Drill Press for BIY projects

[lhfarm]

My $25 farm sale over-seas bench drill press died in the middle of my latest project. I don't do lots of projects, so I don't need an industrial model. Just need something to drill holes in thick metal now and then. I stopped by Sears and they have their 12" bench top and 15" floor models on sell. Are there advantages to having a big floor model? What would be a good setup for the types of projects found here?

Thanks,

 

[RonMar]

My $25 farm sale over-seas bench drill press died in the middle of my latest project. I don't do lots of projects, so I don't need an industrial model. Just need something to drill holes in thick metal now and then. I stopped by Sears and they have their 12" bench top and 15" floor models on sell. Are there advantages to having a big floor model? What would be a good setup for the types of projects found here?

Thanks,

Probably the biggest advantage of a floor model is the ability to run a tubeing notcher and also be able to drill holes in the end of longer objects... I have a 1/2HP fairly large drillpress that is a bench version(got a screaming deal on it surplus). I am looking for the pipe assembly to convert it to a floor model for these 2 reasons.

 

[jmc]

Barry,

I had an imported drill press that seemed to have the speeds setup for wood rather than metal. For regular drill bits in mild steel, 100 surface feet/minute (with lubrication) should be about tops for good drill bit life. That translates into about 750 RPM for a 1/2" drill bit, 1500 RPM for a 1/4", and 375 for a 1" drill bit. The next most important thing to me is chuck runout. Put a shaft in the chuck, turn it on slow, and see how much it wobbles.

John

 

[wushaw]

I have had the 15" Sears floor model for about three years now, it has drilled many holes in 1/2" plate.

The floor model type is all I have ever used at any place I have worked so that's what I got and it works for what I do with it.

Also if your bench space is limited then the floor model doesn't take up much floor space.

 

[4720 OWNER]

Depending on needs and set up, the bench model can always go sit on the shelf for a while and not take up any space at all, unless not enough shelves. I would vote for bench with some way of securing to the bench.

 

[patrick_g]

I have been using a Harbor Freight Floor model drill press, the 16 speed green one for over 15 years with no problems. I don't run a machine shop but I do drill metal way more than wood with it. You can stall it (slip the belts or stall the motor) if you feed a large bit too fast. I drill holes up to 1 inch in metal over 1/4 inch thick. Above that diameter I lean toward my plasma cutter. It will drill much thicker metal if you take your time and use good cutting fluid, I just don't have need to do it often.

My wife won a continuously variable speed bench model Delta drill press as a door prize, It is a really nice bench top model. I use it about once for every several hundred times I use my HF unit. Sometimes for convenience when two setups are really handy I use it but it goes unused for months at a time.

Pat

 

[Nat]

I'm with Pat. I have an old 16 sp HF floor model that I've drilled many,many holes with. It isn't a precision or production model, but I have drilled many 1" holes in 1" thick metal and drilled 4" holes with a hole saw. I can slip the belts and the chuck has come loose on occassion, but for the 149.95 I paid for it, well worth the money.Later, Nat

 

[mopacman]

I have a sears floor model next time I will buy a harbor freight one of higher quality.........Larry

 

[Erik_in_Hoyt]

bench model costs a lot less.
floor model generally has less run-out on the chuck and a bigger motor/more speeds.
floor model can handle taller objects and larger drill bits.

bench model costs a lot less ($60-$99 depending on if you go HF or name brand) and if you bolt the base to the edge of your workbench, you can turn the head backwards on the stand so it can double as a light duty floor model.

with that said, if you have the funds and floor space, you would likely find the versatility of the floor model worth the extra $$.

 

[schmism]

i looked for a chineese benchtop with as many speeds as i could find.... found me like a 18 spd .... the belt setup needed work, but i make it work for me.... i can get it down to some really low speeds for drilling large holes in steel.