Bench Top Drill Press

[Trapps]

Who has them and what do you like / not like about the model you have?

I am in the market and need Bench Top for space reasons. I'd prefer a 12" or greater with a 5/8 chuck and 3/4HP running on 120V. Budget is under $500.

I've looked (on-line) at the following:

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly-14-Heavy-Duty-Benchtop-Drill-Press/G7943

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/t...ijQRNm3BvwdKk1NancC6nfJINlQa8OQBoCsX4QAvD_BwE

https://www.baileigh.com/drill-press-dp-1512b

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200431259_200431259

What else should I look at?

TIA for any/all comments!

 

[montanafordman]

Ok, I'll bite. I have the WEN 10" drill press - I picked it up from home depot (ordered online and picked it up in the store)

Things I like:
It was pretty cheap, I think I paid about $120 when I picked it up - on sale, shop around.
There is practically ZERO run-out. (checked with a piece of shaft and dial indicator)
I didn't have to spend a lot of time, money, or effort finding and refurbishing a used drill press.
It fits my workbench nicely, stays out of the way, and really comes in handy when I need to drill a clean straight hole in something - almost always steel in my case, usually less than 1/8 thick, a few times 1/4.
It runs much more smooth and quiet than a friends Harbor Freight drill press.
Its small.


Things I don't like:
Its not a "cool" old vintage drill press - especially one that can do slower speeds and more effectively drill large holes in metal.
It takes a lot of time and patience to drill holes in metal, especially thicker metals and larger holes.
Its small.

Someday when I have more room, time and money I would like to buy a floor standing drill press, preferably an industrial grade vintage one. With that said, the one on my bench top fills 95% of my needs right now (maybe more). It seems bench top drill presses that are more capable of doing slow speeds and higher power start to lose their utility as a "bench-top" drill press because they take up plenty of space on, and above the bench. Going beyond my cheap, small import you're almost better off with a floor model IMHO.
link to said drill press:

https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-10-in-Drill-Press-with-Laser-4210T/308605494

 

[lardy1]

I have a Wen also. It doesn't get a lot of use but I have no issues with it at all. A lot of them look like they are just rebranded, mass produced machines.

 

[BarryWells]

Older Delta Shopmasters-Drillmasters were decent.....still China but pretty fair with Jacobs chucks, a good light and a decent motor. $200 and you can find a mint one

 

[mbatarga]

Do you have a Rockler woodworking store nearby? They carry Rikon - and they've got a model that I believe fits your specs. It's got some nice features and is priced right at $500.

https://www.rockler.com/rikon-12-variable-speed-drill-press

12 In. variable speed benchtop drill press #30-212VS features a more powerful motor and a Vari.-speed pulley system that adjusts to chuck speeds with a simple turning of a lever! Includes digital RPM readout, LED work light, laser x-y drilling guide, clamp-friendly thin edge woodworking table and a 5/8 In. chuck.
Features

Powerful 3/4 HP motor
Variable speeds
LED light & laser x-y guides
LED digital display

 

[Davefr]

What else should I look at?

TIA for any/all comments!

With a budget of $500 and the fact that you're in Detroit, then why don't you look for older used USA machines. They'll be far superior in build quality to these Chinese "toy's".

From what I've read, your part of the country is a great area to find vintage machinery.

I'd look at older CM, Delta, Rockwell, Walker Turner, Buffalo, Powermatic, Clausing, etc.

Even older no name Taiwan machines will be better then the new machines from China.

 

[Bretny]

I would do what Davefr said. Look for a quality American made one. For $500 and bench top you shouldn't have much trouble finding one.

You also mabeable to get a floor model and cut the column to bring the foot up.

If your drilling metal you really need a slow drill press. Usually a 3 pulley unit.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have the Bailegh 15" benchtop. I watched for a year for a nice 12" benchtop used and gave up. I eyed up the Bailegh pretty hard because I live close enough to them to drive there to look at it and pick it up. It is big for a bench top at 40" tall. While it is imported and has a bit of that feel, overall very soild. The variable speed works nice in just adjusting the knob while its running. I have drilled 1" holes in 1/4" stock and it didn't struggle. The bed adjust nicely. All in all I like it. While a lot of Baileigh's stuff can be found elsewhere and cheaper, this is one item I have not found eleswhere.

 

[thin_concrete]

I rehabbed an old Craftsmen drill press and it’s been very helpful as a woodworking hobbyist. It does take some time and patience to restore one, let alone the desire to do so. If I hadn’t gone that route, I like some of the Jet offerings at Woodcraft.

 

[tarbellb]

1st try and find a older unit, chop the column if necessary. Even older imports are more hd than current offerings.

2nd- Avoid Baileigh like the plague, just out of principle. (sorrynotsorrybobcat)

3rd- Go Grizzly or HF

 

[ClappedOutBport]

Who has them and what do you like / not like about the model you have?

I am in the market and need Bench Top for space reasons. I'd prefer a 12" or greater with a 5/8 chuck and 3/4HP running on 120V. Budget is under $500.

I've looked (on-line) at the following:

https://www.grizzly.com/products/Grizzly-14-Heavy-Duty-Benchtop-Drill-Press/G7943

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/t...ijQRNm3BvwdKk1NancC6nfJINlQa8OQBoCsX4QAvD_BwE

https://www.baileigh.com/drill-press-dp-1512b

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200431259_200431259

What else should I look at?

TIA for any/all comments!

I don't have much use for such small drill presses and no experience with little Chinese presses, but here is what I will comment:

• The shop fox has a JT33 male taper. Junk. You can't use anything but a jacobs drill chuck. If the taper gets messed up, the press is pretty much junk.
• Two of the presses are 12 speed 2 belt drill presses which run much slower. A 3/4" twist drill with 1/2HP at 500 RPM in steel is a chatterfest. No fun at all. A 3/4" twist drill at 140 RPM with 3/4HP will probably still chatter, but not too bad. However, anytime you want to change speed, you have to shift around two belts, and they love to fall off due to the center pulley. Not much fun.
• The Jet and Baileigh presses are both variable speed. Even professional Reeves drives like in Bridgeports are known for having issues and I've heard nothing but horror stories from the cheapies. I would steer clear.

So yeah, the grizzly is the only one I could ever consider. But like the others said, older and American is preferred. You won't find a lot of 12 speed models though, and that rules out larger metal drills. What your typical use case is will determine what you should get.

 

[RTM]

• The shop fox has a JT33 male taper. Junk. You can't use anything but a jacobs drill chuck. If the taper gets messed up, the press is pretty much junk.
  

I have a ShopFox W1668, small, inexpensive, and decent in its class, but not a high quality machine. Includes a oscillating spindle sander. Came with a bit of runout, the belt for the OSS dried out quickly, and the top cover now rattles and I can't stop it. Meets my needs for Woodworking but not worth a **** for metal working I would imagine.

 

[Trapps]

Thanks ALL for the comments. I may be more confused now than before!

I'll travel to Rockler and Glenn Wing (a local tool shop). A used full size cut down sounds like a possible option.

 

[ClappedOutBport]

What is your use case Trapps? Wood, metal? How large of bits? How thick of material? How often will you use the machine? Do you do small production runs, or just one-offs?

 

[xman_charl]

left drill press is hf

originally only 2 pulleys, always changing belts

bought center pulley from grizzly, occasional change belts now


right drill press is grizzly, works great...

had 2... 90 volt dc, 1 1/2 motors laying around the garage

put them to use on both drill presses...work very good

Charl

 

[LittlePeter]

What do you need it for is an important point to consider. There are different grades of drill presses and you could easily be going over the top with an industrial grade drill press or the other way and underpowered with a DIY grade one.

 

[Packard V8]

I've picked up Delta. Buffalo and Craftsman 14" benchtops in perfect operating condition, no restoration required, for less than $100. I've had the Delta in my garage shop for nearly fifty years. One of the Craftsman is on my son's workbench.

Probably the best small benchtop is the 10" Delta Homecraft. They're hell-for-stout, run true and take up very little space. I've bought several in the $50 - $100 range. There's one in my basement shop at present.

jack vines

 

[1982fxr]

1st try and find a older unit, chop the column if necessary. Even older imports are more hd than current offerings.

2nd- Avoid Baileigh like the plague, just out of principle. (sorrynotsorrybobcat)

3rd- Go Grizzly or HF

Do fabricators hate Baileigh for some reason?
Serious question...

 

[Packard V8]

I know one fabricator who bought one of their high end CNC press brakes and had nothing but failures, breakage, leakage and poor customer support. He wishes he'd never heard of Baileigh.

jack vines

 

[dubdoc]

I have an Astro International 5/8 chuck with 12 speeds. Not a single problem in 15 years.

 

[bubinga]

Find a nice older Craftsman 150 drill press. Replace bearings, if needed.
Nice drill press.
I put a tread mill motor and controller on mine
Sweet set up it is.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[bubinga]

With a budget of $500 and the fact that you're in Detroit, then why don't you look for older used USA machines. They'll be far superior in build quality to these Chinese "toy's".

From what I've read, your part of the country is a great area to find vintage machinery.

I'd look at older CM, Delta, Rockwell, Walker Turner, Buffalo, Powermatic, Clausing, etc.

Even older no name Taiwan machines will be better then the new machines from China.

This!

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[tarbellb]

Do fabricators hate Baileigh for some reason?
Serious question...

Rebranded, bottom barrel, heritage name stealing, price jacking, hot garbage.

But they look pretty and have good marketing...

 

[LittlePeter]

Do you guys recommend the WEN drill presses for a low budget machine? I only need it for light to medium use and I don't think I will be working with anything over 3mm-4mm.

I was looking at the WEN drill press reviews over on toolinspector.com and the 4208 for around $90 looks a good drill press.

 

[Packard V8]

I don't buy my machine and power tools at Harbor Freight, but IMHO, if one is going for cheap, HF is about as good as cheap gets.

jack vines

 

[graham o]

Travers tools has a 13 1/2" 12 speed OTMT press for sale right now for about 180 $ . Pretty much the same as the HF 14" but better quality control. An unexciting but serviceable machine for light to medium use. Travers also has great customer service.

Graham O

 

[crewchief888]

I got my benchtop DP from KBC tool.

I think they have a retail location close to the Detroit area.

seemed like nice people to deal with, family owned company that's been around a long time. I remember getting some of my machinist tools from them back in the late 70's.

 

[seber]

Of those listed, the Grizzly is the only one I would even consider. Decent variable speeds are not found in that price range. Absolutely avoid Baleigh and Shop Fox ****. I also agree that at the price you are looking you can find a really nice mint used machine that will be far better made. One thing I find useful is the ability to swing the table to one side allowing me to use a very large vise that would otherwise have to go on a much larger DP.

 

[PBCampbell]

Is Shop Fox no longer a Grizzly brand?

 

[xman_charl]

my bench drill press table...

Charl

 

[bubinga]

my bench drill press table...

Charl

 

[whateg01]

If I ran across a "benchtop" like this one, I would have to have it!

https://www.proxibid.com/Industrial...ress-3-Phase-220-Volt/lotInformation/43336213

Dave

 

[Bacon!]

I got a Craftsman 12" 137.219120 on clearance about 15 years ago, no complaints for the $130 spent. I'd tried a HF DP first, then exchanged for a 2nd one, but the runout and vibration was horrific so I didn't try for a 3rd. I've never measured the runout on the CM, but have used it many times with tiny carbide PCB drills which can't tolerate much at all.

Heh, I just noticed someone selling a scan of the manual for it for $11 on ebay. If you want this HQ manual scan for free, PM me.

The linked thumbnail is just a thumbnail, it's HQ including a version where you can print off pages double sided and fold and staple it into the manual the way it was.

 

[joshmodelskidoo]

I have an 8in tool shop. Its a gutless turd and I broke the main shaft and had to braise it back together. Also there’s not enough height and overall room

 

[anndel]

Wen 4210 or 4212 (I have the 4210) but they're both sold out on Amazon.