Drill Press?

Tdog · Apr 6, 2005

I am slowly setting up my shop to take some 1st steps in woodworking and I'd like to get a drill press - - any suggestions? What features should I look for or avoid. Are bench top models worth having? How large should I go? Obviously, a 17" is going to cost a lot more than a 12 ". And yes, price is a factor. I don't think I'll need a 'professional' model, but I'm willing to go $2-300.

thanks,

Jack

Jagmandave · Apr 6, 2005

I've had very good luck with an inexpensive one I bought from Harbor Freight. I bought a bench top, but they have floor models as well. If you're not into buying overseas stuff, go to your local Home Depot or Lowes for an American made brand (check the label tho)
Harbor Freight is online and usually shipping is free on orders over $50, also you might look at Grizzly Tools, also online. I bought a bandsaw from them that's been great - no problems - Chinese made tho, FYI.

gsganzer · Apr 6, 2005

I saw a nice Hitachi floor model at Lowe's the other day. Actually, it's an exact duplicate of the Craftsman model I have in my shop (now I know who built them for Craftsman). I think both models sell for about $260 or so.

They have an X-Y laser, that I could just as well do without. I still haven't figured out why you'd need a laser on a drill press. You want a multispeed model with a 5/8" minimum chuck size.

timb · Apr 6, 2005

The better Chi-Wan units are generally servicable, but plan on upgrading the chuck eventually for better accuracy/runout. Make sure you get the range of speeds you'll need (below 250 rpm on the low end if you want to run BIG wood bits) and pay attention to the spindle stroke. I have a Grizzly, now fitted with a heavy and precise Jacobs chuck (courtesy of ebay) that works fine so far for all of my wood/metal drilling needs and I have less than $230 in it.

texbaylea · Apr 6, 2005

I have a 17" Delta that I have had for a few years. A very good machine but they have gotten pricey lately. I would recommend that you look at Rigid at Home Depot or Grizzly. Grizzly tools are good and prices are reasonable. I am drooling over their wood mill but can't justify buying one.

Vernon

RobS · Apr 6, 2005

I have a 14" Delta benchtop. It's quite large for a benchtop and I'm not sure they even make that one anymore. What I like about it is the stand I made. Basically a narrow cabinet that it sits on and has the same height/footprint of the floor model. I can keep all my accessories in the cabinet, right where they are needed /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Bird · Apr 6, 2005

One feature I'd check is what speed it turns. I had a 5 speed cheap one from Tractor Supply Co. that generally served my purposes, but even though I kept it on the slowest of the 5 speeds, I often wished that it had an even slower speed.

btolle · Apr 6, 2005

I have a Ridgid that I bought from Lowe's or Home Depot. Got it home and it says "Made in China". I would not recommend it. If I had it to do over I would probably buy a Sears or a Harbor Freight.

BTW, when you mount the chuck clean the shaft and the inside of the chuck real well and then dust it with talcum powder or baby powder. My chuck was wobbling slightly and a guy who was working for me said that's what they used when he worked at a Black & Decker service center. Worked for me.

Bill Tolle

rswyan · Apr 7, 2005

( The better Chi-Wan units are generally servicable, but plan on upgrading the chuck eventually for better accuracy/runout. The better Chi-Wan units are generally servicable, but plan on upgrading the chuck eventually for better accuracy/runout. )
I picked up a Craftsman 17" floor model that was a closeout, floor display model at a pretty good price (about $130 off regular) Appears to be very similar to Wilton's stuff.

The fit on side adjustment bolt to take the play out of the quill was very poor - stripped it out the first time I tried to adjust it. Tapped the hole to 7/16-24 and had a friend machine me a couple of new adjustment screws.

After that I still had real bad runout - you could see the chuck wobbling all over the place. Pulled the chuck and arbor out, disassembled and cleaned them up several times, still wobbling all over. In looking at the lastest Enco Hot Deals catalog the other dayI noticed that they had Jacobs Super Chucks on sale, so I ordered one, along with a Jacobs arbor, and they arrived on Monday. WOW !!!! Compared to the original chuck it was gigantic ! (see attached image) And they are both 5/8" capacity chucks.

Installed it yesterday ....... the difference is like night and day .... I haven't put the dial indicator on it and measured the runout but it definitely tracks much better. Money well spent in my book.

SnowRidge · Apr 7, 2005

I have a Ridgid that I bought from Lowe's or Home Depot. Got it home and it says "Made in China". I would not recommend it. If I had it to do over I would probably buy a Sears or a Harbor Freight. 

Can you be specific on what you don't like about the Ridgid drill press? I assume it is not as simple as being made in China, since that is where most of HF and Sears stuff comes from.