New Drill Press

[BravoXray]

I replaced the single phase motor on my 17" Craftsman drill press with a 3 phase motor and added a VFD. Now I have speeds from 0 to 3300 just by turning a knob. I love it and use it on nearly a daily basis.

 

[5030]

If I remember correctly, the one I own has about 12 spindle speeds via step pulley. Freq drive isn't a bad idea but in my case, because I use a vertical mill most of the time, I have no need to convert it.

 

[Ed Weber]

Powermatic has a new gear drive drill press, pricey though.

 

[1971K20]

I use a Milwaukee Magnetic drill, it will go as slow as you need, fantastic for Stainless, you need a stout Steel table to use it for a shop drill.

 

[LibraryMark]

If you can find an old milling machine it will make a drill press seem like a piece of garbage.

Thumbs up on this comment! And if you get one with power downfeed it really helps drilling large holes. And having a milling machine opens up a whole new world in metal working, especially if it has a DRO. If it's a three phase machine you can get a single phase variable speed drive for it and have all kinds of speed control.

However, I have not thrown away my bench drill press even though I have a vertical milling machine. Some jobs are just faster to set up on it.

 

[balrog006]

I have a real nice Craftsman floor drill press that I'd sell you. It's an early model with a cast iron table and base, not the current cheap stuff. It's capable of low speeds, I drill steel with it all the time. Comes with an angle capable drill press vise too and built in work light.

Good bearings, NO spindle runout at all. I tend to use one of my Bridgeport mills for drilling anyway and not the drill press. It's American made (Kalamazoo, Michigan) too.

I see you are local to me (Michigan). If interested, shoot me a PM.

I have two of those Sears drill presses, and I'd sell one of them too, as I'm drill press poor!!

SR

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

 

[sallyb]

I have used my HF Drill Press for just metal drilling for over 5 yrs. I have no complaints, and frankly thought it would only last for the one project I was doing at the time, their 14” metal chop saw didn’t last the project, have bought another HF and so far it does what it should.

 

[Al 2]

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.

 

[Flad]

Hi' I am a retired Maintenance Fitter/turner, As far as I know you will not get a NEW decent drill press for 1K that will give you the power or low enough speed to drill 1" holes be it a drill bit or hole saw in steel over 1/8" thick, cheaper drill presses will do the job but you will either burn out the hole saw or over load and burn out the drive belts if the motor dose not burn out first. If the smallest size pulley sheath on the motor is less than 1"dia it is only suitable for wood or up to 1/2" in steel.

Best bet is to find a used industrial drill press either a geared head or 12 to 16 speed belt driven, No3 MT spindle that way you can get a chuck up to 3/4" but most common size is 1/2" to 5/8" with a spindle depth of 6" or more you can even get a collet chuck with a set of collets , 30RPM low speed with a reversing switch also lets you tap threaded holes squarely without the need for a tapping chuck you just have to be ready to reverse the motor, I do a lot of tapping on my machine up to 3/4" unf. A floor mounted with a wind up table and a decent table lock is desirable, square or round table is not much of an issue, mine is round and has a 12 position indexing table I have never found a use for. it's a Parker Australian made precision drill press built around 1990 and weighs around 100kg.

I got mine really cheap at auction because it had a three phase motor on it with a bent foot plate mount, it was hit with a fork lift, replaced it with a single phase 1200 rpm 1 hp motor $175 Total cost $575 AU.

Do yourself a favor and stay away from any of the cheap Chinese light weight crap even their mill drills are garbage.

 

[tree grower]

I would not recommend a Clarke. Bought one a few yrs ago from Tractor Supply and broke it when inserting the chuck per their instructions. They gave me the run-around for several months until the State's consumer protection office wrote them a letter. Besides, I wouldn't say mine is up to the performance stds required by jjeff.