Buying Advice Good/cheap drill press for making 1/2" holes

[smokey_truck]

Hi all
Good/cheap drill press for making 1/2" holes in 1/4" or 1/2" plate metal. Which you do you guys suggest and what capacity I should buy. I want it to last for long time and I am not frequent user of the tool

Any inputs are appreciated

Ganesh

 

[tulenutn2o]

Hi all
Good/cheap drill press for making 1/2" holes in 1/4" or 1/2" plate metal. Which you do you guys suggest and what capacity I should buy. I want it to last for long time and I am not frequent user of the tool

Any inputs are appreciated

Ganesh

Good and Cheap do not belong in the same sentence. Good is generally not cheap. And "Cheap" is not good. I'm all for inexpensive. Garage/estae sales and auctions usually turn up reasonably priced equipment.

 

[tulenutn2o]

Any one will last a long time if you don't use it.

 

[smokey_truck]

Any one will last a long time if you don't use it.

I will pass you on for this comment because you answered in previous reply. Hey really Cheap/Good, for that matter Ryobi is holding up. Cheap/Good. I have a drill and angle grinder, I have been abusing that on my truck restoration project and still working like a horse or donkey. Either ways looking for one under 100 bucks and my requirement didn't change

Ganesh

 

[IslandTractor]

Hi all
Good/cheap drill press for making 1/2" holes in 1/4" or 1/2" plate metal. Which you do you guys suggest and what capacity I should buy. I want it to last for long time and I am not frequent user of the tool

Any inputs are appreciated

Ganesh

I'd think you'd want 1hp at least along with 200rpm or lower speed unless you are very patient or have very few holes to drill. Looking in craigslist for a 20year old 1hp drill press from a reputable US maker like Powermatic, Rockwell or Delta would be the cheapest way to go (about 250-400 in my neighborhood) or something new like the 1hp floor drill press from Harbor Freight which costs about $300 or less with coupons/sales etc.

 

[nickel plate]

Try grizzly.com their machinery is of reasonable price and although most of their product line is imported, I have one of their drill presses that I bought used on ebay and it has been holding up nicely over the years. Slow speeds and high torque are what you are looking for.

 

[smokey_truck]

I do not have too many holes to drill but when I need I need. But I am just tired with my drills, I have dewalt one a good one but I run out of patience. you said 200 rpm, that sounds too low and is it good to that low for metal.

Thanks though

Ganesh

 

[IslandTractor]

you said 200 rpm, that sounds too low and is it good to that low for metal.

Metal is supposed to be drilled at very low speeds. 200rpm or less with oil lubricant is what is recommended. Faster and you will just burn up your drill bits.

 

[lostcause]

most any will do fine for 1/2" holes. when you get much larger than that you want to be getting into something that will do under 200 rpm. generally this is the price point and availability point. 250-300rpm can be had any where - new and used for $100-$300. when you want to go slower in steel, the presses get larger and the cost does too. i was seriously considering a jet jpd-20mf. it's a 300lb 1 1/2hp press with a large base and table. problem is, even the summer price dropped from $999 to $749 was more than i really wanted to dump into a drill press. harbor freight sells a clone of it too: number 39955 for $450 plus another $100 or so to ship it.

if you want to eventually do larger steel, i'd go with something like one of these. pray you can find a used one maybe? otherwise, buy a $100 craigslist small one and resell it if it becomes too small. i just bought a used mill/drill with a bunch of tooling for $550. hopefully that will serve me well. the $1.10 part that should make it completely operational will be here in a couple days.

 

[Soundguy]

Hi all
Good/cheap drill press for making 1/2" holes in 1/4" or 1/2" plate metal. Which you do you guys suggest and what capacity I should buy. I want it to last for long time and I am not frequent user of the tool

Any inputs are appreciated

Ganesh

lets see.. 'good' 'cheap' 'long life'

those don't work.

drilling plate is also a function of good drill bits.

guess it's not something you could torch or plasma cutter out is it? does it have to be precise?

get some cutting oil too.

I have an old kmart drill press.. it's not great but does most of my stuff... good bits ar ethe most of it..

soundguy

 

[MESSMAKER]

The Harbor Freight model that goes on sale for about $175 is everywhere around here. I'd look at it first unless a good used one popped up.

 

[/pine]

Have you tried drilling a smal pilot hole (with oil) first then step it up half way to the desired dia. ? ( using oil on each progression)...

Also you might look the "Unibitts"...I drill holes over 1" dia. with a Dewalt hand held drill in up to 1/4" common steel...

If you want a drill press...check the pawn shops...most are loaded with tools...

 

[Diamondpilot]

I bought a Cheap one at Home Depot. Not sure if its good or not but I have drilled tons of holes but never many at one time. Most in a day would probably be 25 and I would guess no more than 200 in a year. Anyway I have it set at around 150 rpm and with a set of HF bits that go upto 1", cutting oil, and a small vise and some clamps I have had great success.

I have less than $250 in the press, bits, vise, clamps, and cutting oil.

Chris

 

[mostly_gas]

The worst thing about a cheep drill press is the chuck, which will be worse with the smaller bits. Good HSS bits no slop in the spindle bearings and good chuck will give bests results.

 

[flusher]

Hi all
Good/cheap drill press for making 1/2" holes in 1/4" or 1/2" plate metal. Which you do you guys suggest and what capacity I should buy. I want it to last for long time and I am not frequent user of the tool

Any inputs are appreciated

Ganesh

I have this Rigid DP from Home Depot three years ago

RIDGID 15 In. Stationary Drill Press - DP1550 at The Home Depot

Cost me $249 on sale. Works fine.

 

[timswi]

I have this Rigid DP from Home Depot three years ago

RIDGID 15 In. Stationary Drill Press - DP1550 at The Home Depot

Cost me $249 on sale. Works fine.

My dad had somthing similar to that while I was growing up...We beat that thing to death, belts were and still are the only issue. Keep anything with a hole that big clamped down, or you'll be hurtin.

 

[Pops15]

I agree with the others. Cheap is cheap and good is good. You mentioned having Ryobi and DeWalt power tools. If you're happy with those you'll be happy with just about any drill press. If I were looking for a drill press at a budget price I'd be looking for a quality used piece. I'd rather have a quality 30 or 40 year old drill press than a POS new HF piece at the same price.

 

[MESSMAKER]

I agree with the others. Cheap is cheap and good is good. You mentioned having Ryobi and DeWalt power tools. If you're happy with those you'll be happy with just about any drill press. If I were looking for a drill press at a budget price I'd be looking for a quality used piece. I'd rather have a quality 30 or 40 year old drill press than a POS new HF piece at the same price.

A good one on the used market is great. The Hf 43378 is the same as the Ridgid and Craftsman. Made by Chin Shin as I recall. I have seen them in mechanic shops all over KY. I don't have one, do you? Here is what some owners say.WoodNet Forums: HF floor type drill press

 

[gregsons]

Your about a week late for posting this. I just sold a Richards Electromatic super die maker. This is a Drill press . table saw, and scroll saw all in one. it was BIG between 700 and 900 lbs. You will would be hard pressed to find something more heavy duty then this. im guessing it was new in the mid 50's.

I sold it for $150.00 cash

I would have kept it but it was too big.

 

[Soundguy]

some of them old tools are great.

I have a buddy with a huge table saw.. probably from 50's or early 60's.. thing is massive and has a huge table. I have a radial arm saw by craftsman from early 70's awesome machine.

soundguy