A drill press is a dangerous tool. It has sharp bits that can easily cut fingers, hands, arms, legs, feet, toes, etc.
Most drill presses do not have guards. This means that anyone who uses a drill press needs to wear protective gear. But how should you protect yourself from injury while using a drill press?
I’ve written this guide to help you decide whether or not you need a drill press guard. In addition, I will also tell you why I believe that most drill press users don’t need a guard.
Also Read: What drill press speed to use? – 8 Metal Drilling Tips
Table of Contents
Does a Drill Press Need a Guard?
The short answer is yes. If you are going to use a drill press, then you absolutely need to buy a drill press guard.
But what if you already own a drill press and you aren’t sure if it needs a guard? Here’s the thing: some people think that they need a guard because their drill press looks like the one in the picture above. They assume that all drill presses look alike.
This isn’t true. There are many different types of drill presses out there. Some are very basic, while others are more advanced. The type of drill press you have might be able to handle drilling without a guard. However, if you want to drill holes with your drill press, then you definitely need a guard.
Why Do Most People Use a Drill Press Without a Guard?
If you’re wondering why so many people use a drill press without a guard, here are two reasons:
1) Many people feel that they don’t need a guard because they know how to operate a drill press safely.
2) Many people feel that a drill press guard would get in the way when they are trying to work on something else.
Both of these reasons are valid. However, both of them could lead to serious injuries.
So if you’re thinking about buying a drill press, make sure that you read my guide on How to Choose a Good Drill Press. You’ll learn everything you need to know about choosing a good drill press.
What is the purpose of the guard on the drill press?
A drill press guard protects your hand from getting injured by the rotating bit. When you use a drill press, you hold the drill press between your arm and body. Your arm is usually positioned over the top of the drill press.
When you rotate the drill press, the bit rotates at the same time. This causes the bit to spin around quickly. As the bit spins around, it can cause severe damage to your hand.
When you use a drill press without any kind of protection, you expose yourself to potential injury.
Also Read: Do drill presses need special bits 5 drill bit kits for DIYers
What Kind of Drill Press Do I Need?
There are many different kinds of drills available today. Each kind of drill press comes with its own set of features. For example, some drill presses come with a built-in dust collector, while other drill presses come with an adjustable table.
When you’re looking for a new drill press, you need to consider which features matter to you.
For example, if you plan to drill into wood, then you’ll probably want a drill press that has a large cutting area.
However, if you plan to use your drill press to drill into metal, then you’ll probably need a smaller cutting area.
You may even want to choose a drill press based on the size of the material you plan to drill through. For example, if you’re planning to drill holes in plywood, then you’ll probably prefer a larger drill press than if you were planning to drill holes in steel.
In addition, you’ll also want to consider the amount of power your drill press offers.
Some drill presses offer less power than others. Therefore, if you plan to work with heavy materials, then you’ll probably benefit from a higher powered drill press.
On the other hand, if you plan to only work with light materials, then you can save money by purchasing a lower powered drill press.
How Much Does a Drill Press Cost?
The price of a drill press varies depending on the brand and model. In fact, you can find drill presses ranging anywhere from $100 to over $1000.
As a rule of thumb, however, most people will spend between $200-$400 on a drill press.
Therefore, if you’re looking to purchase a drill press, you should expect to pay somewhere around $300-$500.
Is a Drill Press Safe?
One thing that you should always keep in mind is that a drill press is not safe. If you’re using it improperly, then you could easily hurt yourself.
For example, you should never place anything under your drill press. Doing this could cause your drill press to fall on top of you.
Also, you shouldn’t ever leave your drill press unattended. Doing this could result in someone getting injured or worse.
If you follow all of these safety tips, then you should be able to avoid any accidents.
What’s The Best Way To Use A Drill Press?
Now that we’ve covered what a drill press is and how to use one, let’s talk about the best ways to use a drill press.
First off, you should always start out by reading the manual. This way, you’ll know exactly how to operate your drill press safely.
Next, you should always wear protective clothing when operating your drill press. This includes wearing goggles and hearing protection.
Finally, you should always have a clear workspace when working with your drill press. This means that you should remove any clutter so that you don’t trip over things.
These three steps will help ensure that you stay safe when using your drill press.
Also Read: Do drill presses need to be guarded?
Do I Need a Safety Helmet?
When using a drill press, you’ll often hear people talking about needing a safety helmet. However, there are actually two different types of helmets: hard hats and earplugs.
A hard hat is designed to protect your head from falling objects. It does this by providing an extra layer of padding between your head and whatever object might hit you.
An earplug is designed to protect your ears from loud noises. It does this by blocking sound waves from reaching your eardrums.
Both of these items provide some level of protection for your head and ears. However, they aren’t as effective as a full face shield.
Does OSHA require guards on drill presses?
In order to comply with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, manufacturers must install certain guards on their products.
However, even though a manufacturer has to install a guard, they do not have to make them mandatory. For example, many companies choose to include them because they want to provide customers with a safer product.
This is why you may see some drill presses without guards while others come with them.
How Do You Know Which Type Of Guard Is Right For Your Drill Press?
The first step in choosing which type of guard is right for your drill press is determining whether or not you need one at all.
This is because a drill press can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Therefore, you should only use a drill press if you understand how to properly operate it.
If you don’t feel comfortable doing this, then you probably won’t want to buy a drill press.
You also want to consider the size of your drill press before buying a guard. Some guards are made specifically for smaller drills. Others are made for larger ones.
Some drill presses come with a built-in guard. These usually consist of a plastic piece that covers the entire machine.
Other drill presses come with a separate guard. They’re typically made of metal and attach to the sides of the machine.
Can I use drill bits for a hand drill on a drill press?
Yes, you can use drill bits for a handheld drill on a drill press. In fact, you can use them just like you would a regular handheld drill.
However, you should never try to use a drill bit for drilling into wood. Instead, you should use a hammer drill for this purpose.
Why? Because a drill bit isn’t strong enough to withstand the pressure needed to drive it through wood.
What’s more, a drill bit doesn’t have the same accuracy as a hammer drill. As a result, you could end up damaging your workpiece.
Can I replace a drill press with a milling machine?
No, you cannot replace a drill press with another tool. A drill press is meant to perform a specific function.
It’s not meant to simply act as a substitute for other tools. If you want to cut something out of wood, then you should purchase a power saw instead. If you want to drill holes, then you should get a drill press.
Also Read: What to look for when buying a drill press?
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