Hand drill rebuilt

[Christophe Mineau]

Here is a hand drill, initially made in PRC, but enhanced in my shop

The tool came with some ugly ugly handles, maybe with more poly varnish than wood, an yet it couldn't hide the badly turned wood it was.
In addition, the chuck was awful , it could not hold small drill bits (<= 3mm) and did not turn round.

So my fix was to first replace the handles by homemade ones, turned out of beech,and finished with oil.
Then I replaced the chuck and its arbor, after reboring the bottom hole, so that it turns round.

And now, it works very well, and it is a pleasure to use ! This kind of tool is too much disregarded or neglected, I feel. It is efficient, green, and allows a very good control of the axis of the drilling.

[Altair]

Great work Christophe. The handles look comfortable to the touch. Import tools these days smh.

Al

[Paul Jones]

Love the improved look of the hand drill. This is the type of drill my Dad had from the 1940's and I used when first learning how to build in wood. I still have it.

[kbalch]

Thanks Christophe! I've added your Hand Drill Modifications to our Drilling and Drill Presses category, as well as to your builder page: Christophe Mineau's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

Hand Drill Modifications by Christophe Mineau

tags: drill, hand tools

[Doc]

Like you, Christophe, I enjoy making a crappy cheapo tool look and feel like something more worthwhile.

Lovely job on the handles

Regards

Doc

[jere]

Looks good where did the new chuck come from?

[Hotz]

Nice ....

[Christophe Mineau]

Looks good where did the new chuck come from?

This chuck is an extension chuck with an hex shaft designed to be used on power screw drivers.
It is pretty well designed and precise, so I used it as a replacement chuck here.

[blkadder]

Here is a hand drill, initially made in PRC, but enhanced in my shop

The tool came with some ugly ugly handles, maybe with more poly varnish than wood, an yet it couldn't hide the badly turned wood it was.
In addition, the chuck was awful , it could not hold small drill bits (<= 3mm) and did not turn round.

So my fix was to first replace the handles by homemade ones, turned out of beech,and finished with oil.
Then I replaced the chuck and its arbor, after reboring the bottom hole, so that it turns round.

And now, it works very well, and it is a pleasure to use ! This kind of tool is too much disregarded or neglected, I feel. It is efficient, green, and allows a very good control of the axis of the drilling.

I have had the same experience with a couple of hand drills I picked up at a yard sale. One was very tiny, I cannot recall the name on it. It was hard to turn, broken handles, and a frozen chuck. They guy let me have it for a buck. I put another two or three in more into getting it going. After fixing the gears that did not mesh very well, it works like a champ. Glad to see you rescued it, instead of pitching it into the scrap pile.
Ron

[DIYer]

Nicely done, Christophe!