There's no denying that cordless portable drills and stationary drill presses handle the lion's share of drilling responsibilities in today's woodworking shops, whether professional or hobbyist. Still, hole-drilling is one of the few tasks where traditional tools and methods can rival the efficiencies of power machinery. Using a bit brace and auger was one of the first woodworking skills I learned, and even today it remains one of my favorites. It's quiet, safe, and like using a well-tuned hand plane or a sharp carving tool, it telegraphs the unique characteristics of your workpiece directly into your hands. Breast drills feature a hand-crank assembly for powering the drive shaft, plus a frame extension with a contoured steel plate that's pressed against the user's chest.
Body weight steadies the drill and helps push the bit forward as it cuts.
Push drills drive small bits by rotating when the handle is pushed. August Home Publishing Co. All Rights Reserved.