714 floor pillar drill share a 550W motor, 16 speeds from 220 to 2800rpm, an MT2 spindle and 80mm of travel.

The big difference is the room under the chuck: 663mm to the table on the floor model, against 360mm on the bench one. Choose floor for tall work or a crowded bench; choose bench to save floor space.

How Slow Must a Pillar Drill Turn for Big Holes in Steel?

Slower than you might expect, so check the lowest speed and drilling capacity before the number of speeds. A handy rule: rpm is roughly the cutting speed in m/min × 318, divided by the bit diameter in mm. HSS bits in mild steel run at about 20–30 m/min, so a 13mm hole wants roughly 490–730rpm and a 25mm hole about 250–380rpm.

Hobby drills such as the SDM30 start at 580rpm and take 13mm bits; some 16-speed bench drills go down to 120rpm. For holes up to 32mm, the 01717 MT4 floor pillar drill turns down to 150rpm.

Why Does My Pillar Drill Wobble or Drill Off-Centre?

Two likely causes: a bit that wanders as it starts, or a chuck that is dirty or badly seated. A twist drill can wander on an unmarked surface, so centre punch each hole, and start it with a spot drill for accurate work.

For wobble, make sure the chuck sits true on a clean, burr-free taper, which is what centres it in the spindle. If it still wobbles, send our team the model and a short video.

Why Does My Pillar Drill Chuck Keep Falling Out?

Dirt, burrs or damage on the tapers can stop them locking. A Morse taper is self-holding: the tight fit of two clean, undamaged tapers locks the chuck arbor in the spindle.

Take the chuck off (see the FAQ below), wipe the spindle taper and arbor clean, and look for burrs, nicks or other damage. Refit the chuck so the tapers lock together. If a clean taper still lets go, the arbor or spindle taper may be damaged and need replacing.

What Should I Check Before I Buy?

• the biggest hole and the material: the lowest speed and the drilling capacity, from 13mm on hobby drills to 40mm on the largest floor drill
• the room under the chuck (chuck to table and chuck to base) and the swing, twice the distance from column to spindle centre
• spindle travel for deep holes: from 50mm on small bench drills, 80mm on most, up to 150mm on heavy floor models
• the supply and the weight: 230V on most, 400V three-phase on some industrial drills; about 10kg for a small bench drill, well over 100kg for a heavy floor model
• safety: a chuck guard, a no-volt release switch and the collar diameter, in case you need a replacement guard

Browse the Pillar Drill range, or contact the PartsForMachines team by WhatsApp, telephone or email with the material, the biggest hole and the height of your work.

Product options, delivery options and returns terms are shown on each product page. A 30-day return policy applies to eligible items.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which replacement chuck guard fits my pillar drill?

One that matches your drill’s collar diameter, so measure the collar the guard fits around. Flip-up replacement guards come in 40, 55, 60 and 75mm sizes; the DPG99 60mm chuck guard fits most popular drills with a 60mm collar. For other sizes, ask our team.

Does a pillar drill need a chuck guard to pass an inspection?

In a workplace, expect so. In Great Britain, for example, PUWER requires measures to prevent access to dangerous parts of machinery, with guards where practicable. A flip-up chuck guard lifts for access to the chuck, then acts as a barrier while you drill.

How do I remove a pillar drill chuck?

Turn the chuck until the spindle slot lines up with the quill slot, then push a drift key through, tapered side towards the chuck. Hold the chuck, tap the drift firmly, and keep a block of wood below to catch it.

Variable speed or stepped pulleys: which is better?

Variable speed, if you want exactly the right speed rather than the nearest step. Stepped pulleys give a set of fixed speeds, changed by moving the belt to another pulley step. The GDM200F/VS varies its speed with a lever, steplessly from 150 to 2300rpm.

Will a pillar drill run on a standard 230V supply?

Most will, even heavy floor drills such as the 01717, which runs from a standard 230V 13A supply. A few industrial models need 400V three-phase, so check your supply before ordering a big floor drill.

Is a radial pillar drill worth it?

Yes, if you drill the middle of wide panels or need angled holes. The head of the GDM790BR radial bench drill reaches 420mm from the column, against 165mm on a standard bench drill such as the GDM120B, and its radial arm allows angle drilling.

What do MT2 and MT4 mean on a pillar drill?

They name the Morse taper in the spindle, which holds the chuck’s arbor or a taper-shank drill. Most bench drills have MT2; heavy floor drills such as the 01717 and 95043 have MT4. Match it when you buy a replacement arbor.

Will a small bench drill cope with big Forstner bits or hole saws?

It can, if it turns slowly enough and the travel is long enough: use the rpm rule above to find the speed for the cutter’s diameter. For deep holes, check the spindle travel: 50–60mm on the smallest bench drills, 80mm on most models.

Does it matter if I mostly drill wood rather than metal?

Mainly for speed and accessories. The right speed depends on the bit’s type and diameter and on the material, so a wide speed range covers both. For woodwork, several Sealey drills take an optional MA10 mortise attachment.