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| | | | Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,775 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Mar 2008 Posts: 1,775 | i've been looking for a drill press. Haven't had much luck at auctions and garage sales.
I don't want or need a professional grade one. The ones the home centers sell are all of the Chinese variety.
So, is there one better than the other? Or do I just go to Harbor Freight with a coupon and go home? | | | | | Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 914 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2015 Posts: 914 | By me from time to time there are old drill presses for sale on craigslist. | | | | | Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 . | | . Joined: May 2005 Posts: 8,878 | I've had as many as 11 drill presses in my shop at one time... down to an even half dozen now.
In my opinion the recently imported ones are mostly not worth the trouble. I did have two imported ones about 25 years old or more and they were fine drill presses, smooth, true, no complaints.
The ones I still have are some old Rockwell/Delta/Milwaukee, one more modern Rockwell/Delta, and a moderately old Clausing. All good machines.
At work they have a brand new (8 or 9 years ago) still little used JET drill press. little used because it's sloppy, functional but not at all a good drill press in my opinion. I end up drilling most things on the Bridgeport.
I'd look for an older US made drill press. Or if you also one day want a milling machine go ahead and get a Bridgeport or similar machine.
Grigg | | | | | Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,960 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jan 2008 Posts: 4,960 | I like my Clausing drill press. I bought an Albrecht chuck for it in Germany a couple of years ago. When companies like Harbor Freight started importing stuff, most of it came from Taiwan. It wasn't too bad. I still have a couple of Taiwan drill presses for just "punching a hole". I have yet to see a Chinese drill press that I want to take up space with at my shop. | | | | | Joined: May 2012 Posts: 574 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: May 2012 Posts: 574 | I have an older, but not antique, craftsman bench top drill press that works wonderfully, tried the China units and they are glorified boat anchors.
1949 Dodge Coronet 1955 2nd Chevy 4400 1.5 ton 1955 2nd Chevy 3100 1/2 ton 1955 2nd Chevy 3100 1/2 ton 1957 Chevy 5400 LCF 2 ton 1966 Dodge D100 Sweptline 1968 Chevy P20 stepvan 1969 GMC LWB pickup 1972 GMC Sprint 1974 CP30 shorty bus There are three things that I've learned never discuss with people: religion, politics, and the Great Pumpkin.----Linus Van Pelt Trying to understand the behavior of some people is like trying to smell the color 9  | | | | | Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 465 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Nov 2008 Posts: 465 | I've had as many as 11 drill presses in my shop at one time... down to an even half dozen now.
In my opinion the recently imported ones are mostly not worth the trouble. I did have two imported ones about 25 years old or more and they were fine drill presses, smooth, true, no complaints.
The ones I still have are some old Rockwell/Delta/Milwaukee, one more modern Rockwell/Delta, and a moderately old Clausing. All good machines.
At work they have a brand new (8 or 9 years ago) still little used JET drill press. little used because it's sloppy, functional but not at all a good drill press in my opinion. I end up drilling most things on the Bridgeport.
I'd look for an older US made drill press. Or if you also one day want a milling machine go ahead and get a Bridgeport or similar machine.
Grigg I end up back at the Bridgeport too, rigid and accurate | | | | | Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 924 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Apr 2014 Posts: 924 | I've had zero trouble with my recently imported home-center purchased Porter Cable drill press. I picked it over the rest of the recently imported drill presses because Lowe's is closer to my house. 3 yr Porter Cable warranty & out the door for $240-something. I don't remember how I got it for that amount- I see they're more now, or at least priced more online. Brad
Wrench Fetcher, PhD | | |
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