The two general categories of woodworking drills are unpowered drills and power drills. Power drills run on electricity and can generally cut holes much more quickly than unpowered ones. The more traditional method of woodworking involves the use of unpowered hand drills; while these are very useful for certain applications, they do take more time and effort to use. The specific designs of woodworking drills can vary significantly depending on the type of job being done; some are hand models, while others are bench-mounted and cut holes using a press system.
Modern woodworkers are most likely to use several types of woodworking drills when completing a project. The most commonly used model is perhaps the cordless or corded hand drill, which runs off electricity and is small enough to be wielded easily by hand. These woodworking drills are versatile and lightweight, and in some cases they are quite portable. Cordless models run off battery packs, which allow the user to take the tool anywhere. Corded drills are more limited because they must be plugged into a wall outlet, but they provide constant power output and, in many cases, more power in general. Both drills often feature systems that make changing the drill bit quick and easy for further convenience.
Drill presses are woodworking drills that are much larger; they are used for making precision cuts as well as several cuts of the same depth. These usually feature sturdy metal bases so a piece of wood can be supported on the machine itself, and the bits are also interchangeable. The bit is mounted on a press system, which means the operator can raise or lower the drill bit using a hand crank mounted on the side of the machine. Most of these machines are powered by a motor that spins the bit at high speeds; this improves the accuracy of the cut and helps prevent burrs or splinters.
Unpowered woodworking drills include the "eggbeater" style breast drill, the gimlet, and the brace and bit. The breast drill is known as the eggbeater drill because the crank is mounted on the side of a vertical post, and it spins a gear that rotates the bit in much the same way some eggbeater blades spin. The brace and bit design features a C-shaped arm that can be rotated quickly to turn the bit, and the gimlet features a bit of a specific size that has a built-in handle a user can turn manually.
