Where can I use a drill press in Silicon Valley?
June 8, 2012 9:09 AM   Subscribe

Where can a guy go in the SF Bay Area to use a drill press for a few hours? I'll bring my own bits.

I've got to punch about 40 1/4-inch holes through some stainless steel and my hand drill is inadequate.

I'm sure the TechShop would do, and it sounds like fun but I'm way down the Peninsula and I only need a single tool for an afternoon, so even a month's subscription's way more than I need, and I'd rather pay less.
posted by Rash to Technology (13 answers total) 1 user marked this as a favorite
 
I don't know where this kind of thing is sold in the US, but I suspect you'd pay at least as much as just buying a drill press (or a drill press adaptor for you current drill). It is unlikely that you will be able to use someone's drill press at a business unless you know someone that works there. I've had good luck with water jet cutters for that kind of thing, though. Just roll up at the door and chat to the workshop manager or similar. Having some stranger use their own equipment is a risk for most machine shops (insurance obligation and also potential damage).

Drill presses can be super cheap and can be got for around $100-200 so they're perhaps cheaper than you think:

This is what I can get in Canada
posted by Brockles at 9:30 AM on June 8, 2012


Can you rent one somewhere?
posted by Chutzler at 9:32 AM on June 8, 2012


I mean rent to take home for an afternoon.
posted by Chutzler at 9:32 AM on June 8, 2012


There's a Tech Shop in San Jose. There's also Sawdust Shop which offers hourly and daily rates, but I don't know if they allow non-wood use of their equipment. Perhaps if you brought your own bit and promised to be meticulous in clean-up?
posted by morganw at 9:33 AM on June 8, 2012


Not that I know what I'm talking about, but you might have some luck posting on Craigslist and saying "can I use your drill press? I'll pay."
posted by madcaptenor at 9:36 AM on June 8, 2012


Dunno about the south bay, but in the east bay there are hacker / shop spaces that are less shiny and deluxe than TechShop. Ace Monster Toys in Oakland is one (slogan: Safety Third!), with membership as low as $40/mo. I might look for similar things in your area.
posted by zippy at 9:36 AM on June 8, 2012 [2 favorites]


Don't know if this will help, but the local university here has a craft shop that you can use for $5/hour if you're a student union member. There might be a similar deal there, though I don't know for sure.
posted by echo target at 12:21 PM on June 8, 2012


Best answer: I can't recall if the San Francisco hackerspace Noisebridge has a drill press or not, but if they do, it'd be free to use. Good manners to drop a few bucks in the donation box, though.
posted by mollymayhem at 12:22 PM on June 8, 2012


To follow up on mollymayhem's comment, noisebridge has a list of things they have, which includes a drill press.
posted by madcaptenor at 1:29 PM on June 8, 2012


If none of these work out, you can always post on Craigslist asking to use a drill press in exchange for a few bucks or a 6-pack.
posted by Slinga at 3:26 PM on June 8, 2012


Best answer: TechShop in menlo park has day passes.
posted by tremspeed at 10:35 PM on June 8, 2012


If you want to drive to oakland to pick it up you could borrow mine. You can probably find something equally free and closer on craigslist though.
posted by gally99 at 1:14 AM on June 9, 2012


Response by poster: Free sounds great, and I wish I had the space for my own shop, but not now. Thanks for all your info and ideas!
posted by Rash at 4:24 PM on June 10, 2012


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