My original post asks about (1) a
drill that can put a 1/2 inch hole in 4X4 ipe,

I picked up an inexpensive drill at Harbor Freight for some drilling into
concrete I had to do.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=45338

It certainly isn't the highest quality, but for me it did everything I asked
it to do. I also used it with a 5/8" wood boring bit to run wires through
2x4 studs and it handled that with ease. It had more than enough power.