Chicago Pneumatic Drills
Air drills bore, ream, tap and hole-saw at duty cycles that cook an electric drill, and they do not burn up when the bit binds — the motor just stalls. Chicago Pneumatic builds them in four shapes: pistol drills such as the 0.5 hp (375 W) CP1014 and 1 hp (750 W) CP1117; the D-handle CP1816 with 5/8 in. (16 mm) chuck capacity; reversible corner drills like the CP1820 at up to 2.8 hp (2,100 W); and compact composite CP879 angle and straight drills that get into confined areas. Body-shop models including the CP785 and CP789 handle drilling, honing, reaming and hole sawing. Chucks and keys are in drilling accessories, clean air comes off a filter, regulator and lubricator, and the whole line sits on the CP air drills page inside the wider CP industrial range.
Showing all 5 resultsSorted by popularity
Showing all 5 resultsSorted by popularity
Pistol, D-Handle, Corner & Angle
Shape follows access and thrust. A pistol drill is the default for open work, and the reversible CP1114R adds a forward/reverse valve for backing out taps. A D-handle puts your shoulder behind the bit for large holes, which is why CP pairs one with a 5/8 in. chuck. Corner drills like the CP1720 turn the spindle 90° off the body to work between structure, and composite angle bodies keep a low head where nothing else fits.
Chuck Capacity and Motor Size
Two numbers pick the drill. Chuck capacity caps the bit shank — 1/4 in. (6 mm) on the CP1014, 3/8 in. (10 mm) on the CP1117, 3/8 to 1/2 in. (10–13 mm) on the CP1114R, 5/8 in. (16 mm) on the CP1816. Motor size sets how big a hole you can push without bogging: CP’s industrial drills run 0.5 to 2.82 hp at 140 to 6,000 RPM on 19 to 110 CFM, the maintenance line 0.31 to 0.62 hp at 500 to 4,200 RPM. Slower and stronger drills bigger holes; faster and lighter suits sheet work.
ATEX-Rated Drills for Explosive Atmospheres
Refineries, paint lines, grain elevators and solvent rooms need a tool that cannot spark, and an air drill has no electrics to begin with. CP certifies part of its industrial drill line to ATEX for explosive atmospheres, including variants in the CP1117P range. The rating is variant-specific rather than series-wide, so send the exact part number and we will confirm it before the order ships. For fixed rotating drives in the same zones, the ATEX vane motors under other air tools cover it.
Compare CP Air Drills
Figures are CP’s published maximums for each series; an em dash means the series description does not publish that number.
| Model | Style | Max motor | Chuck capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| CP1014 Series | Pistol, keyed Jacobs chuck | 0.5 hp (375 W) | 1/4 in. (6 mm) |
| CP1114R Series | Pistol, reversible | 0.5 hp (410 W) | 3/8–1/2 in. (10–13 mm) |
| CP1117 Series | Pistol; keyed, keyless or chuckless | 1 hp (750 W) | 3/8 in. (10 mm) |
| CP1720 Series | Corner, reversible | — | — |
| CP1816 Series | D-handle | 1 hp (750 W) | 5/8 in. (16 mm) |
| CP1820 Series | Corner, reversible | 1.2 hp (890 W) or 2.8 hp (2,100 W) | — |
The composite body-shop drills — CP785, CP789, CP879/CP887 and the CP7300/CP928X/CP978X/CP979X range — publish handling features rather than motor ratings; check each product page for chuck and speed.
Common Questions
Where does a part number like CP9792C fit? CP979 part numbers belong to the composite CP7300/CP928X/CP978X/CP979X family listed above, built with a thermoplastic rubber grip and a large teasing trigger. Give us the full part number and we will match the chuck and handle option.
How much air does an air drill use? CP publishes 19 to 110 CFM across the industrial drills, so a 1 hp pistol drill is comfortable on a shop compressor and a 2.8 hp corner drill is not. Run it through a filter and regulator — wet air kills vanes and gearboxes.
Can I tap with a pneumatic drill? Yes, with a reversible model. The CP1720 and CP1820 corner drills are built for drilling, reaming and tapping mild steel and cast iron, and reverse backs the tap out. For fastener driving, cross to air screwdrivers.
What else runs off the same compressor? Every other family in the Chicago Pneumatic Industrial catalog, from ratchets to percussive tools. In-stock items ordered by 4 PM ET ship the same day from Denver.