Breast Drills

Breast Drills

Breast drills are hand-powered drilling tools that were commonly used in the past for drilling holes in wood, metal, and other materials. They are called breast drills because they are designed to be held against the user's chest, with one hand operating the drill bit and the other hand turning a crank to rotate the bit. Breast drills were widely used in the 19th and early 20th centuries before being largely replaced by electric drills. Breast drills typically consist of a metal frame with a handle on one end and a chuck on the other end to hold the drill bit. The user would hold the handle against their chest and use their other hand to turn the crank, which would rotate the drill bit. Breast drills were often used for precision drilling, as the user could apply a consistent amount of pressure to the bit and control the speed of the rotation. Breast drills were commonly used by carpenters, metalworkers, and other tradespeople for drilling holes in a variety of materials. They were also used by hobbyists and DIY enthusiasts for woodworking and other projects. While breast drills are no longer as widely used as they once were, they are still valued by some craftspeople for their precision and simplicity.

hand-powered, drilling tools, precision, metalworkers, woodworking

— David Martin

CITATION : "David Martin. 'Breast Drills.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/define/breast-drills?E=267377 (Accessed on October 13, 2026)"