New Drill Press

[the old grind]

Not what the OP was asking for but as some may have mentioned an electric variable speed on the drill press is very nice. I have one with a rheostat and DC motor that I bought from someone . Very usefull when drilling 1/2" holes or larger holes. Also has reverse. Search around as there are many articles about how to install a variable speed treadmill motor on a drill press.

I use a 50a bridge rectifier ($5) and a HFT router speed control ($20) back & forth between two DC treadmill motors on re-powered shop machines. No cpacitor is used on the DC output as it would defeat the PWM operation that gives good torque at low RPM/volts vs say a rheostat, carbon pile, or autotransformer w/rectifier.

 

[5030]

I might be in the market if either of you are close and still have one you’re looking to part with-thanks.

I am. I'm on the other side of the state but I get out your way often. I own 154 acres of hardwood hunting ground north of GR, just south of Big Rapids so I'm up and down 131 all the time.

 

[5030]

The issue with buying a used vertical mill (like a Bridgeport) is, inherently, people quit taking care of machines when they plan on selling them and rebuilding a head on a Bridgeport or a Lagun or a Wells Index isn't an easy task. The bearings (4 sets in a Bridgeport) are ABEC Class 3 bearings and the preload has to be set correctly or you destroy them plus disassembly is complex. Been to many machinery auctions and passes on many machines because of the work involved in making them right because they were neglected.

Why I buy new. I take care of my machine tools, treat them like my kids. TIR on any spindle is paramount to me.

 

[redobbin]

I have a Grizzly 20” and it meets all the requirements you laid out. I have been using it for about 15 years with no issues. FYI used forstners and hole saws in excess of 2”

 

[Trog777]

I shopped a long time before I found a good used machine. IMO there is no new "good" drill presses that are affordable. If you have the money, great. If not. Shop for a used Ellis, Clausing,
Walker Turner, Delta Rockwell, Atlas, Craftsman...

 

[5030]

My last vertical mill was over 25 grand and the last surface grinder I bought was 7 grand. I purchased a couple floor lathes at Technical school auctions because they were used very little and the LeBlond Servo Shift I bought still had the cosmoline on the bed ways. I consider LeBlond to be the paramount of toolroom lathes.

I do have one offshore built floor lathe, a 16 x 60 geared head, fully tooled Taiwan machine and I was surprised it was as good as it is. Got the machine complete for under a grand. Even has a pressure lubed geared head and quick change (Metric SAE and ISO) thread choices. Even has SKF bearings in the headstock. Came with a handwheel closer and 4 chucks, one 3 jaw scroll, a 4 jaw independent, a 6 jaw scroll and an 8 jaw oilfield style and the head is D1-4 too. Full set of collets and a couple Jacobs taper chucks.

 

[5030]

I guess the op didn't like my asking price on the Craftsman / Atlas drill press, but I won't give it away as it's not in the way anyway. I think 500 bucks for a drill press of the caliber with zero spindle runout and a drill press vise in pristine (as in no rust anywhere) and prefect working condition is very reasonable and I'm only offering it because I don't use it enough to keep it.

If anyone is interested that is my price and I'm very firm on it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

No wonder mine sold instantly, I sold it for what I had into it, and it was a lot less than 500.

SR

 

[crazyal]

I have an older Craftsman DP that I bought new. It was one of my fist purchases of a tool for myself. I paid $600 for it and it was the largest they sold at the time. But now that I'm more into woodworking I'm finding that I need one for metal working and one that's free of cutting oil for wood. Sooner or later I'll find an older mill. Even if the bearings aren't in perfect shape or there's some runout it'll still be better than my C-man. Just trying to use a 1/2" endmill to make a countersunk hole for a allen head (not flat) screw is enough to make the cast iron flex. At least with bad bearings you can replace them if needed. Not much you can do about flexing metal.

 

[5030]

No wonder mine sold instantly, I sold it for what I had into it, and it was a lot less than 500.

SR

Inflation has devalued the dollar consequently, things cost more.

You need to get after yours with some steel wool (000) and an oily rag...lol

I might put it on Facebook Marketplace. Who knows. Nit all that motivated to sell it anyway. The thread just jogged my memory, nothing more.

How about a well kept 16 x 60 geared head toolroom lathe, completely tooled (aloris BXA tool post) for say 4000 bucks? You get to move it too. Weights about 3500 pounds.