Clarke CDP152B 12-Speed Drill Press review
Perfect holes in steel alloys, aluminium, ABS plastic, or whatever else takes your fancy can be done accurately and safely with the Clarke CDP152B drill press.
A bench drill press… Why would I want one? If that’s your first thought, this is understandable. Why? Because that was my first thought 16-odd years ago, when a wise mechanic mentioned that Machine Mart was running a bench drill “price crash,” and I’d be a fool not to get one. So, I did. And I’m so glad I did.
That level entry Clarke bench drill – today’s equivalent would be the Clarke CDP5EB – is still going. Although ham-fistedness, overworking its capabilities, many seasons of shed and garage condensation and several home moves, mean it is showing its age.
Worn pulleys, stretched belts, and sloppy bearings are all indicative of mechanical wear and operator ignorance. Such things wouldn’t normally be a problem because Machine Mart supplies spares to make it tip top once more. But then that smell and feel of newness when waltzing around the local Machine Mart shop hooked me. Deeply. In the same way that first trial fit of an Arai or Shoei helmet does. The upshot is a new bench press drill stands pride of place on the Visordown workbench.
Make no mistake, the Clarke CDP152B 12-Speed Drill Press is no lightweight and on spec alone looked to cover all our bases. For starters, the 230v induction motor is rated 450W. That’s plenty of turning power (torque) for any homebrewed mechanic – it’s unlikely to stall with even the bluntest of drill bits being leveraged without lube into something akin to unobtanium or seasoned oak.
Being an inductive electric motor, its speed range is narrow. Not to worry, though, because the CDP152B has 12 available speed settings (wide range: 210-2,580rpm) that can easily be accessed by way of the belt and pulley drive gearing to the rotating spindle. These settings accommodate drill sizes from, say, 1mm to 16mm (speed dependent). Larger diameter drills and hole cutters can be used but remember the drill chuck takes a 16mm max drill shank – 3mm larger than most mancave bench drills. If larger cutting heads or hole cutters are used, read the maker's speed ratings very carefully.
The three-arm depth control handle is perfectly set to make light work of the drill spindle’s 60mm travel. 350mm is the maximum gap from the chuck to the angle-adjustable shelf, which is plenty of room to place and clamp down chunkier parts under the chuck – another 150mm or so space can be created by swinging the shelf out of the way and using the drill base as a shelf. A depth stop scale on the handle shaft is depth adjustable for precise and repeatable drilling of hole depths. Another drop of joy given by the CDP152B is the gear drive system used to crank the centre shelf up or down. It’s just so easy.
As with any workshop machinery, danger is just a blink away. Always use the supplied see-through drill guard to prevent steel or wood swarf piercing your brain via an eyeball, or two. Two seconds to drop it down into place is less time than it takes to get to hospital and be seen by the triage nurse. On the off chance you find yourself being wrapped around the spinning chuck, there’s a large, in-view, push-to-cut power knob. A microswitch activates power-off mode when the belt gear housing is opened – treat this only as a safety aid; a backup to unplugging it from the 230v supply socket.
Can spending the CDP152B’s £214.80 asking price be justified? Yes. If only to accurately drill vertical (or angled via the adjustable shelf) holes to the right depth; believe us when we say we’ve seen drill witness marks on chassis and component parts where someone with a hand drill has punched through bodywork or brackets just to fit crash protection, fog lights and more.
Drilling and tapping metal will always be easily and safely achieved with a bench press drill that’s set up correctly engineering style. And if you are into woodworking, like one of the Visordown team, if the copious amounts of sawdust we keep finding is anything to go by the CDP152B is good news. Of course, Machine Mart has a range of bench press drills to suit all pockets and needs. See the UK brand’s website for more details.
You can check out the Clarke CDP152B 12-Speed Drill Press for yourself on the official website.
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Simon (AKA Toad) has been working within the motorcycle industry for more than twelve years, and a member of the motorcyclist family since birth. Growing up around British-built single and twins, it was inevitable that a life on two wheels was on the cards, from a very early age!
