Hand tools

[bunn]

 philmophlegm  alleges that I am the only person in the entire world who owns a hand (not powered) drill.    I find this hard to believe.   My hand drill is an ancestral item which belonged to my father, and what's more, to his father.  It is a treasured item in my toolchest. But I am sure I have seen them for sale.   

Surely there are many, many people out there who are possessed of these quiet, controllable, sustainable, ecofriendly and above all, nifty devices? Do YOU have one?  If so please own up in a comment. 

Incidentally,   philmophlegm does a fine line in pretending that he is not a man of his hands.  But yesterday, while I was out, he took tools in hand and disabled the alarm system in his car!    Next time his caralarm malfunctions at dead of night, I'm going to bed rather than racing out in my pyjamas to disconnect the battery.  :-/ 

Comments

[king-pellinor.livejournal.com]

I have a hand drill. It's much more convenient for the odd hole here and there than setting up the electric one.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree. And less messy!

[the-marquis.livejournal.com]

I have one that was my Dad's, it's not as good as it used to be though. I also have a small pin-vice drill where it's all about turning your hand rather than turning a handle to drive a toothed gear.

it's not as good as it used to be though

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Alas! The cry of the tool owner everywhere!

When I did a woodcarving course, there was much mourning over the indifferent quality of modern British steel. You have to buy Swiss to get steel as good as an old chisel these days - or so I am told. I haven't used an old British chisel, but my Swiss chisels are amazing and I love them passionately!

Re: it's not as good as it used to be though

[the-marquis.livejournal.com]

Well actually I was talking about the fact that at 40 odd years old it is a bit knackered. But I too have heard folk talking about the lack of proper British steel for things. Must be why there used to be a chap selling old tools next to the woodcarvers' club stand at the Sarehole Mill event in mays past.

Re: at 40 odd years old it is a bit knackered

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Yes, I got that. I was just wandering away along a tangent :-D

Re:40 odd years old

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Thinking about it, I *think* that mine may well be pre-war. So if yours is, say 45, and coming to the end of its life then maybe the decline in British steel is relevant after all...

I admit mine now has a fairly gentle life of semi-retirement, but it was certainly well used in its time, but is still motoring on in excellent condition. It may eventually need new wooden bits, but the steel is in great order.

Re: 40 odd years old

[helflaed.livejournal.com]

I have a lot of my Grandad's tools :)

[clarienne.livejournal.com]

We don't have one, but I agree they are nifty.

[inzilbeth-liz.livejournal.com]

I have one as they are far more immediate than the powered sort where you have to bother with cables and electricity.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

yes indeed - and more precise too, less messy and so much quieter!

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

What I actually said was "You're the only person in the world I know who owns a hand drill."

This was a vague statement. I can see that it could have been interpreted as meaning "I know lots of people; you are the only one who owns a hand drill." What I actually meant was "Of all the people I know, you are the only one who I know owns a hand drill."

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

But of all the people you know, how many do you know own a powered drill? I can't say this is a subject that has come up in conversation before for me, so outside this post, my drill-related data on anyone I know is nil. For all I know, they all possess drills that are powered by magic, sweet dreams and fairy dust.

[adaese.livejournal.com]

Nobody uses fairy dust powered drills any more - the unicorns objected.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I think there was definitely a feeling of 'Only you would own a hand drill, you nutter' to the statement. :-o

Of all the people I know, you are the only one who I know owns a hand drill.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

... and now this condition has been spectacularly remedied. :-p

Re: Of all the people I know, you are the only one who I know owns a hand drill.

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

Well, if we're widening the definition to include small pin-vice drills that you turn with your hand, instead of turning a handle (like the_marquis mentioned), then I own one too!

I only own tools that are made for 25/28mm scale miniatures...

[crazyscot.livejournal.com]

I have a hand drill. Bought some time in the last decade.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Excellent! It's good to know they are still being made and bought!

[helflaed.livejournal.com]

YEs, and so does my father. They are excellent when you need to do something delicate.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Exactly! I also have two power drills (one battery, one mains) but the trusty hand drill is the better tool for delicate work.

[lanciatore.livejournal.com]

My dad has one in the garage which was inherited from my grandfather. Can't say either of us have used it in a very long time though, we normally get the electric one out.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

If tovaglia ever needs to drill out small precise holes for jewellery making, they are ideal for that. I always use mine to drill hanging holes for christmas ornaments, where it would be hard to secure the odd-shaped wood well enough to use a power drill and anyway the green wood needs careful drilling or it might tear.

[inamac.livejournal.com]

I wish I did have one. My sister got my Father's, and I have been looking (though admittedly not very hard) for one of my own for some time. And I seem to have lost the chuck key for both of our electric drills (which makes them useless).

Though I do have his brace and bit.

[sigisgrim.livejournal.com]

I too have a hand drill, as well (for complete drill ownership information) as an electric drill. It used to by my father's. We also bought a cheap one many years back, but it wasn't any good, so it actually was a very expensive one: the cogs bound; I don't know what happened to it in the end, I think we got rid of it.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I think one needs an electric drill as well - specially for masonry, I really don't have the muscles to drill holes in bricks with a hand drill!

[skordh.livejournal.com]

I have an ancestral hand drill - it used to belong to my mother's father and who knows how many generations used it before. I have a video of me using it as a child to drill some wood - needless to say I also encourage my children to drill with it!

However most of the actual drilling I do is by power drill.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I also have a battery drill/screwdriver and a cheap but effective mains hammer drill, but find the hand drill is better for all sorts of small precise jobs, and also if I need to drill poor quality splintery wood and leave a neat finish.

[alexy92.livejournal.com]

When cordless drills first came on the market, they didn't have much to offer. They were heavier, yet less powerful than corded drills. They were also expensive, and the batteries were constantly wearing out. All that has changed, and now a cordless drill is one of the essentials for a home tool kit.
Some of top brands for cordless drills include DEWALT, Craftsman, Black & Decker, and Makita. There are several different types of cordless drills. If a tool is simply labeled a drill, it is intended for spinning a drill bit. If it is called a hammer drill, it will also tap on the drill bit to help it penetrate concrete, tile, or other hard surfaces. A drill/driver can be used for driving screws, and the bit will disengage at a selected resistance level.

You can see this for my recommend drilling tool https://www.genpowertools.com/milwaukee-drill-set-comparison-with-other-brands/