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Anybody have a suggestion for a decent floor mounted drill press that isn't a grand? Really looking to only spend $400-500 if possible, could stretch that if somebody had one they just raves about and love. Suggestions?

Thanks

If I were to find me another drill press, I'd find an old Delta and refurbish it. They just don't build them like that anymore and I do believe Delta specific parts are still available. Most of the stuff made today seems to be made like they expect you to throw it away after a while. But, that's just my opinion. I'm sure someone who knows better than I will come up with a good recommendation for you.

What will you be drilling?
What material and thickness?

Other members might sneer at Harbor Freight, but my Harbor Freight 12" Drill Press is still doing its work, after four "restorations".
My friends were not impressed by the manufacturer, but they impressed at its usefulness and reliability.

How it would last doing "production work", and/or being frequently used in a real (active) shop ... ???

Harbor Freight Drill Presses

My dad has an old delta that works great, but that's in his garage and not mine. I'd love to find another but they don't come up too often. As far as what i'd be using it for, mostly just your regular hobby stuff. Sheet metal, steel plate, wood, etc. No production work. Are the size nomenclatures basically the throat depth or reach it has?

Well I found me a Delta 17" off craigslist nearby that I picked up. Just have to figure out if I want to find a work around and use the existing 3 phase motor on it with a VFD or replace the motor altogether with a single phase 110/220v motor. But with a little bit of cleaning it should outlast me. This thing is a beast.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ZCHZyZjwMSondWl82
https://photos.app.goo.gl/zIFe79YBIoEV7NDk1

Gumbi,

How's the chuck? I've found that a Jacobs "Ball Bearing Super Chuck" in pristine condition is very accurate and can grab a drill shank so tightly that the chuck jaws can put little dents in the drill shank if you really bear down on the chuck key.

There are a lot of really trashed Jacobs chucks on ebay but some good ones come along occasionally too. They are very easy to disassemble, clean, and lube. I have 3 of them in different sizes for my milling machine, one for my lathe and one adapted on to my 1950s era Craftsman drill press, The old made in USA Jacobs chucks are the good ones. The new ones are made in China.

I have an older Craftsman 20" 12 speed, it's cast iron and has the crank for raising and lowering the table. If I had to buy another, I'd keep and eye on Craig's List and find a good used one. $400 should buy you a really nice used drill press...

Mike B

Yar, I havn't really messed with the chuck yet other than squirtin some wd-40 in it. It's got some mud crap in the chuck holes at the moment and I haven't gotten around to cleaning it out yet. Will likely end up having to replace the original motor though.

That gumbi is a nice find. That quality of machine will outlast you and me both.
As far as the chuck goes, if that's a Jacobs 33 chuck you can press the outer
sleeve off and access the jaws to do a good cleaning light grease them and it
will work like new. Lots of youtube videos online explaining the process.
CAUTION: just make sure the jaws are closed before pressing the sleeve
off or you will ruin the gear teeth, ask me how I know that!
Before I would invest in a phase converter, I would look for a single phase
120v motor, that would be much more convenient.
dg