Skil Model 163 Heavy Duty Drill

[OilyRascal]

This drill came from my grandfather's business.  It has sat long enough without attention.  I give it a good blowing of compressed air, plugged it in, bam!  Works!  Works for WHAT though?  Wouldn't there be a more practical way to bore holes of this size?  What bit would you use?  It seems to me you'd need two men on a drill requiring 1-1/2 pipe for a handle.  Maybe it was an upgrade from the gas powered McCullough bore?  It has enough torque to twist me around upon start with no load outside the chuck.....granted I'm no heavy feller.  I'd like to hear from folks that have been part of such an animal being used.

Is the Jacobs branded chuck original to the drill?

I'd also like to learn more about its age.  No luck on that front.  If there is anyone with pointers on how that might be accomplished (s/n?) I would be very interested to learn.

I have no idea why I would keep such a thing outside the fact it is from family.  I don't ever see myself using it and it's not easy to store, but I can't see us departing.

[Lostmind]

I don't have the guts to use something like that. Takes a real He man!

[Twilight Fenrir]

The Thor drill I picked up recently, is about that size... Somewhat ironically, I use it exclusively for drilling smaller holes in steel... Why such a big drill for little holes? Well, the weight of it is perfect :P All I have to do is hold it upright, and its own mass will feed the bit just about perfectly. I will only use small bits with it, though. So if the bit gets stuck, it will be the thing to break instead of my arm... It does drill steel REALLY nice though. It's geared just right for it.

Can't help you much with info on the drill itself though. I have a handful of Skil tools that look like they have the same sticker on them, so probably the same era as yours. And mine, like yours, were my grandfather's.

I would guess the chuck is original, though.

[john k]

I don't see a zip-code on the Skil address, so that would predate,,,,, 1964?    Plus I see plastic brush retainers, so I go with early 60s.   I would not chuck a 4 inch hole saw in that for anything.    Two man drill for HD stuff for sure.  Maybe the second man could be at the outlet ready to yank out the cord!

[Twilight Fenrir]

Wait... why does it say 1 inch? o.o Does that thing have a one inch chuck?!? O_O

[OilyRascal]

YES, It has a 1" chuck.

[Chillylulu]

After having been man-(drill?)handled  by one of those monster drills early on I would only use them in situations where I would be out of their way if the bit jammed.  Mostly, I would use them for drilling 2-1/2" or 3" holes through wood stud floor plates. I made sure that I didn't have any body parts between the drill handle and a wall stud.  By starting with the handle close to the stud it was safe.

I think a couple of the dimensions may be mis-leading. 1-1/2" pipe has an outside dimension (OD) of ~1-7/8". The handle on thst drill is probably 1-1/4" or, more likely, 1".   1" pipes OD is 1-1/4"   Nominal pipe sizes are based on schedule 40 pipe inside diameter.

The 1" capacity refers to the drilling capacity with a standard steel twist drill bit, I think.  Try opening the jacobs chuck all the way, then measure across the inside to determine the largest rod shspe thst would fit into the chuck. My guess is probsbly 5/8"

This type of drill is good when attached to rigging of some sort. A pipe clamp adapter, magnetic base, drill press bsse, etc.

It is a nice monster drill and has its place in a good kit, I think.

Chilly

[OilyRascal]

..........
The 1" capacity refers to the drilling capacity with a standard steel twist drill bit, I think.  Try opening the jacobs chuck all the way, then measure across the inside to determine the largest rod shspe thst would fit into the chuck. My guess is probsbly 5/8"
.......

13/16", actually.

[Chillylulu]

..........
The 1" capacity refers to the drilling capacity with a standard steel twist drill bit, I think.  Try opening the jacobs chuck all the way, then measure across the inside to determine the largest rod shspe thst would fit into the chuck. My guess is probsbly 5/8"
.......

13/16", actually.

Nice one!