The best Bernardo pillar drills, compared.
Top pick: SIP Pro B20 bench drill Best value: Einhell TC-BD 450 bench drill – Best value at about £123.93, with 4.3 from 389 reviews, a depth stop and a tilting table. Updated October 2026.
A pillar drill holds the bit on a column so the hole is square to the table and the depth can be repeated. You use one when a pistol drill is too crooked for hinges, brackets or a batch of identical holes. Bernardo’s TB 16 T and TB 20 T are 16 mm and 20 mm belt-drive bench drills on the manufacturer’s euro shop, and they are not the amazon.co.uk listings . You separate a useful drill from a toy by format, a slow speed for metal, chuck and stroke, a guard, a fused UK plug, and enough mass that the column does not flex. See the [Bernardo pillar drill buying guide](/hub/workshop/bernardo-pillar-drill/sub/bernardo-pillar-drill-buying-guide). It is the wrong tool when a hinge, a bracket or a row of identical holes has to land in the same place.
A pillar drill holds the bit on a column so the hole is square to the table and the depth can be repeated. You use one when a pistol drill is too crooked for hinges, brackets or a batch of identical holes.
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Personal buying guide
Question 1 of 2
What are you drilling most?
The SIP Pro B20 is a 750 W bench drill at £434.75, with 16 speeds from 200 to 2,800 rpm, an MT2 spindle, a stated 20 mm capacity and 80 mm of spindle travel. The bullets name an NVR switch, a chuck guard, a pulley-cover interlock and a depth stop, plus a cast iron base at 48.5 kg and about 46 x 29 x 100 cm. The table is described as 285 mm square, tilting, with rack and pinion. Mains are listed as 230 V and 13 A, with a two-year warranty. There is one amazon.co.uk review, scored 5.0, which says the drill does what the listing says and records no fault. One review is not a market sample. The slow step and the interlock are why it sits in the set. The star line is not.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A heavy bench drill when the slow belt step and the interlock matter more than review volume.
Less suitable: Anyone reading 5.0 from one review as a market result.
Specifications
Common questions
What safety parts does the SIP B20 listing include?
The bullets name an NVR switch, a chuck guard, a pulley-cover interlock and a depth stop, plus a cast iron base.
How far does the spindle move?
The bullets say 80 mm spindle travel, a 20 mm drilling capacity and an MT2 taper.
What do reviews say?
There is one UK review, scored 5.0. It says the drill does what the listing says and records no fault.
The Bosch PBD 40 is a 710 W bench drill at £279.94, with a two-speed gearbox and electronic control up to 2,500 rpm, a digital reading of speed and depth, a 13 mm keyless chuck, a quick clamp and a parallel guide. Across 869 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.5, which is the largest sample in this set. The table lists 40 mm in wood and 13 mm in metal, and the listed weight is 11.2 kg. A 650 Nm cell on the same table is not a credible spindle figure for 710 W, so ignore it. UK reviews also describe a laser, which the bullets do not name, and a separate mechanical depth stop is not named. The table does not tilt. Voltage is 220 V and a BS 1363 plug is not named, so check the live listing before you count on a UK socket. It is the best-documented bench drill here, and it is still light for a stiff steel column.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Mixed DIY wood in a small workshop, with light metal only if you accept the mass.
Less suitable: Serious steel, a tilting table, or a buyer who needs a named BS plug on the listing.
Specifications
Common questions
What hole size does the Bosch PBD 40 listing state?
The amazon.co.uk table lists 40 mm in wood and 13 mm in metal, with a 13 mm chuck. The 650 Nm torque cell is on the same table and is not a credible spindle figure for 710 W.
Does the listing include a depth stop?
The bullets say a digital system to read drilling speeds and depths. A separate mechanical stop is not named. UK reviews also describe a laser, which the bullets do not name.
What plug does this Bosch listing specify?
The table says 220 V and does not name a BS 1363 plug. Check the plug on the live listing before you rely on a UK socket.
The Einhell TC-BD 450 is a 450 W bench drill at £123.93, with five speeds up to 2,650 rpm, a depth stop, a depth display, and a table that tilts to 45 degrees and rotates to 90 degrees. Across 389 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 4.3, and owners often praise the price for a DIY hole. The listing weighs it at 13 kg, about 42 x 21.8 x 59.8 cm. Repeated complaints are vibration, a broken belt-cover catch, noise, and missing screws or weak spare-parts support. The specification table says 50 mm for the chuck and for metal capacity, while the bullets call 50 mm the maximum drilling depth, so those cells should not be treated as one measurement. Voltage is listed as 220 V and the plug is not described. For light wood and the odd bracket it is the crowded review at a mid price. For a slow steel step it is still a five-speed drill.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Home woodwork and light brackets when you want review volume under £130.
Less suitable: Anyone who treats the 50 mm cell as a chuck, or steel that needs a step near 250 rpm.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the Einhell chuck really 50 mm?
The specification table says 50 mm for the chuck and for metal capacity. The bullets call 50 mm the maximum drilling depth. Those are different measurements, so the 50 mm chuck figure should not be treated as checked.
Can the table be tilted?
The bullets say the table is height adjustable, can be rotated up to 90 degrees, and tilted up to 45 degrees.
What do UK reviews repeat?
Owners praise the price for DIY holes. Repeated complaints are vibration, a broken belt-cover catch, noise, and missing screws or weak spare-parts support.
The KATSU 161212 is a 400 W bench drill at £104.99, with five speeds from 620 to 2,620 rpm, a 16 mm chuck, a chuck guard and a front emergency stop. The listing puts it at 15 kg and 580 mm tall, about 30 x 19.5 x 58 cm. Seventeen amazon.co.uk reviews average 4.1. The bullets limit maximum drilling depth to 50 mm, and a reviewer called that stroke short. Other reports include a bent column, a belt-cover cut-out that would not let the motor start, missing assembly pages, and instructions that do not mention a UK plug. Voltage is 230 V and the plug itself is not described. The emergency stop is a real listing difference at this price. A bent column is not something you straighten and then trust for metal.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A compact bench drill where an emergency stop matters more than a long stroke.
Less suitable: Deep holes past 50 mm, or steel if the column arrives bent.
Specifications
Common questions
Does this KATSU have a depth stop?
The bullets say a maximum drilling depth of 50 mm and a fully adjustable height. A reviewer complained that the stroke is short at 50 mm.
What went wrong in UK reviews?
Of 17 reviews at 4.1 stars, owners report a bent column, a belt-cover cut-out that would not start, missing assembly pages, and no UK plug note in the instructions.
Is a UK plug specified?
Voltage is 230 V. The specification table does not describe the plug. One reviewer says the instructions do not mention UK plug requirements.
The Buyfun mini is listed at 100 W, a 6 mm chuck and 2.89 kg, priced at £55.90, with a maximum of 2,800 rpm on a single stated speed. Twelve amazon.co.uk reviews average 3.9, and one reviewer describes bits under 1 mm on a head about 240 mm tall. A UK review says the supplied plug has no fuse and the earth pin is not solid brass, and tells you to discard that lead and fit a standard lead with a BS 3 A fuse. The bullets offer a battery socket said to suit a Makita pack, with no battery in the box, and one reviewer could not tell which pack fits. Listed metal capacity is 6 mm, which matches the chuck rather than a workshop hole. Dimensions are 15.9 x 9.9 x 23.3 cm. Treat the lead note as a reason to stop, not as a quirk to work around.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Model and jewellery holes under 1 mm, after you replace the lead.
Less suitable: Any mains use of the supplied lead, or holes above 6 mm.
Specifications
Common questions
Is the supplied lead safe to use?
A UK review says the plug has no fuse and the earth pin is not solid brass, and tells you to bin that lead and fit a standard UK lead with a BS 3 A fuse. That is a review, not a lab report.
Does a battery come with it?
The bullets say the battery socket suits a Makita pack and that no battery is included. One reviewer could not tell which pack fits.
How big is it?
The table says 15.9 x 9.9 x 23.3 cm and 2.89 kg, with a 6 mm chuck. A reviewer describes about 240 mm of height and work for drills under 1 mm.
The Draper 38255 is a 350 W hobby bench drill at £102.68, with five speeds from 580 to 2,650 rpm and a 13 mm chuck. Across 48 amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 3.8, and owners often say it puts a straight hole in wood. The bullets say it is fitted with a cable and an approved plug on 230 V, which is more than several neighbours state. Complaints that repeat are a chuck that comes off, stalling on metal or a hole saw, missing instructions, and delivery damage. The title says 580 mm tall, while a separate dimension line says 18.9 x 13.4 x 9.1 cm, and a reviewer measured 58 cm. Listed weight is 17.6 kg. Depth control is not stated on the comparison row. It is a light wood drill with a known chuck complaint.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Straight holes in wood when you want a stated approved plug.
Less suitable: Hole saws, steel, or a chuck you cannot afford to have come off.
Specifications
Common questions
How tall is the Draper 38255?
The title and bullets say 580 mm. A separate item-dimension line says 18.9 x 13.4 x 9.1 cm, which cannot be that height. A reviewer also measured 58 cm and disputed an older shorter listing.
Does it include a UK-style plug?
The bullets say it is fitted with a cable and an approved plug. They do not use the words BS 1363. Voltage is listed as 230 V.
What do the reviews argue about?
From 48 reviews at 3.8 stars, owners like it for straight holes in wood. Complaints include a chuck that comes off, stalling on metal or a hole saw, missing instructions, and delivery damage.
The LengSuaa listing is a 2.8 kg mini, 23 cm tall, at £54.99, with seven speeds claimed between 1,400 and 2,800 rpm. Across four amazon.co.uk reviews the line is 3.1, and the written comments describe cabochon and small craft work rather than timber or steel. One owner says the machine is not really seven speeds. The title mentions a UK plug charger, while the specification table only says 220 V and does not describe the plug. A listed wood figure of 25.4 mm sits on a head lighter than a full 13 mm chuck and bit. Height adjustment is claimed at 18 cm, which is the travel of a craft stand. For a hinge hole in a door, this format is the wrong tool.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Small craft and cabochon work where a 23 cm head is enough.
Less suitable: Shed woodwork, steel, or any job that needs a bolted column.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a workshop pillar drill?
It is a mini bench drill, 2.8 kg and 23 cm tall. Reviews use it for cabochons and small craft. One owner says it is not really seven speeds.
Does it include a UK plug?
The title says a UK plug charger. The specification table only says 220 V and does not describe the plug.
What is the rating?
The listing line is 3.1 out of 5 from 4 reviews. Three review texts are on the listing.
The KATSU 100221 is a 550 W bench drill at £149.99, with 12 speeds from 250 to 2,400 rpm, a 16 mm chuck and a chuck guard. The listing gives a cast steel base, 20.1 kg, and about 40 x 20 x 69 cm. The bullets state a maximum drilling depth of 60 mm, and the table lists 16 mm metal capacity, which matches the chuck rather than a measured hole. The slowest step of 250 rpm is the useful difference versus the five-speed KATSU models that start near 600 rpm. The bullets say the table is fully adjustable and do not give a tilt in degrees. Voltage is 230 V and the plug is not described. The amazon.co.uk listing has no review block, so complaints and praise are both missing. You are paying for the speed range on paper.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A bench drill whose slowest belt step is the reason you are buying.
Less suitable: Buyers who will not purchase a machine with no UK reviews.
Specifications
Common questions
Does the table tilt?
The listing asks whether the table can be angled and does not answer with a degree. The bullets only say the table is fully adjustable.
What is the slowest speed?
The bullets say 12 speeds from 250 to 2,400 rpm. That low step is the useful difference versus the five-speed KATSU models that start near 600 rpm.
Are there UK reviews?
The amazon.co.uk listing has no review block, so rating and complaints are n/a.
The SIP Pro F16 is a floor drill at £385.55, listed at 550 W with 16 speeds from 220 to 2,800 rpm, an MT2 spindle, a 16 mm chuck and 80 mm of spindle travel. The bullets name an NVR switch, a chuck guard, a pulley-cover interlock and a depth stop, on a cast iron base. Amazon dimensions are 46 x 25 x 160 cm and the amazon weight is 42.6 kg. A trade listing for SIP 01714 shows 27.5 kg, so the two weights should stay separate. Voltage is given as 230 V and 13 A, with a two-year warranty. The amazon.co.uk listing has no customer-review block. This floor listing is 550 W, while the SIP bench listing is 750 W, so the taller column is not the more powerful motor. You buy the height and the stated guards, without a UK star line.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Tall work where 160 cm of column is the point and you can live without reviews.
Less suitable: A small shed, or anyone who needs a reviewed machine before spending £385.
Specifications
Common questions
What safety parts are listed?
The bullets name an NVR switch, a chuck guard, a pulley-cover interlock and a depth stop.
How does this differ from the SIP bench model?
This F16 listing is a floor drill at 550 W, 16 mm and 42.6 kg, with dimensions 46 x 25 x 160 cm. The B20 listing is a 750 W bench drill at 48.5 kg and 20 mm.
Are there reviews on this listing?
The amazon.co.uk listing has no customer-review block, so the rating is n/a.
The Draper 95092 is a floor-standing drill at £703.90, listed at 650 W with 16 speeds up to 3,000 rpm, a stated 19 mm capacity, and a chuck described in the bullets as 3–16 mm. Height is 1,650 mm and weight is 78.2 kg. Included parts name a BS-approved non-rewirable moulded plug and cable, a no-volt switch, a depth stop and a chuck guard, on a 290 x 290 mm table. The title says 240 V. A special-features cell also says portable, which fights a 78 kg floor drill. The table lists both 19 Nm and 2.64 Nm, and neither figure is confirmed. The amazon.co.uk listing has no customer-review line. At this price you are paying for mass and a stated BS plug, with no UK reviews to check the column.
Pros
Cons
Best for: A heavy floor column when a stated BS plug is the requirement and reviews can wait.
Less suitable: A garage that does not need 78 kg, or a buyer who wants owner reports first.
Specifications
Common questions
Is this a bench drill?
The title says floor standing, 1,650 mm high and 78.2 kg. The special-features cell also says portable, which fights that description.
What plug is listed?
The included components name a BS approved non-rewirable moulded plug and cable, plus a no-volt switch, depth stop and chuck guard.
Are there reviews?
The amazon.co.uk listing has no customer-review line, so the rating is n/a. The table lists both 19 Nm and 2.64 Nm. Neither is confirmed.
The KATSU 100220 is a 350 W bench drill at £85.99, with five speeds from 600 to 2,650 rpm, a 13 mm chuck and a chuck guard. The listing gives a cast steel base and 13.4 kg, about 29.5 x 19 x 59 cm. The bullets state a maximum drilling depth of 50 mm, while the specification table lists 13 mm in wood and 13 mm in metal, which reads as the chuck size rather than the depth. Voltage is 230 V and the plug is not described. The amazon.co.uk listing has no customer-review block, so there is no UK star line to set against the specification. A slowest step of 600 rpm is already high for a larger bit in mild steel. You are buying the stated layout, not a reviewed machine.
Pros
Cons
Best for: Light wood on a bench if you accept an unreviewed listing.
Less suitable: Mild steel that wants a step near 350–500 rpm, or anyone who needs UK reviews first.
Specifications
Common questions
How deep does this KATSU listing say it will drill?
The bullets say 50 mm maximum drilling depth. The specification table instead lists 13 mm wood and 13 mm metal capacity, which matches the chuck size rather than the depth.
Is there a chuck guard?
The bullets include a 13 mm chuck capacity with a guard. An emergency stop is not named on this model.
Are there UK reviews?
The amazon.co.uk listing has no customer-review block, so the rating is n/a.
Eleven amazon.co.uk listings were scored from 0 to 100 on the star line and review count, how the format fits a UK shed, conflicts in the listing, and the GBP price. A thin sample loses weight, and a machine with no reviews stays below a well-reviewed bench drill even when the speed range looks better on paper. This is not a lab test. Bernardo’s own TB drills are not these rows. In sentences the highest score is the top pick and the best usable price with a real review sample is best value.
Stars and review volume
40%40 points. The amazon.co.uk star rating and the review count both count. A thin sample loses weight. No reviews cannot lead the set, and one review is not treated as a market result.
Spec fit for a UK shed
30%30 points. Format (mini, bench or floor), a slow speed for metal, chuck versus stated depth, stroke, mass, a guard and a switch. A fused UK plug counts only where the listing names one.
Sentiment and listing conflicts
20%20 points. UK review themes that repeat: an unfused lead, a chuck that comes off, a bent column, vibration, a dead belt-cover switch. A chuck or capacity cell that fights the depth bullet, and a torque cell that is not credible for the stated watts, are deductions.
Price
10%10 points. The GBP shelf price on the amazon.co.uk listing, judged against a usable workshop drill rather than the cheapest mini. Best value is the best usable price that still has a real review sample.
The right pillar drill is the one whose format, slowest speed and chuck match the hole you actually drill. Watts on their own do not do that. A 350 W bench drill with an approved plug can be the sensible wood drill, and a 650 W floor drill with no UK reviews can be the wrong spend. Start with where it stands, then the slowest speed, then the chuck against the stroke, then the mass and the plug.
A pillar drill holds the bit on a column so the hole stays square to the table and you can repeat the depth. A pistol drill is enough for a rough hole. It is the wrong tool when a hinge, a bracket or a row of identical holes has to land in the same place. The listings on this page are amazon.co.uk rows. Bernardo’s TB 16 T and TB 20 T are 16 mm and 20 mm belt-drive bench drills on the manufacturer’s euro shop. They are not these ASINs, and a euro price is not a UK shelf price.
Chuck capacity is the largest parallel shank. Depth is how far the spindle travels. The Einhell table says 50 mm for the chuck while the bullets call 50 mm the maximum drilling depth. Those are different measurements, so do not buy the 50 mm cell as a chuck.
A higher wattage does not give you a slow step. The Bosch table also says 650 Nm, which is not credible for 710 W. Ignore that cell. Use the stated speeds, the chuck and the mass instead.
Clamp the work. A laser does not replace a centre punch. If the plug or earth is wrong, if the drill is work equipment, or if you are drilling structural steel, stop and call a professional.
Format decides the job before the wattage does. A bench drill bolts to a bench and covers most home woodwork and light metal. A floor-standing drill is taller and heavier, for tall work or when you want the bench clear. A mini of about 3 kg is for models and jewellery, not a 13 mm hole in timber. The LengSuaa listing is 2.8 kg and 23 cm tall. The Buyfun is 2.89 kg with a 6 mm chuck. Speed is the metal test.
Chuck capacity is the largest parallel shank the chuck will grip, not the largest hole the drill will make well. Several KATSU bullets state only 50 mm or 60 mm of depth. SIP bullets state 80 mm of spindle travel. Throat is often missing, so this comparison does not invent it. The Einhell specification table says 50 mm for the chuck and for metal capacity, while the bullets call 50 mm the maximum drilling depth.
Three typical situations, each with a recommendation from this comparison.
You want a bench drill with a depth stop and a large UK review sample under £130. The Einhell TC-BD 450 is about £123.93, 4.3 from 389 reviews, with a depth stop and a table that tilts to 45 degrees. Ignore the 50 mm chuck cell. It is still a five-speed drill.
You want the largest review sample in this set for wood, and you will keep steel light. The Bosch PBD 40 is about £279.94, 4.5 from 869 reviews, with a two-speed gearbox and a digital depth reading. It is 11.2 kg and the table does not tilt.
You want a low belt speed and a heavy bench, and you can live with one review. The SIP Pro B20 is about £434.75, 750 W, 16 speeds from 200 rpm, MT2 and 80 mm of spindle travel, at 48.5 kg. One 5.0 review is not a market sample.
The top pick is the Bosch PBD 40 at about £279.94. It has the largest UK review sample in this set, 4.5 from 869 reviews, with a two-speed gearbox, a digital depth reading and a 13 mm keyless chuck. It is still light at 11.2 kg and the table does not tilt. The best value is the Einhell TC-BD 450 at about £123.93, 4.3 from 389 reviews, with a depth stop and a table that tilts to 45 degrees. Ignore the 50 mm chuck cell. Neither score is a lab test, and Bernardo’s own TB drills are not these listings.
Einhell TC-BD 450 bench drill
Best value at about £123.93, with 4.3 from 389 reviews, a depth stop and a tilting table.
Editorial
Peter F. is the editor for DIY & tools at productscompared.co.uk. Comparisons in this category are checked against amazon.co.uk listings, review evidence and public UK sources.
Guides on what to look for, how to use a product, and common mistakes.
Public UK and manufacturer sources from the research digest, last checked on 21 October 2026.
This page contains affiliate links to amazon.co.uk. If you buy through one, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Listings, review counts and public UK sources set the scores. This is not a lab test.
