Einhell Classic TC-BD 500 (4520593)

Drilling equipment for home carpentry

The instruction manual for the Einhell Classic TC-BD 500 assures that it can be used for drilling metals (including steel, aluminium and bronze). We will not argue, for sure you can. No wonder it has as many as 9 speeds (in the range from 300 to 2410 rpm), which allow you to very accurately select cutting conditions based on the properties of the material being processed, the diameter of the drill and its sharpening. But according to the characteristics and design of this equipment, it is noticeable that the manufacturer was oriented, first of all, to the needs of those craftsmen who work mainly with wooden blanks.

Device and features

The machine has a medium power motor (500 W). The keyed chuck is designed to use tooling with shanks up to 13 mm in diameter. The quill has a stroke of 50 mm. To adjust the drilling depth, it is proposed to use a dial with a limiter. The base plate on which the workpieces are placed has a size of 170x170 mm and can be tilted to the left and right by 45°. Naturally, with inclined drilling, the workpiece should be fixed on the table with a clamp, which must be purchased separately. For more convenient work on a drilling machine, it also does not hurt to buy a machine vice with the possibility of mounting on a base plate.

Pros and cons of light weight

The device turned out to be quite light. It weighs about 14 kg, so it can be lifted, carried and rearranged from place to place without much straining. Due to what it was possible to provide such a small weight? Of course, due to the fact that its design is not as strong and rigid as those drilling machines that can be found in production. For example, the base of the machine is not cast, but stamped, and the column is not all-metal, but tubular. Therefore, during drilling, one should not demand the impossible from the machine and “give it heat”. Leaning too hard on the feed lever, you can only achieve that the column is bent, and the base is deformed. With some lack of rigidity, the owners successfully fight with "collective farm" methods (the pipe is poured with mortar, the base is strengthened with "kerchiefs", corners are welded under the table, etc.). But recommendations on how to strengthen the Einhell Classic TC-BD 500 machine are beyond the scope of this article (especially since there are a lot of instructions and tips on the Internet).

Not just one machine, but a whole line of equipment

Einhell is one of the few tool manufacturers that has not just one or two drilling machines in its catalog, but a whole line. Therefore, if you are not satisfied with the Einhell Classic TC-BD 500, you can pay attention to other models that have a power of 350W, 450W or 630W. Also of interest is the Einhell Blue BT-BD 501 drilling machine, which is very similar to the model in question, but differs in color, chuck size (16 mm), gear ratios on pulleys (for slightly larger drills) and some other minor details.