What Is a Pillar Drill? Here's What You Should Know

When most people think of drills, they envision handheld electric drills with a chuck and handle. There are other types of drills, however, including pillar drills. Pillar drills are commonly used in the manufacturing industry. Manufacturing workers use them to drill holes into workpieces.

Overview of Pillar Drill

A pillar drill is a type of machine that's designed to drill holes with extreme precision. Most of them are stationary. You can mount a pillar drill to the top of a workbench. You can then use it to drill holes into workpieces.

Pillar drills are simply machines that drill holes into workpieces. Like handheld drills, they feature a chuck. You can change the bit via the chuck. To create a smaller hole, for instance, you just need to remove the existing bit from the chuck and replace it with a smaller bit. Regardless, pillar drills are drilling machines.

Benefits of Using a Pillar Drill

Why should you consider using a pillar drill over a handheld drill exactly? They allow for greater precision when drilling holes. If you need to drill holes of a particular size, you may want to use a pillar drill. It will give you greater control over the size and placement of the holes.

You won't have to apply pressure to drill holes into workpieces when using a pillar drill. With a handheld drill, you'll have to apply pressure to the workpiece so that the bit goes into it. Pillar drills don't require manual pressure. The top of the pillar drill will drop down onto the workpiece. As a result, pillar drills are easier to use than handheld drills.

Safety Tips to Follow When Using a Pillar Drill

Pillar drills are powerful machines, so you should follow some basic safety tips when using them. Make sure the workpiece is secure before attempting to drill into it. If the workpiece is loose or otherwise not secure, the pillar drill may cause it to rapidly move, which could result in bodily injury.

Always wear safety glasses when using a pillar drill. Pillar drills can create debris projectiles. A piece of wood, for instance, may shoot out from the workpiece as the drill enters it. With safety glasses, you can rest assured knowing that projectiles such as this won't cause eye injury.

Wait until the pillar drill is turned off before attempting to clean it. Pillar drills require cleaning. Wood shavings and other debris will accumulate in and around them. However, you should turn off the pillar drill and disconnect it from the power outlet before attempting to clean it.