New Drill Press

[5030]

I have two of those Sears drill presses, and I'd sell one of them too, as I'm drill press poor!!

SR

He's closer to me than you....

A decade ago or longer I was looking at mag drills for work really wish I would have bought one then.

I have a Haugen with annular cutters. Nice mag drill and very expensive too. I bought mine about 20 years ago and they were expensive then. They are extremely expensive now. The annular cutters are also expensive. I don't think you can touch one today under 2 grand though I haven't looked lately.

 

[5030]

The Baleigh I posted a photo of has the infinite variable speed. That is nice! Never will use its cooling system.

Aren't they built offshore somewhere? Isn't everything today?

 

[5030]

Here's my BIG drill press, I have $600.00 in trade into it,

I only use it when I really need it, as I have other drill presses for smaller stuff.

To the OP, have you considered a magnetic drill for bigger holes?? Then keep your PC press for the smaller stuff. A good mag drill works fantastic!

SR

Mag drills are big bucks today for a good one and like I said above, the annular cutters are also expensive.

I just use one of the Bridgeports I own for large hole drilling and if it's a really big hole in an odd shaped piece, I use a boring head.

I see you DO have one of the old quailty built Craftsman drill presses as well. Good machines.

You need to 'get after' those columns' with some 000 steel wool and and an oily rag. you have a surface rust issue. I keep my shop heated and air conditioned in the summer so the RH stays low and no surface rust.

 

[ArlyA]

Aren't they built offshore somewhere? Isn't everything today?

I think it came from Taiwan????? But I'm not sure. I would say its a good product.

 

[5030]

I think it came for Taiwan????? But I'm not sure. I would say its a good product.

Th quality of any product built offshore is entirely dependent on the oversight of the domestic buyer. IOW, if they can slide on something, they do. Good example is Makita. The Japanese built stuff is good but so is the Chinese stuff because they have constant oversight at the factory. Makita markets their China built tools as 'Tanaka'. I have one of the chainsaws and other then the body color (orange and black) versus the deep blue, it's an identical copy at a much reduced price.

Oversight is everything. That is what Grizzly does too. They spend a lot of time in the Asian factories making sure their stuff is built right.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Depends on the brand of mag drill, I know someone who has a much lower priced mag drill than 2K, and it works REALLY good. He's got Chinese cutters too, and they also are of good quality...

There are youtubes of guys buying cheaper ones and they worked pretty good.

SR

 

[rScotty]

IF your Porter Cable already is working for you, and will handle the drilling chores you have, I think I'd look hard at gearing it down to go slower and build a much better tensioning system. Buy pulleys and slow it down, then make a screw system to tension the belt.

That will cost you less too...

SR

That's maybe what I'd do, too. First thing I'd do is look at the Porter Cable and see if you like the rest of the drill press - except for the tensioning system. If so, then improve the tensioning system. PCs do have a good rep.
I'd bypass the HF or Grizzley in favor of a real nice older drill press every time.

I do have some thoughts on using a mill as a drill, because I lucked into a nice little 220 Volt mill from WWII vintage that is about half the size of a Bridgeport. Found it on Ebay and had it shipped from Chicago.
Originally three phase, but I bought a 3 to 2 phase converter and a variable frequency drive. That combo with a multiple pulley gives the three phase motor monster torque right down to almost zero RPM. For big drills I often run it at around 50 rpm... or less.

An old mill is nice for drilling - they typically have wonderful vises, hold-downs, and will do angles. But there are downsides. On most mills, the quill doesn't throw as far a drill press. So you are forever moving the table up and down. Of course it will mill as well. I'm no machinist, but it only takes a day to figure out basic milling. Plus you can crank up the speed and it makes a dandy router in metal, plastic, or wood.
rScotty

 

[5030]

My Bridgeports have 7" of spindle travel and what I really like is the 3 speed power downfeed.

 

[5030]

Depends on the brand of mag drill, I know someone who has a much lower priced mag drill than 2K, and it works REALLY good. He's got Chinese cutters too, and they also are of good quality...

There are youtubes of guys buying cheaper ones and they worked pretty good.

SR

Been down the Chinese cutter road before but then I mostly use carbide insert tooling anyway. I use Ken Metal or Iscar.

I don't much care for Chinese cutters in general but then again, you get what you pay for as with anything. The Chinese haven't really perfected hardening high speed steel in my experience.

As a rule, I only watch YT vids for entertainment. Most of them are worthless blatherings by people who don't really have a clue.

 

[5030]

Porter Cable

FYI, Porter Cable is all offshore now. Having said that I have a PC 4 1/2" angle grinder I beat the heck out of and it still running but... First thing I did was pull the right angle gear drive apart, flushed out the goo junk grease that was inside and regreased it with a quality synthetic grease. The Chinese grease leaves a whole lot to be desired. Looks like dark yellow petroleum jelly, but it could be sweet and sour sauce as well.

The Bauer corded grinder and the PC grinder are one in the same.