11 best drilling machines

*Overview of the best according to the editors of Healthy Food Near Me. About selection criteria. This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.

When you need to drill a couple of holes, use a drill. It turns out cheap and easy. But for serial production of products, which provides for drilling 50-100 or more holes daily, a drilling machine will be required, since the hand will get less tired of it, and productivity will become higher. Together with the experts, let’s consider the main parameters for choosing such equipment and study the 11 best models sold in Russia. The overview will allow you to quickly gain basic knowledge on the topic and simplify the choice of goods.

Drilling Machine Tips

Drilling machines are used from small workshops to huge enterprises, depending on which they must meet certain parameters. Here are the key characteristics that you should pay attention to when choosing.

Supply voltage

Machines powered by 380 V are more powerful than 220 V drilling machines. But in an ordinary garage or workshop where there is no three-phase input, you cannot connect them. Equipment 220 V can be used everywhere from a household socket.

Power

The higher the power of the device, the longer it can work continuously, which affects performance. Another indicator affects the ability to drill hard materials so that the equipment does not get stuck:

1. For work with plastic and wood, use drilling units for 350-450 W.

2. For steel and aluminum with a thickness of 2-5 mm, 500-600 W is sufficient.

3. An increase in the cross section of the material requires an increase in power up to 700-900 watts.

4. For professional use, models with a power of 1000 W or more are suitable, where the limit reaches 1600 W.

Speed ​​and adjustment method

The drill chuck is capable of rotating at a speed of 200-2800 rpm. This is another parameter that affects productivity, but it will only be effective with the appropriate power of the machine, otherwise the equipment will simply slip. You can adjust the speed in steps by rearranging the belts on pulleys of small and large diameters, but this is not very convenient when you often have to change parameters. The second way is variable smooth type adjustment by turning the switch on the body.

Type of cartridge

Three types of cartridges are found on drilling machines:

1. Key – fixing the drill is carried out by turning the gear ring with a special key. Not the fastest way to change, but it is the one that provides a secure hold of the tooling and is implemented in most machines.

2. Wedge – the shank has the shape of a cone and is mounted in a chuck with a similar inlet. The change of drills is very simple (knocked out with a wedge through the groove), and the hold is reliable. But such a performance can only be found on large drilling machines.

3. Keyless – does not require the use of keys to change equipment, but the shank fixation is less reliable, and therefore suitable for light tasks.

Maximum diameter and drilling depth

The maximum width of the holes created is 13-16 mm, and for industrial machines it reaches 40-50 mm. Keep this in mind if you have to drill materials for large bolts.

Drilling depth is from 20 to 50 mm. If the company’s activities are related to thick materials with a cross section of up to 5 cm, look for the appropriate machines.

Working stroke

The stroke of the quill is implied when the product remains stationary, and the chuck with the drill is lowered. The indicator is from 5 to 14 cm. The larger the parameter, the easier it is to work on a machine with large parts without lowering the stand, which increases productivity.

Weight and dimensions

Stationary machines weigh 30-150 kg and are located in a workshop or workshop in a permanent place. The stand height of 70-110 cm allows tanks, frames and other large structures to be placed under the cartridge in order to drill holes on finished products.

Small machines weigh from 12 to 25 kg, so they can be rearranged around the garage or taken to the place of work. But due to the small height, only workpieces can be drilled into them, and not volumetric parts.

Ergonomics and safety

When choosing a machine, pay attention to the convenience of the location of the on and off buttons, the presence of tips on the handles, the drives for lifting the table and expanding the vise. In order to be safe to work with the equipment, it must have: a protective screen of the cartridge, insulation on the keys, an emergency stop button, a magnetic restart interrupter.

Additional features

Among the functionality that facilitates the work of the drilling machine can be: illumination of the working area, laser target designator, coolant supply system (coolant), the ability to start the reverse rotation of the chuck for easy removal of equipment, an LCD display showing the rotation speed and the depth of immersion of the drill.

Rating of the best drilling machines

Overview of the best professional drilling machines

Now let’s move on to the models that have earned the trust of users with their reliable performance. The experts took both customer reviews and the characteristics of drilling equipment as the basis for the assessment. First, consider professional machines that are suitable for use in large workshops and in production. They stand out with powerful engines and advanced features.

DEWALT DWE1622K

Rating: 4.9

The review was headed by a machine from the American brand DeWalt, made on a magnetic base. This allows you to install it directly on the product to make holes in place. Power of 1200 W ensures confident passage of holes with a diameter of up to 50 mm. The kit comes with a key-type chuck with the ability to clamp shanks with a cross section of up to 16 mm. For lowering the drill, a reversible mechanism with comfortable handles is provided. The working stroke is 14.7 cm, so the machine can drill both flat and embossed parts. The machine is able to rotate the equipment at a speed of 300 or 450 rpm.

Reviews show that this is a very solid machine, assembled without the slightest backlash. Despite daily use, everything in it functions accurately and the settings do not go astray. The engine power is fully consistent with the declared one and the users have never experienced jamming of the drill. We recommend this drilling machine for serious production tasks, where metal with a thickness of up to 5 cm is often used.

MESSER MDM-32

Rating: 4.8

The machine is made on a magnetic base with a clamping force of 14800 N, which ensures a secure hold on a table or a large product. The weight of 12 kg and the rear handle make it easy to move the drill unit to a new location. The power of 1550 W and the gear train allow making holes with a depth of up to 40 mm and a diameter of 35 mm. The working stroke of the cartridge is 14 cm. The drilling unit is connected to a 220 V network, therefore it is suitable for operation even in a garage. Built-in coolant tank improves performance and protects tooling from overheating. In the case of a twist drill, the maximum diameter is 13 mm. The bubble level at the top of the machine facilitates leveling.

Experts singled out the drilling model for the ability to smoothly adjust the speed from 100 to 830 per minute in order to accurately select the mode for accurate drilling of plastic, cast iron, wood or ceramics. Thanks to this, it will be possible to create holes without notches and traces of burnout.

ENCOR Corvette-244

Rating: 4.7

The drilling machine is designed on a platform with a stand and is equipped with a second stand that moves along the teeth. The equipment weighs 140 kg and is fixed on a table or stand. The torque is provided by a 1500W brushless motor. The belt drive protects the motor from damage when the equipment is jammed. It is allowed to install shanks with a diameter of 3 to 16 mm in the key chuck. The working stroke of the quill is 12 cm, but lowering the stand compensates for this and allows you to place large parts under the drill (boxes, safes, etc.). According to reviews, buyers are satisfied with the power of the machine and the ability to work with crowns and cutters.

The drilling stationary device got into our review due to the 12 position adjustment of the drilling speed with revolutions from 150 to 2700 per minute. By the way, the latter indicator is one of the highest and is applicable for fast processing of thin metals with a cross section of 1-1.5 mm.

The best household drilling machines

This category of drilling equipment is also suitable for the systematic drilling of holes, but is characterized by reduced engine power. We recommend the products from the list below for use in small workshops or in the garage.

Jet JDP-10L

Rating: 4.9

The category was headed by a machine with a power of 450 W and a chuck rotation speed from 220 to 2450 rpm. The drilling equipment is designed to be mounted on a table and bolted through slots in the base. A vise is provided for fixing workpieces. The working stroke is 6 cm, so you will have to adjust the space under the cartridge using a stand. In this regard, in the reviews, buyers like the ability to quickly change the height of the desktop thanks to the folding clamp at the back. The side handle allows you to accurately and smoothly bring the stand to the desired level. Drilling depth control can be carried out on a scale located next to the axis of the three-position knob.

The experts noted the drilling station for its versatility in terms of equipping with drills and cutters. Although the kit includes a key chuck with the ability to clamp cylindrical shanks up to 16 mm, the MK2 spindle allows the installation of conical tips. This expands the range of applicable tooling.

BOSCH PBD 40

Rating: 4.8

The desktop model weighs 11 kg and its rearrangement from place to place does not cause problems. Despite its compact dimensions and low weight, the drilling machine is endowed with a 710 W motor and confidently drills metal, not just wood. The design provides for a quick-clamping chuck with fixation of shanks with a cross section of 1.5 to 13 mm. For fixing workpieces there is a parallel stop and a descending clamp. According to reviews, the owners like the machine by maintaining constant speed under load, which is provided by an electronic stabilization system. This helps to drill at a uniform speed and avoid biting the tool. A rubber-coated ring acts as a drive, which helps to make a smoother lowering than with the help of three “paws” on competitor models.

In our opinion, this is the best machine for small-scale production of products with high precision holes. This is facilitated by a laser sight, which provides error-free guidance of the equipment on the target. The machine also has a digital screen that displays the rotation speed and immersion depth of the drill with an accuracy of 0.1 mm.

Elitech STS 6030VPL

Rating: 4.7

The machine from Elitech is endowed with an asynchronous motor with a power of 600 W and spins the cartridge up to 2580 rpm. Unlike some competitors with step speed control, the variator operates here, like on a car. The stroke of the working part, regulated by the drive, is 8 cm. The rest is set by changing the height of the stand. In addition to moving up and down, it is capable of tilting 45º to the left or right. The key chuck allows you to clamp shanks with a diameter of up to 16 mm. The backlight makes it easier to use in dark places and improves productivity. In the reviews, the owners are satisfied with the rigidity of the design of the drilling machine and the evenness of the platform.

The equipment of this machine is similar to the one described above – there is also a laser sight and a digital indication of parameters. But thanks to the classic sliding table with a vise, this drilling station can clamp both small parts 1×1 cm, and large 7×7 cm with embossed ledges, where you need to make a hole in hard-to-reach niches.

CALIBER SS-20E/800

Rating: 4.6

Further, a household drilling machine with an attractive price tag from the Caliber company. Despite the budget category, its main advantages are 800 W motor power and structural strength, which is confirmed by the owners in the reviews. The drilling unit is powered by a 220 V network. The model weighs 65 kg, so it absorbs vibration well and is stably located on the base. The manufacturer endowed it with 12 speeds in the range from 200 to 2600 rpm and a key chuck with the ability to clamp drills with a diameter of 2 cm. The quill stroke of 8.5 cm is convenient when working with flanges and pipes.

The machine stands out from competitors with a height of 114 cm, while others have an indicator of 50-70 cm. This simplifies the search for a base for mounting the machine, since you can simply install the drilling unit on a stool, and the table will remain free for other tasks. But the main advantage of this design is the ability to drill holes on very large parts with dimensions up to 70x70x70 cm, simply by substituting them under the cartridge (the mobile stand will need to be turned back). This is true when the blanks cannot be dismantled and it is required to drill already on the finished product.

ZUBR ZSS-450

Rating: 4.5

Among the best drilling models for the garage is ZUBR ZSS-450, which has a power of 450 W and 12 rotation speeds from 220 to 2450 rpm. True, switching them is a little inconvenient – you will have to remove the casing and rearrange the belts according to the scheme indicated on the cover. The dimensions of the machine are 82x58x30 cm and it does not take up much space on the table. The quill stroke here is 5 cm, and it is allowed to work with drills with a diameter of up to 16 mm. In the reviews, the owners report that the machine easily copes with drilling aluminum with a thickness of 4 mm with crowns up to 36 mm in diameter. Buyers also note a flat table, no belt slippage and moderate engine heating.

We considered the machine one of the best among the budget ones, since the manufacturer gives a 5-year warranty on its motor. This is the most expensive piece of drilling equipment (changing the chuck and other consumables is easier), and extended warranties make the investment more justified and give users peace of mind.

HAMMER STS500T

Rating: 4.4

And here is a compact lightweight model with a key cartridge and a power of 500 watts. The machine has a movable platform with a vice, which is rearranged with a valve at the back. In case of an emergency stop, there is a large red button above the cartridge. The drilling unit spins the equipment from 500 to 2500 rpm, dividing them into 9 speeds. The drill diameter is admissible from 3 to 16 mm. The protective glass prevents chips from flying directly at the operator. Large tips on the drive handles provide a comfortable grip.

Among table-top machines with the possibility of fixing to the base and a movable platform, this one stands out with the lightest weight of 17 kg. This is true if there is no permanent place for it in the workshop and the drilling device has to be taken out of the rack and cleaned after work. The machine also has a high-quality powder coating that reliably protects the metal from corrosion. If you supply emulsion from a bottle to cool the drill and workpiece, it will not damage the iron.

RYOBI RDP102L

Rating: 4.3

The Ryobi brand offers a 390W home drilling machine equipped with 5 speeds and capable of drilling holes from 1.5mm to 13mm in diameter. Since the torque here is not the highest, the manufacturer has equipped the machine with a power breaker on the engine that protects the key assembly in case of jamming of the equipment. But the low power of 390 W contributes to low power consumption during prolonged use. The installation weighs 21 kg and it is not difficult to move it to another place alone. Laser illumination makes it easy to guide the drill to the entry point. In the reviews, users say that they like the drilling station for its compactness and quiet operation, but they recommend the product only for loose wood materials.

The machine is distinguished by large feed handles, which reduce the load on the fingers. Reviews show that it is convenient to work with them both with gloves and with bare hands. Even here, effective air cooling of the motor is thought out with the help of two rows of perforations on the engine housing. This extends the continuous drilling time.

KRATON DM-13/350

Rating: 4.2

Finally, take a look at another wood drilling machine. Its power is 350 W, which is enough for making holes with a diameter of up to 13 mm. Using the belt system, the operator can set speeds to 620, 890, 1240, 1750 or 2620 rpm. Small dimensions of 37x19x58 cm make it easy to place the drilling machine in the garage and transport it. A plastic shutter with a screw lock protects the operator’s eyes from chips. The vise included provides a secure hold for workpieces.

The machine is notable for its low price, two to three times cheaper than that of competitors. Despite the cheapness, a brushless motor operates here, there is a high-quality anti-corrosion coating and a stable base. If you periodically make woodwork, then this drilling machine will greatly facilitate your work.

Attention! This material is subjective, is not an advertisement and does not serve as a guide to the purchase. Before buying, you need to consult with a specialist.