Shop Drill Press

[Manatwork]

Buying a new shop drill press
I would like to find out what you guys are using and if you like it.
I'm looking at Delta 20", Craftsman 20" Wilton 20" and Jet 20".
Also if you have any epinions or comments let me know. Would like to be
informed before I buy.
Michael

[frankenfab]

I have this one from Harbor Freight. I got it on sale for $179. I have no complaints.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=43389

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/43300-43399/43389.gif

[jmhinescj]

I'm using a craftsman 16 in. It's just like most of the chinese ones you see (hitachi, Jet). I like my table as well as the r&p mechanism on mine more than the harbor freight models. My dad's neighbor has a relatively new Delta, to me they seem overpriced.

[69CJ]

I have this. Slow spin speed if necessary and you can adjust speed without by turning a knob rather than switching belts out. They shipped it without the sheetmetal top cover, I called them and they expedited it out to me. I've have no problems with this press and I work it pretty hard.

J.
Ohana Fab - Denver

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0000A25TO/qid=1148211187/sr=8-2/ref=pd_bbs_2/002-6117975-8933646?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013

[James_Fendley]

I have the 20" Delta. Same as the Craftsman and Jet. The drill chuck was junk. Changed it to a Jacobs superchuck. Only Picture I have of it. I think it goes down to 150 rpm's.

James

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y297/Rock_Climber/DSCN1681.jpg

[BajaBilly]

Harbor Freight is ok for a few chosen items, but not for their drill press. The chuck is complete junk. Lots of runout seems to be a common thing with them.

I run a 15" craftsman with 12 speeds. I like it.
Has 5/8" cap. and 300 rpm for low. Sometimes I wish it went lower rpm's but it's not bad.

[Gouky]

i went with the floor model they sell at TSC. the chuck is extremely strait and it's never given me any problems.

the motor is extremely anemic but that's not a problem when cutting steel because you use so much gear reduction to slow it down anyways. 1/4 or 1/3 HP motor is more than enough to make quick work of steel in the 180-200RPM range. 1/3HP is about minimum if it dosen't go below 250RPM or so. you don't want to go any faster than that for steel to save your bits.

[Kartracer55]

James... watch out for the metal around those gear wrenhes. My friend had a gearwrench branded one and he had one just lock up totally, and were pretty sure it was because he constantly had them around his DP, bench grinder etc. IDk, just a thought.

Jim

[jwbures]

I have had a JET 17incher for some time now and love it.

[Grimjaw]

I just bought a Palmgren 80154 15" Heavy Duty 12-Speed Floor Drill Press from Amazon.com.


http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00068U7YU/103-0608021-4502253?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=228013

HP: 1/2
Spindle Travel: 5"
Column Dia.: 2.84"
Table (L x W): 12" x 12"
Speed Range: 200 - 2720 RPM
Quill Dia.:2.59"

The motor is a bit light weight but if it burns it can be replaced. I liked the reviews and the spindle travel.

[D60]

This comes up pretty often

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=337094

http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/showthread.php?t=360285

[tennessee rockhumper]

craftsman, jet, delta, harbor freight, blah, blah.........all made in china.

am i the only one that thinks these all look identical? i went to harbor freight, then sears, then online, except for the chuck and some stickers, they all look the same.

[Rerock]

craftsman, jet, delta, harbor freight, blah, blah.........all made in china.

am i the only one that thinks these all look identical? i went to harbor freight, then sears, then online, except for the chuck and some stickers, they all look the same.

I was gonna say that my 17" Craftsman looks alot like that JET press a couple posts above. Different colors and all, but I bet that lid flips up and you can ajdust RPM's by changing belts on the pulley's...

[D60]

but I bet that lid flips up and you can ajdust RPM's by changing belts on the pulley's...

Which would be true for virtually all stationary drill presses......

[Manatwork]

Thanks for all the feedback. I appreiciate the replies
Yes, I know that Delta, Craftsman, Jet, HF, Wilton and there are many, many more. All these DP are made in China, The problem is that a China "Industrial DP" is around 400 to 900 $. The cheapest American made DP I have found Starts at 1600$. I was trying to get an idea if fabricators were happy with there China DP and if it would last more than a couple years. I'm starting my own 4x4/welding shop and need something to get me started.
Thanks again.
Michael

[Pook]

another option

Most drill presses never go slow enough unless you mess with the pulleys, but I did this and it works really good

I bought a used old 17" drill press that had a fried motor, scrounged up a 3phase 1.5 hp motor for it, and picked up frequency inverter that ran on 110volts. Gave me threephase power for the motor and infinite speed control.

Frequency drives can be found cheap on ebay.

[speedo]

Which would be true for virtually all stationary drill presses......

I have a Wilton 20" drill press that is gear drive, no belts. 1 hp 3 ph.

Gus

[4x4not]

I used to have on of those larger floor model HF drill presses. It was OK for what I paid (under $150 on sale) but it definately had A LOT of runout on the spindle. That was my only complaint with the whole press. The motor had plenty of power, it went slow enough for anything I needed, and the rest of the parts seemed to be put together OK. If I was doing production I wouldn't even consider it, but for a home fabricator it was fine. I wish I still had that one instead of what I have now.... nothing!

When I finally buy my own place or get a place with a garage again I'm going to look into used industrial equipment. It can be had for pretty cheap if you look around, and it is built SOLID.

[Rockrunner86]

I haven't picked up a drill press yet. I probally should soon. Here is what I use now for a drill press.

[unimogken]

When and if I ever make some room in my garage I will get a drill press from Grizzly. They have alot of different models to choose from.

No financial interests in the included link.
www.grizzly.com