Pillar Drill /Mill Machine Advice

DafyddElvy

DafyddElvy

1:22.5 & 15mm Scale Trams, , NG Steam Railways
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Some advice please.

I need a pillar drill or something similar for the modelling room, nothing too heavy, and not a general workshop machine, it's going to be used for modelling rather than as a workshop tool, brass, white metal, wood for models, I need it to be fairly accurate with as close to possible zero wobble, I could be drilling steel or brass up to 6mm thick (just thinking ahead and allowing for future might be projects).

I have thought about a standard pillar drill and also thought about a mini drill with a pillar drill frame thingy.

What would folk suggest, type of drill or other multi tool, power rating, speed range etc etc.

Thanks, David
 
Screwfix is another company that you might look at as well. A bench mounted pillar drill is the best way to go. As for accuracy, you probably know that good marking out, a decent centre punch, and correctly sharpened drill bits help as well.
 
DafyddElvy said:
Some advice please.

I need a pillar drill or something similar for the modelling room, nothing too heavy, and not a general workshop machine, it's going to be used for modelling rather than as a workshop tool, brass, white metal, wood for models, I need it to be fairly accurate with as close to possible zero wobble, I could be drilling steel or brass up to 6mm thick (just thinking ahead and allowing for future might be projects).

I have thought about a standard pillar drill and also thought about a mini drill with a pillar drill frame thingy.

What would folk suggest, type of drill or other multi tool, power rating, speed range etc etc.

Thanks, David
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This is my Chio one, bought as far back as when I lived in Luton (1987-2000) so it is a venerable beast. Works well and does all I ask of it. Can of Humbrol on to give a feel of the size, there are many more varieties out there around this sort of size. Cant remember price but was sub £100, I would think that is a tool that has benefited from a certain amout of deflation. Next to it is my Unimat Mill that can also be used as a vertical drill, 2 tools in one but is mire limited on drill sizes.
6C057FE0-2FF7-4930-B9D1-3D900FCDDC30.jpeg
 
A small mill machine, I hadn't considered one of them, a bit more expensive but that could be the answer.

Why is nothing ever straightforward, one question and now I need to think about another previously un-considered variable, pooh bear scratching his head with a paw in the honey pot now comes to mind, think, think and think some more.

So if I consider a small mill will this hold the very small drill bits, it will definitely give me the accuracy, thoughts from those better informed than I???

David
 
DafyddElvy said:
A small mill machine, I hadn't considered one of them, a bit more expensive but that could be the answer.

Why is nothing ever straightforward, one question and now I need to think about another previously un-considered variable, pooh bear scratching his head with a paw in the honey pot now comes to mind, think, think and think some more.

So if I consider a small mill will this hold the very small drill bits, it will definitely give me the accuracy, thoughts from those better informed than I???

David
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Yes my small mill does take small drills, but then so does the bigger one it just depends on the chuck.Sorry to cause you pain, tis my place in life!
 
casey jones snr said:
I use a Dremel pillar drill. It is very compact and just the job for modelling projects.
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The Dremel also scores on versatility, you can release it from the vertcal holder (I can't remember if they do a lathe-type holder) and it is back to being the electric Swiss army knife we all love.
 
dunnyrail said:
Yes my small mill does take small drills, but then so does the bigger one it just depends on the chuck. Sorry to cause you pain, tis my place in life!
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I asked the question with the hope I'd end up with some good advice about getting the best tool for me. Their is so much out there its difficult to know what could be best for me in this larger scale, you folk have been modelling in this scale longer than I and have a better knowledge about what could be the best options to consider.
A mill opens up the option to do things other than just drill holes, the slop or wobble should be negligible which is a big consideration for me, verticality shouldn't be an issue to worry about, speed for different materials is catered for and having the 3d slide should help dod (punch the spot) the material where holes are to go and with a metric machine it can help with marking hole centres (yes I know that's not what its meant for) so it could be the tool.

So by asking one question I am getting to the answer of what could be the best tool for me, in a round a bout way.

My wife is getting a holiday on Harris next month, I wonder if she would see that as me being worthy of a mill for my birthday, one can but hope ;-)

David
 
Don't think you told us how big the holes could be?
If you want to go to 6mm thick stock, will a Dremel be man-enough for the job?

I think a milling machine would be more versatile?

PhilP
 
PhilP said:
Don't think you told us how big the holes could be?
If you want to go to 6mm thick stock, will a Dremel be man-enough for the job?

I think a milling machine would be more versatile?

PhilP
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Phil,

Again going to the extreme of what I might drill dia wise, probably a 6mm dia hole, the largest small drills I have are 5mm and they are more than large enough to drill most of what I need to drill.

I now definitely think a mill machine is the way I need to go which after a quick look on the www raises a few different questions, size (not too big because it will live in the modelling room), speed control, height to give an allowance for clamping tools and vices etc.

So folks what do other suggest now, and what considerations should I be thinking about?

David
 
All the Sealey/Clarke/Axminster drills are much the same (often just different switch gear) and have been copied by the Chinese. I have an identikit for Rhino's one, also bought in Luton for less than £50 if I remember correctly. Still going strong 20 years later. We have the same ones at school (lots of use and abuse) and here too they have lasted well.
 
Hello! I have recently bought in second hand a Proxxon F70 to drill and cut trough 6 (2x3) Mms of aluminium. I have still a lot to learn, but it works pretty good and ,with petrol lubricant, straight and fine.
a K-27 Mikado from Baldwin is on the bench.
IMG_20210926_094337659.jpgIMG_20210926_094401416.jpg
 
Gérard Baudoin said:
Hello! I have recently bought in second hand a Proxxon F70 to drill and cut trough 6 (2x3) Mms of aluminium. I have still a lot to learn, but it works pretty good and ,with petrol lubricant, straight and fine.
a K-27 Mikado from Baldwin is on the bench.
View attachment 290438View attachment 290439
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Cutting aluminium, DON'T use PETROL, Paraffin (in the UK), of often known (incorrectly) as Kerosene is the correct cutting lubricant.
 
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