The Bosch PBD 40 Bench Drill is by far one of the best pillar drills we have seen for use in a workshop and is ahead of its time in terms of technology, features and performance. It has the usual high quality associated with Bosch products, and premium features not often found on home pillar drills. Make use of the electronic speed control, the laser guide, and the two speeds to drill holes accurately and efficiently with the 750W motor. As always, with Bosch products, this quality and functionality comes at a premium price.

It’s important to note that when shopping for gadgets and technology products, it can be tempting to go for the lowest price possible. However, be wary of retailers that offer prices that seem too good to be true. Some less reputable retailers may sell counterfeit or low-quality products, which can be dangerous and not perform as well as the genuine product. Electronic speed control and torque setting for close control over how deep and how fast the drill goes.The Clarke CDP5RB might need delicate hands, but it’s a solid pillar drill at a competitive price. Pros

Edit: I subsequently found the merbau was a bit knotty. I maintain it shouldn't have been able to drift that much, but it wasn't entirely spontaneous. I was concerned about the size of the machine but there is plenty of clearance for drilling into even quite a large piece of timber if you wind the head up to the top. I like the simple but practical parallel bar which is easy to move and has a flat upright which means you can clamp to it in addition to using the hold down clamp.

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When it comes to buying gadgets and technology products, particularly in the Outdoor Power Equipment category it’s important to invest in good quality products. BOSCH PBD 40 Bench Drill is no exception. There are a number of reasons why quality is so important when it comes to these types of products. The new PBD 40 Bench Drill from Bosch is the perfect solution for the DIY enthusiast looking for maximum precision coupled with complete ease of use. This product carries a full 3 year manufacturers warranty covering both faulty materials and faulty workmanship, it does not cover general wear and tear or damage, batteries, blades, bulbs and other consumables. In the unlikely event of a fault the item returned is subject to fair wear & tear and must not have been used beyond the scope of it's design. Please note that cordless products will normally have a shorter warranty of just 1 Year for the battery and or charger supplied. This Sealey GDM790BR comes with a tiltable table that is convenient when drilling angled holes as well as a radial arm that can travel 285mm to give you more flexibility. This pillar drill also features an active depth control mechanism and mouse taper mechanisms. All these features make working a bit more convenient. Pros

The Einhell feels reassuringly solid, but it’s hard to justify its scale-shattering weight in use. The base is sturdy, and the handles don’t feel flimsy, but its performance statistics aren’t that far above the Bosch. The PBD 40 oozes quality, from its polished table to the dimpled three-spoke wheel used to adjust the motor’s height.

Do you get upset when you’re drilling holes in your beautifully cut piece of DIY and your hand wobbles, making a hole go all askew? A pillar drill (aka a drill press) takes all the irritation and guesswork out of drilling holes in wood, metal and plastic. Replace your hand drill with a bench-mounted drill sitting atop a column on a steady base. There’s nothing to wobble and you control the depth of the hole, its angle, and how fast the drill bit goes through the material. It’s almost too easy to drill perfect holes with a pillar drill.

As far as accuracy is concerned, it seems fine for my purposes such as using forstner bits to mount hinges on cabinet doors. The first thing you notice about the Bosch PBD 40 pillar drill is how well built it is – you can tell this machine is made to last. This drill comes with a two-speed gearbox that enables you to control how much power is dispensed. The convenience of having this gearbox is that you can closely control the depth of the boring depending on the type of material. The 730 watt motor boasts 200-850rpm and 600-2500rpm speeds depending on whether you have it in first or second gear. You adjust the speed by turning a simple dial. The motor is also protected from electrical damage that can be caused by overloading. The base is made from cast iron so it is fairly heavy butdurable.To know how deep you want the drill to go, you can select between 0-50mm in depth. Pros Another useful function for controlling the accuracy of the holes you drill is the depth stop. Before you start drilling, set this feature to the depth that you want the hole to be and the drill automatically stops at that depth. No more guessing when you’ve gone down deep enough! Integrated laser to assist with drilling for easy, precise drilling at exactly the required position.

Features wise the variable speed is excellent though you should note that you do not set the speed to a value rather it tells you what speed you have set, by turning the knob on the front, when you actually start it up. It is also very easy to work the depth feature. This pillar drill has an optimum drill stroke of 90mm which is actually 40mm more than some of the cheaper models on the market. Its maximum drilling diameter is 40mm in wood and 13mm in steel. The drilling depth is highly accurate thanks to the digital display, which means no more old-fashioned depth stop. You easily set and confirm how deep you want to go before activating the drilling process. in the box, the product is nicely presented and i was able to set it up and start using it immediately without reading the instructions. So far i have not bothered to make use of the electronic depth guage, still preferring to mark a depth stop on the bit with some coloured tape. The finish is inferior to the Bosch, with exposed springs and a basic three-spoke handle for raising and lowering the motor. Yet, considering that the Clarke costs around one-third as much as the Bosch, its aesthetic shortcomings are more forgivable.