Adequate drill press specs

[msjanket]

I want to be doing more of my own repair work on my current equipment and realize I need a drill press. I would guess that a press should probably be able to drill a half inch hole in 3/4" thick mild steel. What kind of HP motor will be adequate for this drilling capability? I see many used ones, some that are sorta antiques but still working good, but most have around 1/3 HP, probably inadequate? I would also expect that a press should be able to turn slowly, say 250 rpm as minimum.
Any suggestions that would help me buy a second hander that has adequate power for the tasks at hand?

 

[dfkrug]

If you want to do thick steel, it is not about the power, it is the speed. Low speed. It is hard
to find anything new today that spins under 250 RPM, unless it is an expensive, geared-head model.

I have the biggest unit you can buy that uses belt drive, and I always run it at it's lowest speed.
It is the HF 20" wet table "production" drill press. I wish it would go slower yet, as it still spins
at a bit over 200RPM. Definitely better than my old 16 1/2" Delta.

Consider a vintage floor-standing press, if you can find one in good shape. Some of those are
good for as low as 150RPM.

I hope to modify mine, eventually to get it down to 100RPM, or less.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I think most have 1/3 to 1/2 HP motors that are for home use. That should be adequate for home use since they are geared(belt drive reduction)pretty low. I too have thought about getting one, but just don't drill that many holes. Most of my drilling is with my 20V battery powered and occasionally I break out my 1/2" drive 110V hand drill for the larger than 1/2" holes. I find that I can do most anything I need with those 2 drill motors.
I did have a Harbor Freight 1/2" drive hammer drill but the hammer quit working and the gears stripped out after very little use so I wouldn't recommend those.

 

[4570Man]

Mine turns 60 rpm and is 2 hp. It's plenty of power and I use the low speed a lot. I wouldn't want less than 3/4 HP.

 

[ultrarunner]

Look for one that has low speed...

Older is often a much better value all around.

 

[downsizingnow48]

I got this 1950's era Duro from Craigslist. It was not working. What caught my eye is that someone added an intermediate pulley that slows the 1725 rpm motor speed down to 130rpm at the spindle. It has a 1/3 hp motor. It will drill 1/2" in mild steel with a twist drill and 1" with a hole saw. I wouldn't necessarily recommend this solution, but it works for me, and illustrates the point that low rpm is the main factor for drilling mild steel. Rather than big or expensive.

 

[ultrarunner]

I ended up buying a Bridgeport Mill when all I started out looking for was a heavy duty drill press.

Don't regret my buy for a moment... but the 2000 pounds made moving a challenge.

Lots of good old iron for sale cheap once you find it.

and yes... it has very low backgear speed as well as high speed.

 

[Beltzington]

I want to be doing more of my own repair work on my current equipment and realize I need a drill press. I would guess that a press should probably be able to drill a half inch hole in 3/4" thick mild steel. What kind of HP motor will be adequate for this drilling capability? I see many used ones, some that are sorta antiques but still working good, but most have around 1/3 HP, probably inadequate? I would also expect that a press should be able to turn slowly, say 250 rpm as minimum.
Any suggestions that would help me buy a second hander that has adequate power for the tasks at hand?

Here is my experience - Just like you I was looking for a quality used Drill Press and was ok with spending $500-600 dollars. I had settled on trying to find a well kept old Craftsman floor model when I stumbled onto a Harbor Freight 1/3 HP bench top press for $40. That was three years ago, it has performed well for my minimal needs and I have easily drilled 1/2" holes through 3/8" bar steel. My only complaint is it has allot of drill bit run-out so I could not use it for precision drilling but I'm not building aircraft. I have learned allot using this small press manly drill slow, use enough cutting fluid to keep the bit from over heating and getting dull. My suggestion is maybe lower your sights and go cheap until you figure out what works and doesn't. Whatever you decide I have had good luck with Kobalt HS bits and Rapid-Tap cutting fluid. Good Luck.

 

[ArlyA]

When I looked for a new press, lower speeds didn't seem to exist and I'd say 250 is pretty fast for a 1/2 bit. Then I found this outfit, Rouge fabrication who made kits to slow drills down. The have three kits from 4 to 1, up to 16 to 1 reductions. I've not got one yet but I sure would like to get it and slow my drill down.

Product Categories Drill Press Reduction Kits

 

[Turbys_1700]

Last year I found a 16 speed Harbor Freight Central Machinery floor unit off Craigslist. It was barely used. 16 Speeds, 1 HP motor, and the lowest speed setting is 200 RPM. Is it the best quality out there? Absolutely not. Is it adequate for the majority of home owners and occasional users? Yes. Good luck in your search.