Honest opinion..no laughing please

Dansdad · Nov 11, 2013

OK I need a drill press and craigslist isn't showing me anything so far so ok...sit down now... Craftsman or Harbor Fright. The ones I'm looking at are rated 4 stars bench top. Whadda ya think? Oh yeah Skil gets a good rating but looks a little small :eyecrazy:

zkling · Nov 11, 2013

What is your budget?

jd_1138 · Nov 11, 2013

You're in the Bay Area. Keep perusing CL for a few days and maybe something will pop up. It's always cool to get a well made piece of equipment for less than a Chinese POS.

Pumpman1968 · Nov 11, 2013

Maybe check this out.........not too far from ya http://www.ebay.com/itm/Craftsman-R...957?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c7614e565

jaker10 · Nov 11, 2013

I have a bench top harbor freight That I'm trying to sell on craigs list. It's a *************. But to someone that needs one it might be OK. best thing about this one is the stand. Have had it listed for 3 days and not one call. Wait and see. Asking $50.00

cheechi · Nov 11, 2013

I have the skil. It's not perfect. If you need it to be perfect out of the box then you'll be disappointed. It has acceptable runout (barely any on smaller bits), the speeds could be slower but not horrible, and its definitely had its share of abuse considering it doesn't have a permanent home in my garage but it looks pretty close to brand new.

The laser is accurate on mine, if you care.

Swan · Nov 11, 2013

Why try a "Wanted to Buy" ad first?

Dansdad · Nov 11, 2013

my budget is 300.00 maybe more if its an older American in good shape. Wanted to buy sounds like an ok idea. Glad to get the info on the Skil was wondering

zkling · Nov 11, 2013

With that budget, the BEST newer machine that is commonly avaiable is going to be the Porter Cable ~15" machine at Lowes. If you have to go the new route I would do that, but that is after I have exhausted all posibilites for a nice used American machine. I've come to understand that out your way used American machines aren't very cheap or plentiful as some of the other parts of the country. :beer:

1982fxr · Nov 11, 2013

Swan said:
Why try a "Wanted to Buy" ad first?

This

egnorant · Nov 11, 2013

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/4162181478.html

Maybe?

Craigslist tossed up lots! Is there some features you are looking for?

PECVD2 · Nov 11, 2013

Terrible CL add. but looking at the pulley shroud I would gather it is a Rockwell/Delta or Delta/Milwakee or older American made.
plus a heavy bench and small good looking vise maybe two sitting there.

http://modesto.craigslist.org/tls/4094783396.html

57JoeFoMoPar · Nov 11, 2013

I'll second that the Porter Cable machine from Lowes is about as good as you're going to get for around $300.

That said, keep looking on CL, there are plenty of good machines out there, and for a nice price too.

I just bagged this one Saturday off of Craigslist. Craftsman 150 with the original tags on the motor and all the original paperwork. You can hear a pin drop next to this thing while it's running. I scored this for $80.

https://scontent-a-iad.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/7694_10101326266632944_264525865_n.jpg

Steevo · Nov 11, 2013

We interrupt this thread to tell 57JoeFoMoPar:

"You ****"

We now return you to your regularly scheduled thread.

jd_1138 · Nov 11, 2013

You ****! That classic Craftsman is a work of art besides being a quality piece of American made machinery. Modern industrial/art deco design masterpiece.

nicksnothereman · Nov 11, 2013

Dansdad said:
OK I need a drill press and craigslist isn't showing me anything so far so ok...sit down now... Craftsman or Harbor Fright. The ones I'm looking at are rated 4 stars bench top. Whadda ya think? Oh yeah Skil gets a good rating but looks a little small

If you plan on using it a lot...whatever has the best warranty. :lol:

Fizbin · Nov 11, 2013

zkling said:
With that budget, the BEST newer machine that is commonly avaiable is going to be the Porter Cable ~15" machine at Lowes.

+1

I bought mine about a year ago and love it! :thumbup:

Lookin4'67Galaxieconv · Nov 11, 2013

I agree with the others...keep scouting CL until you find one. May take a little while, but as soon as you buy a new drill press, a great buy is going to pop up on CL.

skinnymoose · Nov 11, 2013

jaker10 said:
I have a bench top harbor freight That I'm trying to sell on craigs list. It's a *************. But to someone that needs one it might be OK. best thing about this one is the stand. Have had it listed for 3 days and not one call. Wait and see. Asking $50.00

I have that same press...Every time I look at it I kick myself in the *** for buying what I knew at the time was a piece of Chinese ****. :dunno:

I needed a drill press fast and it was cheap but pride of ownership is not and never will be there. Always best to buy quality. Eventually you forget just how expensive it was but years later you still have a quality machine. :thumbup:

Tsquare · Nov 11, 2013

57JoeFoMoPar said:
I'll second that the Porter Cable machine from Lowes is about as good as you're going to get for around $300.

That said, keep looking on CL, there are plenty of good machines out there, and for a nice price too.

I just bagged this one Saturday off of Craigslist. Craftsman 150 with the original tags on the motor and all the original paperwork. You can hear a pin drop next to this thing while it's running. I scored this for $80.

https://scontent-a-iad.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc1/7694_10101326266632944_264525865_n.jpg

That is an awesome drill press - I need to go get me one of those - wife not gonna be happy.

Danglerb · Nov 12, 2013

Tsquare said:
That is an awesome drill press - I need to go get me one of those - wife not gonna be happy.

Tell her its a kitchen mixer and you just need to find the beaters and bowl.

Flivver250 · Nov 12, 2013

You will jewel on Craiglist. I seem them there all the time.

mattmus4357 · Nov 12, 2013

I have the Skil drill press from Lowes. I haven't had a problem with it and I use it pretty regularly. I got it CHEAP new so I didn't bother looking anywhere else.

http://www.lowes.com/pd_197820-4692...es&pl=1&currentURL=?Ntt=drill+pres&facetInfo=

Outlawmws · Nov 12, 2013

Dansdad said:
OK I need a drill press and craigslist isn't showing me anything so far so ok...sit down now... Craftsman or Harbor Fright. The ones I'm looking at are rated 4 stars bench top. Whadda ya think? Oh yeah Skil gets a good rating but looks a little small

egnorant said:
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/eby/tls/4162181478.html

Maybe?

Craigslist tossed up lots! Is there some features you are looking for?

This one is practically in your back yard; go look at it.

ps: chicom **** is chicom scrap. Does it matter what brand they slapped on it?

cheechi · Nov 12, 2013

Outlawmws said:
chicom **** is chicom scrap. Does it matter what brand they slapped on it?

I'd argue the PC model at Lowe's is significantly better than the rest of the chicoms.

Of the 3 he specified, I looked at the same ones when I bought mine. Budget wise, I chose the Skil but would have liked the PC instead. Like I said mine isn't perfect. I haven't had much luck with CL locally. I'd love to find an old cman.

Dansdad · Nov 12, 2013

whats a chicom

Outlawmws · Nov 12, 2013

Stuff made in red (mainland) china.

Taiwan is getting there, stuff made in Taiwan a few decades ago was about on par with made in Japan post WWII and to the early 60's generally. Like Japan they have bootstrapped themselves to a higher level of quality, generally.

China for the most part is still in the "Cheap as possible quality does not matter" bandwagon.

PECVD2 · Nov 13, 2013

ZRX61 just posted this link to an estate sale this weekend in the San Diego area. There is a Craftsman DP that should do you fine. I see a $150 price tag on it (I think).

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...843966948908&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13843970879686

here you go.

http://api.viglink.com/api/click?fo...92028/536991&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13843966948908

spotco2 · Nov 14, 2013

I was talking with a friend about drill presses today. The first thing he said was "Don't buy that piece of **** from Harbor Freight." He said that his base has broken a couple of times and he keeps having to get it welded up. He's handy, but just a homeowner and not using this on a daily or even weekly basis.

If you can not find something used, I'm liking the Porter Cable 8 Amp that Lowes has for $329

http://www.lowes.com/pd_78742-46069...&UserSearch=pcb660dp&productId=3162489&rpp=48

EJM02 · Nov 14, 2013

Unless you need the thing 'right now', I'd wait until you find something you really want. If you need to drill a hole in something tomorrow morning, then I'd say print out a copy of one of the harbor freight coupon bar codes from the harbor freight coupon thread and use the drill press until it either breaks or breaks. If it breaks then just throw it away. If it breaks then just throw it on the ground and then throw it away. Either way, you'll have a few holes drilled by the end of it all.

FJ45Cruiser · Nov 14, 2013

I had a friend give me a HF drill press because he upgraded. When I moved I passed it along to a neigbor. It just wasn't worth bringing that piece of s#!t along and I never get rid of tools.

Thumper68 · Nov 14, 2013

Check out Grizzly

Made in Tiawan or China but to grizzly specs.

619DioFan · Nov 14, 2013

I have the Ryobi bench top drill press from HD. been using it regularly for 3 years with no issues. I like the lazer guide on it. was about 120.00 when I bought it.

Dansdad · Nov 14, 2013

I'snt Ryobi the same as HF or Sears?

machine_punk · Nov 15, 2013

I have the HD Ryobi too. Not stellar, but usable, if you need something in the meantime. I live in the bay area too...and finding old, American iron can be difficult around here.

Kev

BFBOB · Nov 15, 2013

I too have a Harbor Freight bench top drill press, and I love it! It's absolutely great ... considering it's a $20 flea market find.

Honest opinion..no laughing please

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