Customer Reviews

Stanley 03-105 Hand Drill

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This is well made and works great. Very nice for small drilling jobs without the hassle or size of a power drill. Surprisingly powerful for a hand drill.

After using it a while it seemed to lock up. I was sure it was broken it was so stuck, but a little 3-in-1 oil got it going perfectly again immediately.

I looked through many auctions for this tool thinking they didn't make it anylonger. Time wasted. My girlfriend ordered it for me and I was thrilled to now have a new one. Great tool and handy. I'll suggest getting the Spokeshaver as well, another usefull tool to own.

There are some jobs where a powerdrill can be unsuitable and this one is just perfect. If you are drilling aluminium doors or windows, or attaching fittings to boat masts you need delicate control to prevent damage to the aluminium. A power drill can catch in the hole and rip out a chunk of metal. If you use a hand drill that will never happen.

It is also ideal for delicate woodworking when control is more important than speed.

Because it needs no power, cable or batteries it is ideal for use in the outdoors and in wet situations where electrical appliances can short out.

I bought this drill by mail without having seen or tried one. I chose it solely based on my respect for Stanley's traditional reputation for quality, which is very high. I expected it to be useful, with the proper bit, for every precision drilling job in any substrate - soft and hard woods, plastics, aircraft aluminum, mild and stainless steels, fine and sterling silver.

It's been a great disappointment.

The component parts fit together so sloppily that it's not possible to drill a hole with precision at all. Rocking the driven shaft back and forth in its socket (from which it cannot be removed), the tip of an ordinary bit moves through an arc of five degrees or so. Nor does there appear to be any way to adjust it to take up that slack.

It might have been manufactured for rough-carpentry work, where speed is important and close is good enough. But no rough-in carpenter in her/his right mind would want to use this kind of drill for that - they'd use electric or at the very least a traditional 'C' brace.

I'd strongly suggest that anyone looking for Stanley quality in a precision hand drill avoid this product like plague.

This is just like the drill your grandfather used! It never needs recharging or a place to plug into. It works great in the garage, the yard, and out camping in the woods. You can even use different bits in it like screwdriver bits. It's a multi-tool that everybody needs!