Avey drill press

[gtiboy66]

I was looking for a floor model drill press and stumbled accross an Avey model MA-8 For a good price. It looks stout. Anybody have any insight to them?
Here is a pic of it.

 

[A_Pmech]

Interesting find. It's a production drill. Smaller, but similar layout to my Edlund 1 1/2 F12

Production drills are far heavier than a homeowner or "maintenance" drill press. They're also far more accurate in regards to keeping the table square to the spindle. Homeowner and "maintenance" drills do not have an elevating screw under the table. Thus, the table deflects due to drilling thrust which is highly annoying. The cheaper the drill, the more deflection you'll get. New Chinese homeowner level drills deflect so much they're almost useless.

What I could glean from the internet:

The MA-8 is a high-speed sensitive-spindle production drill. Best as I can tell, it was available in 600-6000RPM and 1,200-12,000RPM spindle speed combinations. MT-1 in the spindle. An excellent drill for holes under 5/16" in mild steel if the slower speed option. Under 3/16" or so if the higher speed option.

 

[gtiboy66]

Thanks,
The owner stated it was modified for slower speed. Will this be ok for drilling larger holes when needed? I am not a shop but do need something that is pretty decent once and awile.

The price is very nice. Cheeper than a new craftsman bench press.

Should I pass on it or will it work for me?

 

[A_Pmech]

The practical limit for a #1 Morse Taper spindle is about 15/32". That's where ANSI standard taper shank drills make the jump from #1MT to #2MT.

You could install a larger chuck, but the spindle bearings, quill, drive, quill rack, etc. are not sized for the forces involved. That machine is designed for drilling small holes 3 shifts a day. It is very good at what it does, but like any piece of machinery it will be damaged if abused by using it outside of it's work envelope.

 

[gtiboy66]

thanks again.
Looks like I will probably pass.
I was also looking at a Clausing MODEL 15-655 has a #2 morse taper.

 

[Packard V8]

The Avey is a real industrial machine and ten times stronger than most smaller DPs. If it is at a good price, buy it now, play with it, decide if it does what you need. The vast majority of my holes in steel are less than 1/2"

If you need to go larger, there are chucks with adapters which will get you there.

thnx, jack vines

 

[mkdive]

That things does look pretty stout!