tool project, opinions needed please!

[Criteria]

hi all, im currently doing a uni project which requires me to design a hand tool and your opinions and experience would be a massive help to me.

i've decided to redesign the humble hand drill (not electric) as its something i personally own, and have at work, but rarely use and seemed the obvious choice for improvement through my own experience. im not looking to radically change its looks or function, only to improve its usability so even the smallest idea for improvement is still relevant.

so far my own ideas are increasing the driving gear to reduce the effort needed to use the drill, adding a counter weight to make it more ballanced, and increasing the size of drill bit it can take - as far as im aware they usually accept a maximum of 6-8mm bit. im looking to increase this to 10mm, possibly 12mm if the drill is still usable with this size bit.(increasing the driving gear should help with this i think)

i have a questionaire but i wont bore you with that (its being handed out to work mates) instead i have just three questions and if you can answer all three or just one it will all help. opinions on my ideas are also welcome but bear in mind this will never be made so even if they seem a little pointless they are still improvements and thats all i need for my project.

do you own or regularly use a hand drill?

what problems/limitations do you find when using hand drills?

from your experience what would you improve?

all help with this greatfully recieved!

[thescruff]

You could design the worlds first turbo hand drill

Let assume you had a canister on the side, and a mechanical means to pump it up to say 3bar, you could use the power to operate the drill and pump it up whenever it gets low.

[fin]

what about designing some sort of system that makes the bit turn faster? for example theres an irwin chalk line available, when you retract the line it only takes a few turns of the handle to get the line back in as oposed to loads of turns with a conventional chalk line.

or perhaps a keyless chuck

lol maybe a light or even a laser ala diy type tools

[fin]

maybe the handle could double up as a drill bit container?

[Tryanything]

I used to have a big hand drill that was about 450mm long with a plate on
the end to put to your shoulder or on your beer belly and that was
struggle with a 12mm drill bit

[thescruff]

You mean a breast drill

Still got mine, and a hand drill and a brace

[Tryanything]

You mean a breast drill

Still got mine, and a hand drill and a brace

Ah yes Scruff, all l remember it was big and heavy, before cordless drills were about

[thescruff]

[Tryanything]

Thats the beast Scruff

Now l remember seeing the picture you can change the handle to the other side for different gear ratio

[Steve the Gas]

My Dad still got one, I used it as a kid but chuck a bit prone to undoing if I remember right.

[Criteria]

You could design the worlds first turbo hand drill

Let assume you had a canister on the side, and a mechanical means to pump it up to say 3bar, you could use the power to operate the drill and pump it up whenever it gets low.

that would be amazing! but far too difficult.

as rediculous an idea as that is, if i had more than 2 weeks to get it all finished i would give that a go just for a laugh.

[Criteria]

I used to have a big hand drill that was about 450mm long with a plate on
the end to put to your shoulder or on your beer belly and that was
struggle with a 12mm drill bit

looks like 10mm it is then. although i'll give 12 a go if only to show evidence of testing my design. im a model maker so im in the process of making up a prototype using my workshop after work, wont be too difficult to turn down an extra chuck shaped bit of ally with a 12mm hole just to see how it does with the increased gearing.