Drill press suggestions?

[IDASHO]

I know this has been covered many times, but with the holiday shopping sales, figured it might be worth it.

Any suggestions for a sub $300 drill press? Floor or bench.

I know I want something in the 180-250 RPM range for drilling thick steel, and hardened steel. I also want something with some flexibility for future projects.

I dont do any tube work, so have no need or experience with notching, but I would like to pick up a drill press that would work for such projects if I find myself doing it in the future. Dont want to short myself.

Any suggestions?

Right now Im looking at HF and Northern. Anyplace else I should look?

[Haggar]

I have the $300 hf one, that you can get for about $140 when it goes on sale and you have a coupon. Its lowest speed is 200 rpm, it works quite well on heavy steel, the only issue I have with it is the chuck sucks, and very often the bit needs to be re-tightened.

[darkstar]

I have one of the HF ones also, and even with a Jacob's chuck on it (thanks craigslist, $40!) it still can't drill a round hole to save its life. The whole thing is as floppy and loose as a wet noodle.

Having said that, there is nothing else in its price range at all, so if your budget is really low, you have no choice. Still tons better than a vise and a hand drill.

[gunsablazin]

classifieds, you can find good deals on excellent machines if you are willing to wait for them.

[rock mafia]

Local home depot has theirs on closeout for $220, might want to try there.

[fLaT TiRe]

I like my big HF drill press....

only complaint is that it shakes like a mother fuker.

Get to HF soon if you go that route, since an actual legal coupon is available.

[krb]

The only way to get around the chatter is to buy a heavy duty(expensive)drill press,very old Rockwell etc-, or a vertical mill.$300 Taiwan/Chinese drill presses have their limits.
Also the way the workpiece is clamped and the proper use of tooling will have an effect on the quality of work.
You cant beat a vertical mill for drilling holes and holding location with its slow rpm and rigidity.Of course a CNC is better.

[TNToy]

Old one off Craigslist

[MikeW]

Don't waste your money on the new garbage especially Home Depot and HF, buy an older Delta DP.

[MikeW]

Heres one:

http://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/947851467.html

Consider these shopsmiths

http://boise.craigslist.org/tls/953968911.html

Complete Shopsmith

http://eastidaho.craigslist.org/tls/945192056.html

[IDASHO]

Thanks but no-thanks.

Gee, a $100 crapsman

And two shopsmiths that take up way too much room, and eat up coin I dont want to spend.

$300 cap dude.

Best ive found int the paper or Craigs list has been this one. Anybody able to ID it?

http://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/939881514.html

[MikeW]

Thanks but no-thanks.

Gee, a $100 crapsman

And two shopsmiths that take up way too much room, and eat up coin I dont want to spend.

$300 cap dude.

Best ive found int the paper or Craigs list has been this one. Anybody able to ID it?

http://spokane.craigslist.org/tls/939881514.html


That craftsman is better than the above.

It is NOT a Crapsman. It is made by Emerson, same company that makes Rigid. Get the crapsman. And its $75 for that. Better than that green random import brand POS

[ChiScouter]

Be patient, you only want to buy 1 drill press that you will keep forever. Keep checking CL and the local classifieds and something will turn up. If you have room get a floor model.

[FrenchChili]

You can find some great deals on craigslist, I got mine for $80!. Go fullsize, you won't regret it! Look for the good old stuff, all metal no plastic junk to worry about. This one is only 1/2hp but it easely drills 1" thick metal with a 3/4" bit. I have tried making 3" holes in 3/16" with no success, the belt starts slipping or it boggs down; at this point a 3/4-1hp would have be nice. It's great for eveything else. I don't like using oil when drilling so the little tube hooked to the drill feeds water to the bit by a fountain pump, it works awesome keeping it cool, saved many bits and cleans out the shavings at the same time. I say be patient and keep an eye out for the old iron.

http://i44.tinypic.com/70gu2f.jpg





http://i44.tinypic.com/9717h4.jpg

[willy05tj]

The only way to get around the chatter is to buy a heavy duty(expensive)drill press,very old Rockwell etc-, or a vertical mill.$300
i feel spoiled since i have one got 3 presses total and all are atleast 30years old and they work better than most new drill presses do

[cabletech]

I gave up on finding a used one locally. All of the ones I saw were either old Chinese hunks of crap, or Deltas that had been left outside for a few years (with flaking rust). No thanks... The perils of living in a smaller town.

I bought a new one. Steel City. It's out of the budget for this thread (it was $500), but I'm very happy with it. I think it's probably one of the better made in China presses out there. Runs quiet and smoothly, quill lock, and has 6" of spindle movement. Too bad you cannot buy a new American drill press for under $1000 these days - I'd have done it.

I agree on getting a floor standing. There will be times when you want to shove something 18" or taller under the DP, and a floor is the only way you'll be able to do it. I have a benchtop mill also, but the floor DP isn't going anywhere.

[ChiScouter]

Steel City tools are getting a pretty good rep around here. The story being told is that it is compromised of a bunch of Delta engineers that got let go after the Dewalt buyout. Suppousdly all their stuff is based on Delta stuff but improved upon wherever they can. They look pretty impressive in the tool store but I haven't used any in a shop setting nor am I vouching for the story above.

[Myanarchy]

You can find some great deals on craigslist, I got mine for $80!. Go fullsize, you won't regret it! Look for the good old stuff, all metal no plastic junk to worry about. This one is only 1/2hp but it easely drills 1" thick metal with a 3/4" bit. I have tried making 3" holes in 3/16" with no success, the belt starts slipping or it boggs down; at this point a 3/4-1hp would have be nice. It's great for eveything else. I don't like using oil when drilling so the little tube hooked to the drill feeds water to the bit by a fountain pump, it works awesome keeping it cool, saved many bits and cleans out the shavings at the same time. I say be patient and keep an eye out for the old iron.

http://i44.tinypic.com/70gu2f.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/9717h4.jpg

have the same one(free) and love it

[IDASHO]

Well, I got one today.

Ive been looking in the paper and on craigs list off and on for months, with no luck. And after hunting for one for 2 days over the weekend with no luck, the best deal yet was found right at my work.

I picked up a Shop Fox at work for dirt cheap. I know the tool guy, and he gave me a smokin' deal.

This one... http://www.northwestpowertools.com/drillpress/w1668.htm

Payed $150 for it. :smokin: Plus, I get the 2-year manufactures warranty, as well as the "hey tool-guy, my tool BROKE, fix it!" type of deal at work. :D

Yes it is a bench top, but it is BIG. Ill have to fab a low stand for it.

Ill post some pictures after it is assembled and set up. :smokin:

[diggtbks]

FrenchChili I found one just like yours for $60.00 but I had to straighten out the track the table rides on with my shop press. It was bowed out like a mofo. Recommend you grease that track and also the top/bottom collar. I got mine through a WTB add in the local classifieds......

[76scoutman]

I know it's too late since you already bought one but if I were to replace my crapsman press today I wouldn't think twice about buying a Rigid one from Homo Depot. We had 2 of these at work and they were really nice for the price. $300
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&productId=100037270

[MikeW]

I brought this last week and it is being shipped as of now from Ilinois as of now. Will buy a Baldor 3 phase off ebay as long as I can find the right one between 1hp and 1.5hp. Then hook it up to an VFD.

[Haggar]

You can find some great deals on craigslist, I got mine for $80!. Go fullsize, you won't regret it! Look for the good old stuff, all metal no plastic junk to worry about. This one is only 1/2hp but it easely drills 1" thick metal with a 3/4" bit. I have tried making 3" holes in 3/16" with no success, the belt starts slipping or it boggs down; at this point a 3/4-1hp would have be nice. It's great for eveything else. I don't like using oil when drilling so the little tube hooked to the drill feeds water to the bit by a fountain pump, it works awesome keeping it cool, saved many bits and cleans out the shavings at the same time. I say be patient and keep an eye out for the old iron.

FYI, a 3" holesaw should be run at about 120 rpm, looks like your minimum is 400. (I've been making LCA axle brackets with one today.)

That ends up being the issue with a lot of drill presses out there, they ar absolutely fine for wood, plastic, small drills, but to find one that can get down to 200rpm, 150rpm, etc, can be tough. Really helps keep the drill bits and hole saws sharp and the heat down.

[MikeW]

FYI, a 3" holesaw should be run at about 120 rpm, looks like your minimum is 400. (I've been making LCA axle brackets with one today.)

That ends up being the issue with a lot of drill presses out there, they ar absolutely fine for wood, plastic, small drills, but to find one that can get down to 200rpm, 150rpm, etc, can be tough. Really helps keep the drill bits and hole saws sharp and the heat down.

Thats why its nice to have a VFD

[ryan_m]

I got this old rockwell for $100 and it works great

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e238/ryan_mares/samurai133.jpg

[BIGJMCCONNELL]

Just picked this one up for $100. Buffalo Model #15. Not quite as nice as the other ones above but if you like old iron...
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df20b3127ccec657b71d4e3e00000040O02Abs3DVm4YsQ e3nwM/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47b9df20b3127ccec6563d07ef1d00000040O02Abs3DVm4YsQ e3nwM/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D720/ry%3D480/
I'll shine it up a bit and it should suit me just fine.

[cweed]

I have two just like the one FrenchChili posted. One I have had for 30 years now and the other I have had for 10 years. I have had no problems at all with either and have done thousands of projects over the years. The only thing I have done to the one that is 30 years old is replace the chuck because it wore out, still have the same V-belt. Of coarse it'll break now because I said something.

[nissancrawler]

I know you already have a press anyway, but for the rest, I would not recommend a HF press. I killed mine in under 2 years, the motor bushings/bearings went out, the spindle wobbled like a mother fucker, and growled.

I spent $400+$200 shipping on a 1.5 hp Jet (3/4" chuck, 20" swing) and love the thing. The chuck was wobbly, but they sent a new one within 4 days, and it works great. It's whisper quiet, and has all the power in the world.

I should've bought this one in the first place, rather than wasting $300 on a shitty HF one.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f56/chevyman_57/House/DSC00793.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f56/chevyman_57/House/DSC00792.jpg

[FrenchChili]

FrenchChili I found one just like yours for $60.00 but I had to straighten out the track the table rides on with my shop press. It was bowed out like a mofo. Recommend you grease that track and also the top/bottom collar. I got mine through a WTB add in the local classifieds......

That's a good deal! I thinking of greasing it but thought the shavings would stick and gunk up....Any probs?

[GRMhick]

I have a stand up Craftsman which I picked up at a yard sale for $65 with a bad chuck. ($400 drill press, sears wanted $180 for the chuck, guy bought a new drill press instead). Bought a new chuck from grizzly tools for $11, and have been using the heck out of it for the last 6 years.

[JamesD]

I have a Grizzly: http://www.grizzly.com/products/5-Speed-Floor-Radial-Drill-Press/G7946
http://www.grizzly.com/images/pics/jpeg500/g/g7946.jpg
http://www.grizzly.com/images/pics/jpeg500/g/g7946_det1.jpg
Very well made.

James

[ChiScouter]

Ive never used a radial drill press, do you get any defection? How does it hold its settings?

[JamesD]

Ive never used a radial drill press, do you get any defection? How does it hold its settings?

I have had no issues at all. Holds the settings perfectly.

James

[IDASHO]

I finally had the chance to assemble the press and install it.

Even being a "benchtop" press, the thing weighs nearly 200 lbs.

Using some scrap steel, I fabbed up what are basically over-sized shelf brackets. Bolted to the wall, then some scrap 1-1/8 plywood bolted on top of the brackets. Works great, and I have the ability to raise/lower the shelf if I desire. Plus, it keep the floor clear, not having any legs.:smokin:

I nearly busted a nut lifting the press onto the shelf:laughing:
But it is there. I even popped it's cherry, drilling a hole in the provided chuck key for a leash.

So far I am very impressed. The workmanship seems great, and the thing runs with zero vibes, and it very quiet.

http://www.bonnefinstudios.com/kwb/forumfiles/SFpress01.jpg

http://www.bonnefinstudios.com/kwb/forumfiles/SFpress02.jpg