Abstract: Portable drilling apparatus provided with a support by means of which it can be secured to a work member and mounting means for a cutting tool including a mounting member having a vertically extending elongate part within which a drive spindle is rotatably mounted, the drive means including an elongate toothed gearwheel driven by a motor held in a fixed position in the support, a toothed gear carried by the drive spindle engaging the elongate gearwheel and sliding axially relative thereto.