How do Europeans drill holes aka where are all their drill presses?

[Van Huskey]

With all the lamenting of poor feature sets and quality control of the Asian import drill presses and my search for a drill press that meets my requirements it struck me "where are the European drill presses". Felder, Minimax et al are often excellent compromises between the quality and features of Asian import tools and the high cost of industrial NA made "industrial" tools like Northfield. So what do Europeans use for drill presses and why does Felder etc not seem to have any in their lines?

[Callan Campbell]

Hmm, maybe it's all done with horizontal boring machines...:p
Good question though, I don't think I've ever seen an ad for a European Drill Press. :confused:

[glenn bradley]

I think you have discovered why it is so hard to find a good one. There must be more to it than we think.

[Chris Friesen]

I got curious about this. A quick google search led me to a post in another forum by someone in the Netherlands in 2007:

"A reasonable European 16 mm drill press from Metabo, Somer, AEG, Myford, Flott or Lurem would set me back 1200 to 1800 Euro's."

You may have better luck looking up terms like "pedestal drill", "column drilling machine", or "pillar drill". I found some listed at http://www.epple.co.uk/drilling-machines-c-1.html?zenid=322f37346ecab5671637eb4defb4fae6

[Wes Grass]

Seems to me I saw a picture of a Felder drill press, but it looked frighteningly similar to the generic Asian imports. Can't find it, don't know where I saw it. Might have been an alcohol induced vision.

Solberga, and Arboga, both Swedish, are the most common names I've seen in European drill presses.

[Van Huskey]

I guess now we have established they don't have some magical way of drilling holes in wood and metal the salient question is does anyone import them to the US?

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Van,

I sure glad we found that out. I was hoping we weren't going to have to drag a bunch of big rocks into a circle.....line them up with the sun's position at dawn on the equinoxes......wear robes and walk in a circle chanting on those 2 days....:eek::confused: just to magically drill holes in wood.

Well...you get the picture!:D

[Will Overton]

Maybe that's a tool they import from Asia. Sometimes good enough really is good enough. ;)

[Van Huskey]

So that's what it was for... guess I should have been searching "Druid press"! Glad they found a easier way, now if I can just buy one.



Van,

I sure glad we found that out. I was hoping we weren't going to have to drag a bunch of big rocks into a circle.....line them up with the sun's position at dawn on the equinoxes......wear robes and walk in a circle chanting on those 2 days....:eek::confused: just to magically drill holes in wood.

Well...you get the picture!:D

[Bruce Page]

Van, here’s a nice one for you, it even has power feed. Shipping might be pricey. Solberga ( http://www.emachinetool.com/new/catalog/vertical.cfm?ProductID=111
).

[Erik Stol]

Well, as me being a European, I do have a Rexon drill press. I believe it is Taiwanese, but I got it at a local Borg for a very good price. Over here in The NEtherlands you can get them from Huvema, a Dutch tool company, and they are pretty good. The cheapest model does around 400 US. To buy them you have to contact specialized tool shops that mostly only sell to professionals and not the DIY customers.
I am happy with my Rexon for the things I am doing with it, and that means no daily use. If so, I might consider the Huvema machine.

[Alan Lightstone]

They don't need drill presses. They're more stable than we are.

"Druid Press" -- ROFL...

[Frank Drew]

A Metabo model:

http://www.german-traders.com/products/metal_industry/boring_mills_and_machining_centers/705720-pillar-drilling-machine-metabo.html

[Brian Deakin]

The following is a list of Uk web sites

Record power made two lines of pillar drills those made in the uk green in colour and hobbyist drills made outside the UK blue in colour

http://www.recordpower.co.uk/index.php?section=prodlist&cat=25&sef=Drilling+Machines

Rutlands tools have

thtp://www.rutlands.co.uk/machinery-&-accessories/pillar-drills/drilling-machines

Axminster tools have

http://www.axminster.co.uk/pillar-drills-and-tables--engineering-dept828673_pg1/

Please note prices are in UK pounds and many of the drills are not made in the UK or Europe

regards Brian

[Kent A Bathurst]

Van,

I sure glad we found that out. I was hoping we weren't going to have to drag a bunch of big rocks into a circle.....line them up with the sun's position at dawn on the equinoxes......wear robes and walk in a circle chanting on those 2 days....:eek::confused: just to magically drill holes in wood.

Well...you get the picture!:D


Very clever, Ken. Very.

Have been to a few recumbent stone circles in UK where the holes in the stones are still aligned - but worn and need recalibrating. Maybe fab some brass bushings? While there, I thought of a lense to burn a hole in the target, but did not make your leap to the drill press application.

[Adam Levitt]

Reviving old thread. Found this:
http://m.willismachinery.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.willismachinery.com%2Fdrill_ press_solberga.html&utm_referrer=#2567

[Martin Wasner]

Reviving old thread. Found this:
http://m.willismachinery.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.willismachinery.com%2Fdrill_ press_solberga.html&utm_referrer=#2567

Wow. I'm guessing that is likely filed under the "if you have to ask" category.

[Kent Adams]

Wow. I'm guessing that is likely filed under the "if you have to ask" category.

Here is a really old one, dripping lubricant and looks like it has seen some better days. Only $1500!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtOCtYuMsh0&feature=youtu.be