Central Machinery Bench Top drill press any good?

[Rod N]

Hi Gents,
Rearranging my garage and want to swap my floor drill press for a bench type.
I'm thinking of going with an older one with some style.
Is this one any good? When I search it keeps taking me to HF reviews.

12 speed heavy duty press
Model #726 ¾ horse motor

Large Central Machinery Bench Top Drill Press

Thanks
Rod

 

[Major Ramifications]

That's a cheap Taiwan/Chinese Harbor Freight drill press and not very old. It's better than absolutely nothing, but I would keep the floor model.

 

[G_P]

I have a similar one. Its OK but does not go slow enough for drilling larger holes in metal. I believe mine is only 6 speed though.

 

[Rod N]

That's a cheap Taiwan/Chinese Harbor Freight drill press and not very old. It's better than absolutely nothing, but I would keep the floor model.

Thanks for your help!

My plan is to have it in the center of a 2' x 10' bench with a wheeled tool box underneath it so I can slide it on to the tool box and wheel it out for the very rare time time I have something longer that needs drilling.

Floor space is bliss!

 

[owenst7]

https://www.roguefab.com/category.php?category=DPRKS

 

[uart]

I have a similar one. Its OK but does not go slow enough for drilling larger holes in metal. I believe mine is only 6 speed though.

https://www.roguefab.com/category.php?category=DPRKS

The op's one is a 12 speed model however. It already has the low speed pulley with two belts, so it should be a decent drill.

 

[Rod N]

The op's one is a 12 speed model however. It already has the low speed pulley with two belts, so it should be a decent drill.

Wait! Two opinions on the internet.

But seriously. Anyone else? It doesn't look that cheap, but I wish I could find some information about the manufacturer.

 

[rsanter]

If you have a floor drill press the last thing you should do is downgrade to a bench model
Shorten the bench a bit or drill a hole in the bench and assemble your floor model into the bench.
Either way you will be taking floor or bench space and still be better off

I hate to give up bench space, for me I have my drill,press on wheels and roll it in the corner when I'm not using it

Bob

 

[uart]

Wait! Two opinions on the internet.

The posts I quoted were referring to problems with the speed and a link to aftermarket speed reduction gears. I was just pointing out that it already has that built in, so it's not all bad. I'm not saying that it's necessarily great quality though (TBH I don't know one way or the other).

 

[owenst7]

The op's one is a 12 speed model however. It already has the low speed pulley with two belts, so it should be a decent drill.

I have that 12 speed bench top unit. It's better than no drill press by far. It is not however slow enough to run most drill bits properly, especially with the table flexing if you try to add much force. I'd like to add that reduction to mine, but I'm hoping in the next year or so to move in to a big enough shop to have room for a floor unit.

My friend has the 5 speed special. It's practically useless for anything but wood. That in mind, I think people neglect to realize most of these bench top Asian units are really designed for use with wood anyway.

Central Machinery is Harbor Freight by the way. The unit you pictured usually runs for about $130

 

[Rod N]

I have that 12 speed bench top unit. It's better than no drill press by far. It is not however slow enough to run most drill bits properly, especially with the table flexing if you try to add much force. I'd like to add that reduction to mine, but I'm hoping in the next year or so to move in to a big enough shop to have room for a floor unit.

My friend has the 5 speed special. It's practically useless for anything but wood. That in mind, I think people neglect to realize most of these bench top Asian units are really designed for use with wood anyway.

Central Machinery is Harbor Freight by the way. The unit you pictured usually runs for about $130

This place is a wealth of information.

Thank you very much. I'll move on and see if I can find something that I can be proud of.

 

[uart]

I have that 12 speed bench top unit. It's better than no drill press by far. It is not however slow enough to run most drill bits properly

Just out of interest, what is the slowest speed setting on that machine?

 

[owenst7]

Just out of interest, what is the slowest speed setting on that machine?

I want to say around 340. I'd have to look though. They do list the current specs on the website though. Probably hasn't changed much.

 

[BDT/NWMN]

I bought a new "Chicago" 12 speed back around 1980... The slowest speed on that one is
280 rpm.... fastest is 2800 rpm.... this is also a Taiwan built unit.... speed-wise; I'd be guessing they would be in the same ballpark..