drill press buying

[Industrial Toys]

I bought a better than average cheap off shore floor model. It's done a pile of work but certain things broke which was an irritation. Like PLASTIC handles. I would buy a quality used (name brand) one if I had to do it again. Quality is quality and junk is junk! And the junk always looks EXACTLY like the good stuff.

BTW, I REALLY REALLY like the built in light on mine. Not something you would probably find on an older name brand one.

 

[Budweiser John]

for years I had an ole “helmet head” Boice Crane C-19 40 edition.
Over the years the runout became unacceptable especially using larger drill bits so I traded it to a mason friend in exchange for some masonry work. I ended up buying an “off shore” mill and drill machine with an x-y table adjustment, variable speed, and 1/2” chuck.
It didn’t take long to realize the advantage of the table adjustment especially when drilling a number of equally spaced holes spaced in a straight line.
On the assurance of the industrial supply house where I spent my money that the quality of the imported unit was equal to Jet, Powermatic, and General I will say after several years of use, i’m A happy camper.

B. John

 

[radios1]

one major consideration is adjustable quill play, without being able to adjust the play in the quill, the bits used can walk all over the place.. who wants junk like that?.. believe it or not, many drill presses of the cheap variety don't have that!.. if you see on display in a store, brill the quill down, then wobble it, if it does wobble, and has no adjustment to stop that, it's Junk!..

 

[Industrial Toys]

I never knew that. Where are the adjustments?

 

[CPTKILLER]

A good used US made drill press beats any of the Asian junk available now.

I was a career manufacturing engineer. I worked with machine tools all for all of my career.

 

[radios1]

I never knew that. Where are the adjustments?

the good presses have this already.. Drill Press: Quill Play Fix: 7 Steps (with Pictures) and you can look here for more examples. drill press quill adjustment - Google Search

 

[Industrial Toys]

Interesting. I don't remember having much issue with bits walking. And the way I have abused my drill press with circle cutters and 6" hole saws would make me wonder how it stood up. Did I say, I like the built in light?

 

[Erik M]

One drill press is not enough, I have a General Canada 340, and a Buffalo 15 and Buffalo 18. Each is better for some things, not all in the same shop though. Fully agree with a used quality North American press over anything new. I have a VFD on the General and 18 to give excellent slowspeed control.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I had a large old off shore 600 volt, two speed reversing drill press with x-y table. I never used it and sold it. I was always afraid it would rip my hand off for all the drilling one does by just holding something by hand. On the cheap one, the belts just slip.

Actually I need to do a bit of routing, and wish I still had the x-y table. Friends don't like doing my woodworking stuff on their Mills!

 

[ArlyA]

I still feel that the "off shore" drills biggest shortcoming is the lack of low speeds. Yes, they are are not fine tools for production work but they still suffice for my amateur jobs.