The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Tool Chest Drill Press?

I'm going to buy myself a drill press and wonder what tips anyone might have for me?

I'm planning on using it for household stuff and when I'm fabricating things for the truck.

Thank you in advance for all your help and suggestions.

NM51,

I think you will have a choice between; China, Taiwan, India or Malaysia. They look like they all came from the same foundry pattern and everyone has a bizarre, overrated HP stamped on the motor plate.

I tried to upgrade, so the last one I purchased I got from Grizzly Imports...a 1 1/2 HP floor model. It had the same poor workmanship all the rest of the ones had.

I would stay away from any that have an intermediate sheave in the belt arrangement. A 1/2" chuck would be minimum, and probably standard issue. Whatever you end up with, you will undoubtedly have to fine tune as you use it.

You might spend a little time to hunt for a older, American made unit....Craftsman had some nice, accurate bench and floor models.


Stuart

Erik,

Harbor Freight has a few on sale. Free shipping if you buy more than $50 in an order. I bought the smaller one about 8 years ago for my Suburban's restoration. It is still working fine.

Check your mail for an update on another matter.

Tim

Like Stuart says, find an old American made model. Craftsman, Delta, etc. You can always put a new motor on it from Grainger or Mcmaster.

NM51,

What a deal...see the link!

http://albuquerque.craigslist.org/tls/178826206.html


Stuart

If you miss out on the one on Craigslist try farm and estate auctions. I got a Delta floor model that needed the harness replaced for $45.

One thing that a lot of people forget about is the RPM range. Unless you are only drilling wood, and aluminum, most models will do a decent job. If you want to drill steel, you will want to make sure that the RPM range will get down to about 200 RPM.
The vast majority of the smaller drill presses don't get below 500 RPM. That means that you are going to burn up a lot of drill bits, unless your not going to be drilling any holes in steel much larger than about 1/4".

John

Atomarc-

Thanks for the heads up! I e-mailed the guy but havn't heard back. Espanola is about 1:30 from where I live but it would be worth the trip!

If that doesn't work out I'm going to hold out for an american made one that will gear down pretty low, as suggested by J Lucas 'cause I plan on using it to fab parts for the truck.

Thanks for all the tips! Keep 'em coming if there is anything else!

If you get tired of waiting for a deal on a used one, go to Grisly. Pretty good tools for a good price shipped to your door.

got me a little benchtop delta, works just fine for mild steel.just make sure to use good cutting oil.

Mine is what a former neighbor left me when he died. It is a benchtop, fairly heavy duty unknown brand but works fine for me.

i have two, a 12"delta that i've had for about 12yrs that i use in my basement woodshop. and a small $39.00 benchtop harbor freight special in the barn. just got done drillin 1/2 holes in 1/2 steel with it.seemed to do fine.

My chuck went out on my bench top delta. I am not too enamored of this thing. It has a tapered fit chuck which has come off during a lot of wire wheeling. Then the chuck just broke. I don't even know if I want to invest $40 in another one. There was a 40's craftsman I just missed a while back. Now I am in slight need. I had a fab project and I got by without, but really could use one and am not excited about the stuff that's available.

Any other sources besides craig's list and ebay local here to DFW (texas) area?

I have a 5 speed Craftsman I purchased in 1985 and it is still doing a nice job. As a floor model I like the way I can "wind" up the plate etc. Back then I think I paid 179 for it. What a deal compared to the crap you get today unless you are willing to pay through the nose for it.

if you really like to fabricate stuff buy a knee mill and you'll throw your drill press away. you can so much more, more accuratly. i bought a bridgeport copy for $900 used and now i think how did i live without one for this long. that's of course if you can chunk out that much cash it sure hurt my wallet at the time.

I agree with hoggyrubber. I just bought a old camel back drill at a local steam show for $125. A little new paint and some slight repair I have a drill press for less than you can buy a Wongfue and will last me a lifetime. This old timer will go from 50 rpm to 3,500 and handle up to a 2" drill bit with ease. The quills on most of the import drill presses are really sloppy have bad chucks and turn way to fast for working with steel. Once you use one of the old heavy presses or a mill you'll throw rocks at the imports. By the way hoggyrubber I'm just east of Springfield do you ever go to the Springfield swap meet.

yes i do when i can on sundays. i have even sold stuff before there. i drive a 64 light blue c20. if you see my truck feel free to introduce yourself. while i don't have a lot of professional experience, i still like to talk old trucks and tools.

yes i do when i can on sundays. i have even sold stuff before there. i drive a 64 light blue c20. if you see my truck feel free to introduce yourself. while i don't have a lot of professional experience, i still like to talk old trucks and tools.

I'm a little late to the party but want to put in my two bits worth on drill presses.

I lived with a cheap Asian bench top drill press for a lot of years and can't even count the number of busted knuckless, rips and tears and screwed up jobs. When I had the cash available I went to the store and bought a floor model Jet with 2 HP, a moveable grooved table so that I can tighten a vise or the work down on it and also got a spray accessory to keep the bits cool when cutting. It was pretty spendy but I have yet to have it stall out on me no matter how heavy the work I have asked it to do and it will go slow for good cutting. I agree that a knee mill would be the ideal but a good one would have doubled my already hefty investment and required me to learn a bunch of new skills to take advantage of it. Nothing wrong with learning though. Tip: Check Southern Tool if they are still in business. They have some good prices (and some not too good) Their price on this included free shipping. I took their price to a tool place in Portland OR near where I live and they agreed to match it in order to not loose the business. Can't say they were cheerful about it.
Jerry

Hoggyrubber is right about knee mills. As a toolmaker for more than 40+years I can completely agree him. CNC machining centers have taken over just about every drilling,milling, tapping and contouring jobs in machine shops all over the country, even the small job shops. As a result there are a lot of Bridgeports and Bridgeport clones gathering dust all over the place that can be had at reasonable prices. Make a visit to any small job shop in your area and ask about used mills. Usually they will have one or know someone who knows someone that has one for sale. If you do end up with one make sure it has a good 6" vise. Its a necessity. Weeds

NM51,
for an overall house hold use / work on your truck ...check out Craftsmans Radial drill press .
it is 1/2 chuck , will rotate to 45 degrees,moves for an aft , and has several speeds .
sayin that , it is a large type bench model but will do alotta things , if you are lookin for versatility ?..they work good I own one ...an have drilled house hold molding at angles to upright straight HARD DRILLING with NP'S!
just set your speed for the work ya gonna do ,wood,metal, whatever .