Drill press, new or old? You decide.

[schor]

Ever think about buying a new drill press? Think again.

 

[bagged89s10]

Very nice restorations. What model are those?

 

[schor]

The benchtop is an atlas 42b, I have since put another pulley on it for lower speeds.

Very nice restorations. What model are those?

 

[Shadowdog500]

Nice restoration!!!

Could you have found a crappier new drill press to compare it against. I just did the new drill press vs restore an old drill press debate last summer. I have enough projects without adding another to the pile so I looked at new ones. After an extensive search, which included buying and returning a crafstman drillpress, I decided to get the porter cable drill press from Lowes. It has excellent reviews everywhere. My new drill press is as well made an any I've seen, I was actually suprised how well it was made when I inspected the parts while assembling it. The runout on the quill is only a few ten thousands, and it runs smooth and quiet. I started making a review video of my new drill press but never got around to finishing it. Here is a clip of the first hole I drilled with it. It was the smallest bit I could find which was a number 58 bit.

Chris

 

[schor]

Nice restoration!!!

Could you have found a crappier new drill press to compare it against. I just did the new drill press vs restore an old drill press debate last summer. I have enough projects without adding another to the pile so I looked at new ones. After an extensive search, which included buying and returning a crafstman drillpress, I decided to get the porter cable drill press from Lowes. It has excellent reviews everywhere. My new drill press is as well made an any I've seen, I was actually suprised how well it was made when I inspected the parts while assembling it. The runout on the quill is only a few ten thousands, and it runs smooth and quiet. I started making a review video of my new drill press but never got around to finishing it. Here is a clip of the first hole I drilled with it. It was the smallest bit I could find which was a number 58 bit.

Chris

Thanks

lol, I don't think they make them crappier than the jobmate. I bought it for $29 with a $10 mail in rebate coupon couldn't pass on it. Used it a couple times but it was junk. I sold it for $30 in the end so I was up.

As far as new ones go I do like the porter cable, they seem to be well built. You did good to buy that for a new press.

 

[pendragon1998]

That jobmate is louder than my lawn mower. lol

You know how the blacksmiths refer to 'anvil-shaped objects'? That jobmade is a drill-press-shaped object.

 

[schor]

Here's the speed reducer I made for the atlas press so I could get lower speeds for metal.

 

[CNGsaves]

I'll choose the OLD one !!! Very nice Atlas drill press you've restored !

Please post all the details/pics you can on adding the slow pulley setup. I'm sure there are lots of GJer's in need of doing that same enhancement.

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Looks like the original poster is preaching to the choir.

 

[schor]

Ya I know I'm preaching to the choir.

Here's a pic from the ad as posted on kijiji.

I'll post up some of the restore later, I've got quite a few pics from that.

 

[Norcal]

Most newer drill press's are not worth the metal used to make them, they are just ChiCom peanut butter cast iron, certainly they will never be worth rebuilding as they age like the current crop of vintage tools are.

 

[schor]

Here are some pics just after I got the press home. Notice the professional job on the extra pulley arrangement for lower speeds.

 

[Jim C.]

I made my decision a while back. I have two old Deltas (1951 and 1959) and wouldn't even consider buying a new one.

Jim C.

 

[schor]

Here's a few pics of the restore.

A dry fit after wire wheel and other means to clean up the old paint. Came off pretty good.

Polished up the column on my lathe.

Met someone on another forum that is a tool and die maker and he offered to put the table and base on the surface grinder.