Drill press suggestions

BrianGreen

BrianGreen

SSG Brian Green
Joined
Apr 5, 2008
Location
Kings Mountain
I want a benchtop drill press. I dont do any "heavy" fabricating, but using a corded drill all the time is starting to bring the suck. It will be bolted to a workbench and will probably end up getting more use than I think it will.

What is brands are good? What do I need to run away from? Lowes dosent have anything (skil). Home Depot has a Ryobi but the reviews suck. Crapsman has a couple but Im scared of the quality (reviews suck).

Want to keep it under $200, preferrably in the $120-150 range.

I would rather buy something local where I can look at it and not pay $$$ for shipping.

What do yall recommend and where to get one?
 
I have one for sale in "parts Fs" section on this board. Its an old craftsman electric but it works great.
 
You may have a hard time finding a good name brand one for <$200 new... I'd fit CL etc.

I have a Craftsman that my dad bought used 20 years ago, it's been great. Nothing fancy... it drill holes.

I don't know much about them, but I'd bet that the important quality is in the stability of the casing/frame and being very true on the downward stroke so you get nice clean, straight holes.

Something else to think about - plan to get a vice to mount on the plate. Again you want this to be straight and accurate. I have one of the cheap HF vices on mine and I hate it, when you clamp stuff the vice itself teaks a litle, making it hard to get perfectly straight holes.
 
Keep an eye on Craigslist. Find an old Delta/Rockwell, Craftsman, etc. Preferably something that's >20yrs old.
 
ai552.photobucket.com_albums_jj335_jrhxj1_IMG_20130910_124504_120_zps1216d83a.jpg I'll part with this one for $60. Would like to see it get used.
 
I got one (full size) on sale and with a coupon from HF. Cost about 300 after discounts.

Surprisingly good for HF, had it about 8 years now.

I put a cross-slide table on it (about $100 from Enco). Makes positioning super-easy and can do light milling in soft stuff like plastics and some aluminum.
 
I am in blythewood sc about an hour south of Charlotte. And yeah its old lol but very sturdy, belt driven and torquey as all get out. 1/2" drive
 
I've always wanted to just buy an old Bridgeport! I might if they ever decide to get rid of the one we have at work.
 
Make sure that it has a really slow spindle speed. Most cheap drill presses slow down to around 600RPM and are really only good for drilling wood. That is generally too fast for most bits in metal and too fast for using hole saws. You will burn up bits in a hurry. I inherited my Dad's Delta but it is not slow enough for some things.
 
I also need one. going shopping tomorrow.
 
@OnlyOneDR has a very good point! 3.82 x cutting speed / diameter. So a half in drill in mild steel (cutting speed of about 70) would be 534 rpm or so. The larger the drill, the slower it would be. Often times I'll have spindle speeds as low as 300 if I'm using an HSS drill.
 
drkelly said:
I've got a craftsman floor drill press. I bought it almost 10 years ago. I've been very happy with it.

http://m.sears.com/craftsman-15inch-drill-press/p-00934984000P
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I looked at new craftsman drill presses about five years ago. At the time, the arbors on the floor models didn't run true, and most were either too tight at the top of the travel, or too loose at the bottom. I can't imagine that their quality control has improved any.

Related: Cyd's dad has a craftsman miter box. The back fence is a big milled aluminum piece. The left and right sides are not true with one another. POS
 
After replacing the belts in my HF floor press, I've been pretty satisfied. There are 25% off coupons out there now too. Don't buy one of the smaller presses or you will regret it.
 
braxton357 said:
After replacing the belts in my HF floor press, I've been pretty satisfied. There are 25% off coupons out there now too. Don't buy one of the smaller presses or you will regret it.
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Agree
If your Going to buy a cheaper drill press buy the bigger full size models.
 
XJsavage said:
View attachment 155850 I'll part with this one for $60. Would like to see it get used.
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I picked got this old SOB today. It is big and heavy. However, runout looks like it will be less than a couple thousandths, spindle is true, everything runs smooth and quiet, and it is probably 2x as old as I am. I spent about 15 minutes cleaning it up and I am really happy with my new toy!
 
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