hand pillar drill

[condeesteso]

Don't know how many of us use these, but I'm quite a fan - quiet, precise, excellent control of feed rate which can be good when starting cut. This one was found for me by Andy TnT and is as it arrived, just a little oil in the quill bearing.
It has an auto-feed machanism that I understand may be missing a spring. I've not investigated it but manage happily with the hand feed wheel.

It's quick to set up and the height adjustment is very handy - I will probably use it on the next bench for the dog holes

Mine has a splash of camouflage paint on the base, all adds to its provenance. I noticed a few in Hut 8 (The Imitation Game) and I think mine came from there. They helped win the War, these things.
Here's a cheat shot, the hole is reliably true and with a nice clean entry

Brilliant things, these - thanks Andy for finding it.

 

[AndyT]

Very nice. I thought I was probably the only person in the cinema last Wednesday thinking "that's a nice drill, a bit like mine" and maybe I was, in our local, but it's nice to think that a distant kindred spirit was spotting it too!

I had thought mine didn't work for auto advance but was shown the light by Higon in this thread, tucked away in the metalworking section - https://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/nice-new-bench-drill-t80666.html - it was just a case of getting two parts tightened together just right so one could drive the other, but slip if needed.

Yours may be different though - it has two speeds and extra bits. Very useful, and it will never need new batteries!

 

[condeesteso]

Thanks for the link Andy, I shall investigate... may even try it in second gear one day, but it makes holes.
Mistake above, wrong pic - here's the end result, I like the fact the start of cut can be a kiss just to sever the top fibres - I think the biggest problem with these holes can be small tears at the surface which ruins it:

p.s. mine is marked Mancuna with a model number on it, I'll take a look.

 

[marcros]

I have a union single speed. I bought a Mancuna 2 speed one too but it has only got as far as Lincolnshire so far and is in a mates garage. Great things though for next to no money.

 

[AndyT]

You've probably already found this, but there's a complete documented strip and rebuild project here which looks potentially useful: http://www.alfadax.com/content/oldtools/mancuna_a2x/main.htm

 

[Cheshirechappie]

Hmmm.....hand morticer.....hand drill....

Douglas - you need a treadle lathe!

 

[Bod]

Don't know how many of us use these, but I'm quite a fan - quiet, precise, excellent control of feed rate which can be good when starting cut. This one was found for me by Andy TnT and is as it arrived, just a little oil in the quill bearing.
It has an auto-feed machanism that I understand may be missing a spring. I've not investigated it but manage happily with the hand feed wheel.


I have an identical one!
Yes it will need a spring to counterweight the pawl.
On mine the second speed is very slow, lower than 1:1 ratio.
All told a nicer drill than my previous Union single speeder.

Bod

 

[condeesteso]

Ah Cheshire!! I can crank handles but doing hands and feet at the same time... best not. I'm no Judy Murray.
Bod, I'll get a couple of pics of the feed end of mine and then maybe you explain where the spring goes? It has a cam operated lever does something... all quite beyond me :shock:

 

[Mannyroad]

Yep, cracking drills these. Have one myself. It was my Dad's before me. They are brill for drilling through thick steel effortlessly too. A couple of the teeth on the advance wheel are a little smoothed over now so the pawl tends to slip but it's no matter because it's simple to just hand advance past the dodgy teeth. Wouldn't part with it.