Drill Press

The drill press allows for making holes in different materials with varied thicknesses. It offers more power and stability than a hand-held cordless drill. You should use the drill press when you need to make holes at precise points or depths in your piece.

To lower the drill down onto the piece, you would turn the handle on the right-hand side of the drill press. Flip the red switch on the front of the drill press, and push the button to start it. The press will not start if the switch has not been flipped. The device also has a yellow safety lock that must be inserted for the drill to operate, and this lock should be removed when the device is not in use.

The Design Center has an extension for the table that is useful if you are drilling through wood. Positioning the hole of the table extension under the drill bit will ensure that the bit can go completely through the wood without hitting the table underneath.

Frequently Asked Questions

What kind of materials can I use with the drill press?

The materials that can be used with the drill press are hardwood, plywood, and chipboard. No glass or other materials that could shatter are allowed.

How do I change the drill bit?

In order to change out the drill bit, you will need to use the drill chuck key. This key should be hanging from a string on the drill press. If you can’t find the key, please bring it to the attention of the Design Center staff.

My piece doesn't fit in the drill press. How do I adjust it?

The table of the drill press can be raised and lowered to fit projects of different sizes, but the actual drilling depth will be limited by the length of your drill bit. It is advisable that if you’re doing a large project made from multiple pieces that you drill any holes you need before assembly rather than dropping down the drill table to fit the entire project. The table can also be tilted if you need to drill your piece at an angle.

How do I drill at precise depths?

You may not always wish to drill completely through the piece, so you can use the stop built into the drill press to prevent the drill press from being lowered past the depth you have set.