Draper 230V 12 Speed Bench Drill, 600W

The Draper GD20/12E is a heavy duty 600W floor-standing bench drill built for automotive, engineering, and maintenance workshops where drilling performance, precision, and reliability are non-negotiable. With a 20mm drilling capacity, twelve selectable speeds spanning 180 to 2,740 RPM, and a large rack and pinion adjustable worktable, it delivers the capability and flexibility demanded by professional and semi-professional environments. At 58kg with a 1,050mm working height, this is a serious, permanently installed workshop machine designed for sustained daily use.

Key Features

Twelve speeds across the range of 180 to 2,740 RPM give the GD20/12E exceptional versatility. Where a five-speed machine offers a basic selection, twelve steps allow genuinely fine-tuned speed matching to the material, bit size, and operation in hand — from slow, high-torque drilling in thick steel plate at the lower end, through to fast, clean drilling in wood and aluminium at the top of the range. This breadth of speed selection is what makes the GD20/12E particularly well suited to automotive and maintenance workshops, where the range of materials and hole sizes encountered from job to job can vary considerably.

The large 305 x 305mm square worktable is fitted with a smoothly operated rack and pinion height adjustment mechanism, allowing the table to be raised and lowered with one hand quickly and precisely — a significant practical advantage over friction-clamp table adjustment when repositioning frequently between jobs. The 80mm spindle travel and 185mm throat depth extend the machine's reach and capacity well beyond what smaller benchtop drills can offer, handling larger workpieces and deeper drilling operations with ease.

The 20mm drilling capacity and 3–16mm chuck range accommodate the full spectrum of drill bit sizes used in automotive and general engineering work. The MT2 spindle taper ensures broad compatibility with chucks, arbors, and specialist tooling. Safety features are comprehensive: a no-volt safety release switch prevents unexpected restart after power interruptions, a depth stop enables consistent repeat drilling, and a chuck guard provides protection during operation. The steel motor casing and lockable pulley cover reflect the machine's heavy duty construction throughout. Supplied with a BS approved non-rewireable moulded plug and approximately 1.8m of cable.

Specifications

Who Is This Bench Drill For?

The GD20/12E is designed for automotive technicians, engineering workshops, and maintenance professionals who need a floor-standing drill press capable of handling demanding, varied drilling tasks day in, day out. The combination of 20mm capacity, 600W power, and twelve-speed selection makes it equally at home drilling bolt holes in steel chassis components, boring accurate holes in aluminium castings, or handling woodwork and plastics. It is also an excellent choice for serious home workshop machinists and model engineers who have outgrown a benchtop machine and need the additional capacity, stability, and speed range of a full floor-standing drill press.

Why Choose the Draper GD20/12E?

The step up from a five or eight-speed benchtop drill to the GD20/12E is significant on every measurable dimension. The 600W motor sustains consistent power through demanding cuts where lower-wattage machines labour and stall. The twelve-speed range provides the granularity of control needed for professional-quality results across a wide range of materials. The rack and pinion table adjustment transforms the workflow when drilling multiple workpieces at different heights, saving time and frustration compared to loosening and re-clamping a friction table. The 305 x 305mm table, 185mm throat, and 80mm spindle travel combine to handle workpieces that simply won't fit on a smaller machine. For workshops where the drill press is a core piece of equipment rather than an occasional-use tool, the GD20/12E is a compelling, well-priced investment in long-term capability.