Hand Drills

Hand drills are manual tools useful for craftspeople, woodworkers, and tradespeople who need controlled, power-free drilling in wood and similar materials. RS NZ offers hand drills from Stanley and RS PRO brands. tHE RS Pro model features a 10 mm 4-jaw chuck with retention springs, chrome-steel construction, and a three-position ratchet.

It also includes a breastplate with a ball-bearing track for smooth, stable operation. With no cable or battery required, it is equally suited to the workshop bench and the remote job site.

How a Hand Drill Works?

A hand drill works by turning a crank handle, which rotates the pinion gears on the main shaft. These gears transfer the motion to the drill chuck, which holds the drill bit and drives it into the material as forward pressure is applied. The breastplate at the opposite end provides a stable point for pushing, helping keep the drill aligned and reducing operator effort.

The three-position ratchet of our RS PRO drill allows clockwise drilling, anti-clockwise removal, or a locked mode for full-rotation use. These ratchet positions are particularly useful in confined spaces where a full 360° crank rotation is not possible.

Hand Drill vs Power Drill

The choice between a hand drill and a power drill depends on the job conditions rather than personal preference.

Hand Drills

Hand drills require no power, making them suitable for remote locations, outdoor sites, and off-grid work. They offer quieter operation and greater control over drilling speed and depth, helping reduce the risk of overshooting or splitting material. They are also lighter, more portable, and generally lower in cost than powered drills, making them the choice for precision and portability, not a compromise.

Power Drills

A power drill is the better choice for high-volume drilling, harder materials such as metal or masonry, or where speed is the primary requirement.

Features of the RS PRO and Stanley Hand Drills

We offer the RS PRO ratchet model and two Stanley hand drill models that provide reliable manual drilling performance.

• Chuck Type and Capacity: The RS PRO and Stanley 482-743 both use a 4-jaw chuck. The RS PRO accepts bits up to 10 mm; the Stanley 482-743 has a 13 mm keyless chuck for a wider bit range. The Stanley 482-851 uses a 3-jaw aluminium chuck with a 1/4 in (6.35 mm) capacity, suited to lighter pilot hole work.
• Ratchet Mechanism: The RS PRO features a three-position ratchet (clockwise, anti-clockwise, and locked) for use in confined spaces. The Stanley 482-743 also includes a reversible 8-tooth ratchet for confined-space drilling. The Stanley 482-851 is a standard crank model without a ratchet.
• Breastplate/Mounting Head: The RS PRO breastplate includes a ball bearing track for smooth, stable operator pressure. The Stanley 482-743 similarly uses a ball bearing mounting head for smooth rotation during use.
• Construction Material: The RS PRO uses chrome steel with a plastic handle grip. The Stanley 482-743 is steel with chromium plating for corrosion resistance. The Stanley 482-851 uses an aluminium gear wheel and precision die-cast construction, making it lighter than the steel models.
• No Power Source Required: All three models are manually operated, requiring no cable or battery, suitable for workshop, field, and off-grid use.

Choosing a Hand Drill

When choosing a hand drill, consider factors such as volume, material type, and the level of control required for the task.

• Material Suitability: Hand drills are designed for wood and soft materials and are not recommended for metal or masonry.
• Drill Bit Size: Confirm the bits you need fall within the chuck capacity. Our RS PRO model accepts bits up to 10 mm in diameter.
• Access Conditions: The three-position ratchet on our RS PRO model makes it suited to confined spaces where a full 360° crank rotation is not possible. If working in open, unobstructed conditions, either ratchet or standard crank models will suit.
• Precision Requirements: Hand drills are the preferred tool for pilot holes, dowel holes, hinge recesses, and mortise work where controlled depth and speed matter and the risk of power tool overshoot or vibration damage needs to be avoided.
• Volume: For single or low-frequency drilling tasks in wood, a hand drill is practical. For high-volume or production drilling, a power drill will be more productive.

Applications of Hand Drills

Hand drills are suited to the following use cases:

• Woodworking: Drilling pilot holes for hinges, screws, and hardware; pegging with dowels; mortise preparation; joinery and cabinetmaking where controlled drilling is required, and power tool vibration or overshoot would risk material damage.
• Remote and Off-Grid Work: Any site or application where mains power or charged battery tools are unavailable, such as rural construction, outdoor joinery, field maintenance, and conservation work where electrical access is impractical.
• Quiet Environments: Workshops or locations where power tool noise is disruptive, including shared workshop spaces, heritage buildings, and environments where noise limits apply.
• Fragile or Delicate Materials: Applications where the speed and vibration of a power drill carry a risk of splitting, overshooting, or surface damage.

Order Hand Drills Online Today

As a trusted supplier and distributor of industrial hand tools, RS NZ offers Stanley and RS PRO Ratchet Hand Drill with detailed product specifications to support informed purchasing decisions. Browse our range of hand tools online, including electrical pliers, crimping tools, and more, from a reliable industrial supplier.

Ordering & Delivery Information for NZ

Place hand drill orders online or by calling 0800 888 780. Once your order has been submitted, an order confirmation will be provided, followed by email updates as the order is processed and dispatched. Many locally stocked products are available for next-working-day delivery, while extended-range items may have longer lead times.

For more information, please visit our delivery page.