Hand Drills
A highly adaptable and reliable manual tool, hand drills are the ideal drilling tool for when power drills are inconvenient or impossible to use.
Cromwell stocks a variety of high quality hand drills from our trusted own brand Kennedy® as well as leading national brand Stanley®, used and trusted by industry professionals around the world.
What are hand drills?##
A hand drill performs a similar task to a regular power drill, but with less, well, power. Instead, hand drills convert and amplify the circular motion of manual cranking into the circular motion of a drill chuck. Users have complete control over the turning of the drill, and there is no external power source needed - just good old fashioned elbow grease.
Why buy hand drills?##
Although less common nowadays, manual hand drills still have their place in the world - specifically in woodworking. Master woodcarvers, splicers, and carpenters often prefer the total control and visceral feedback that simply cannot be achieved with a power drill.
As users have complete control over the speed and depth of their drilling, users can be far more precise with a hand drill than they can be with a standard power drill.
When are hand drills used?##
Hand drills are used wherever drilling is needed to be done, but power drills aren't a viable choice. Hand drills are most commonly used by woodworkers and artisans who prefer the precise control and feedback offered by a manual drill.
Other scenarios where hand drills might be used include:
• Drilling pilot holes##
• Securing screws
• Drilling holes for pegging with mortises and dowels
• Mixing paint
If you're looking for the right type of manual hand drill for your usage but aren't sure about the best choice for your needs, feel free to ask our experts for specialised advice.
Types of hand drill##
Whilst hand drills are a fairly standardised piece of kit, there are some small differences that allow the hand drill to operate slightly differently. The two most common types are explained and outline below.
• Hand drill - Standard hand drills use a manual crank system to rotate the jaw and therefore the drill bit. They are ideal for more precise drilling into softer materials.
• Breast drills - Breast drills are functionally similar to hand drills; yet they boast an extended plate which is pressed against the operators chest to apply more pressure to the drill point. Breast drills are ideal for manual drilling into harder materials.
Considerations when choosing a hand drill##
• Type - As described above, there are two common types of hand drill which share similarities, but can handle slightly different hardness of materials.
• Handle material - Most hand drills possess either a plastic or wood handle. It's worth considering which one you would find more comfortable in use to ensure ease of use.
• Chuck size - Depending on the diameter of your drill bits, this will define what size chuck you require on your hand drill.
Hand drills jargon buster##
We want to make it easy for you to shop our range of hand drills, so we've outlined and explained some key terms to allow for a confident purchasing decision.
What is a crank handle and how does it work?
A crank handle is used to convert rotational motion into reciprocating motion. On hand drills, this works by moving the chuck with the drill bit clamped in it in a forward or backward motion as you move the crank handle in a circular motion.
FAQs##
How do you safely use a hand drill?
Hand drills are fairly simple tools and using them safely is a fairly easy accomplishment. Simply loosen the chuck and insert the desired drill bit, re-tighten the chuck, then place the tip of the drill bit where you want to start drilling. Ensure the bit is at the same angle as the desired hole, then begin turning the crank to drill your hole.
How to maintain a hand drill?
Hand drills do not require extensive maintenance thanks to their simplicity. In order to keep you hand drill working at its best, occasionally add a drop of light oil to the crank and gears in order to maintain peak working efficiency.
