Advice on a used Drill Press

[woodlandfarms]

I have been asking some questions about single and tripple phase, and realized today I don't even know what else I am looking for in a used DP.

I get I want something that will drill slow, something with a big chuck and is solid, something with at least 3/4HP ( or do I?)

I am looking at used as I sense there are some great deals at the moment out there.

Anyone have any advice on what to look for in a used machine? It is for primarily metal work, and my rational for the purchase is drilling out holes for a landscape rake as I think the machine shop will want too much.

 

[George2615]

I have a direct drive drill press (basically its a Stanley 1/2" drill mounted in a press frame). Most of the newer ones I've seen today are belt driven by 1/3 to 1/2 HP motors. The belt driven ones usually have a stepped pulley system. By moving the belt to a different groove in the pulley you change the speed of the drill. I've attached pics of mine and a typical bench top variable speed belt driven press. They also are available in floor mount.
If your looking at used, keep your price down. They bench top model I showed sells new at Lowes for under $300.
For your own home shop use you'd probably want a 110V unit.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have had a couple of cheap drill presses such as two Generals, Craftsman and a Woodtek unit. The Woodtek is the current one I own with 8 speeds, 1 hp and 3/4" chuck I can say I am not real pleased with it, a good used semi professional unit will be my next choice. The 3/4 hp 5/8" chuck General was the best one for the money I have had so far.

My brother has an older Delta 1 hp drill press and it is better than anything I have. Something I would look into are some real old drill presses maybe 50 to 70 years old that turned very slow with good torque, a friend of mine has one like this in his old welding shop and it gets down to about 50 rpm. Wish I had it.:drool:

The worst I have had is the Craftsman floor model with the shoestring belt, it had all the torque of a 1/4" hand drill.:thumbdown:

 

[ultrarunner]

Don't know if it is still true... when I worked in a tool and die shop... all the quality drill presses with 1/2 or larger chucks had a low speed of anywhere from 40 to 80 RPM.

If you find a drill press with speed starting in this range... I'm sure it will do everything you need...

 

[EddieWalker]

I have been asking some questions about single and tripple phase, and realized today I don't even know what else I am looking for in a used DP.

3 phase electricity is used in commercial applications. It's more power to the motor and a different type of electric motor that lasts alot longer. If you have 3 phase power available to you, it's the best way to go. If you don't have it, you don't want to pay to bring it in. It's very expensive and trying to get the power company to run it for you is like pulling teeth. You can get a converter to run 3 phase motors, but those are a couple grand.

The cheap drill presses are 3 phase because nobody can use them. Be sure you know what you are looking at and avoid those. It's too expensive to remove the motor and put in a single phase motor.

I've been looking around for a drill press too. I keep hoping to find a deal for a used one, but so far, I've only seen junk. I want a floor model that will drill under 200 rpm with at leat 1hp. I've used my brothers 3/4 hp drill press from Grizzly and thought it was underpowered and poorly built.

Right now, Harbor Freight has one that I really like. I hate Harbor Freight and worry about the quality of this drill press, but I've been to the store and looked at it several times. Nothing else seems to compare to it for the money. Big, heavy and powerful.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[dfkrug]

Right now, Harbor Freight has one that I really like.

Are you still agonizing over this DP, Eddie?

With a little adjustment, I have gotten this HF DP to perform quite well. I
think it is a bit fast at 180RPM, but I could not find slower. This is their
20" "production" DP. Thumbs up.

I agree with the other posters that a really old DP can be a good thing,
but sometimes old bearings need to be replaced. Similarly, replacing a
motor will require some work, but if handy, go for one of the industrial
used 3 phase units and use a replacement motor.

 

[SpringHollow]

3 phase rotary converters are much cheaper than 2 grand. For my shop, i have a 15 HP unit that was $1000 (including the 15 HP motor). A 5 HP unit is less than $500. Static converters are even cheaper but you only get 2/3rds power on your equipment. You can use variable frequency drives to generate 3 phase power. Someone i know got a surplus one for $150 for his 3 phase (no idea what loads his can drive).

I saved the cost of the converter on the first piece of equipment I bought. But i would seriously look into the VFD if I was going to do it again.

Having said all that, if this was the only machine you were going to have, i would go single phase. Personally, i would look into a used combination Drill/Mill units or a used full size mill - Bridgeport mills are dirt cheap in California.

Ken

 

[ultrarunner]

3 phase rotary converters are much cheaper than 2 grand. For my shop, i have a 15 HP unit that was $1000 (including the 15 HP motor). A 5 HP unit is less than $500. Static converters are even cheaper but you only get 2/3rds power on your equipment. You can use variable frequency drives to generate 3 phase power. Someone i know got a surplus one for $150 for his 3 phase (no idea what loads his can drive).

I saved the cost of the converter on the first piece of equipment I bought. But i would seriously look into the VFD if I was going to do it again.

Having said all that, if this was the only machine you were going to have, i would go single phase. Personally, i would look into a used combination Drill/Mill units or a used full size mill - Bridgeport mills are dirt cheap in California.

Ken

When I bought my Bridgeport years ago it cost a lot!

All the shops that we used to do business with... Mom and Pop and 30 to 40 employee job shops are all gone... everyone of them. I've seen some equipment go for nearly scrap prices at times in the SF Bay Area.

Doubt you will find a Bridgeport with single phase... I know single phase was an expensive and rare option and that is why I ended up using a home made 1 hp rotary 3 phase converter.

 

[Willl]

Which one Eddie ?

I picked up the 43389 about 2 years ago and have been real pleased with it.

16 Speed Floor Drill Press

 

[woodlandfarms]

So all good info, but what should I be looking at in a used? Or heck in a new? The DP would be for metal work, and potentially cutting out 1.25" holes on some steel for an upcoming project.