Drill Press advice needed for solid wood projects

[GEGU]

Hi everyone. Wife has an online biz and wants to expand into woodworking and mild steel for rustic looking projects.

I have already read many critical reviews about problems with cheap clamps, thin or hollow cast iron plates, wobbling and chatter, etc. The brands reviewed on Amzon included Wen, Shop Fox and JET in the $500-$700 range.

So has anyone had experience and can recommend a drill press under $1000 that is accurate, has quality parts and is between 1/2-1hp?

Thanks in advance

I will also start researching and looking for band saw soon.

 

[Cruzan80]

Vintage steel. Most older drill presses are beasts compared with some of the junk coming out now. I have both a 1940's and 1960's Craftsman, and have yet to bog either down. Part of it comes from using them correctly (right cutting speed, lubricant when needed, cleaning out the cuts, etc), but part comes from the sheer industrial build of these things. I would keep an eye out on Craigslist for one that seems to be in good shape. Check for slop in the quill, and any loose/rattling parts. For one example, there is a current thread going on in the Vintage tool section about the Craftsman 150's.

 

[James-W]

I have a suggestion that you may or may not care for. Instead of a drill press, perhaps a mill would be a better choice. You can use it as a drill press but since it is a mill you have the ability to do other things with it. It's just a thought and it may or may not be something you want to consider.

 

[GEGU]

a current thread going on in the Vintage tool section about the Craftsman 150's.

Would I have problems getting parts?

I have a suggestion ... Instead of a drill press, perhaps a mill would be a better choice..

Is this what your talking about?
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200419823_200419823

or

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQJOPEY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[TheBadDog]

Both of my big drills came in well under your $1000 price tag, but while both are beasts and of high quality, neither quite qualify for "old iron". One is a US made Wilton 20" VSG. It's a beast with a table rated for 600lbs, but the top speed is only 1200 rpm, so too slow for wood. But the other is a 20" VS Powermatic with similar proportions but a (IIRC?) 2400 rpm top speed. Nice big heavy/rigid t-slot table with rack to raise/lower, 7" of quill travel with convenient quick stop settings, plus MT3 in the bore for a large range of MT shank drills and easily available and robust chuck options (I have up to 18N). It's over your power max at 1.5 hp, but for a good size wood shop working on medium/large projects, that would be my choice for a main drill. I also have smaller drills for small jobs and much higher rpm needed by small drills. And the mill when I want/need to push the limits of drilled hole tolerances.

 

[Cruzan80]

There are so few parts in these, that if you get one that is complete, you have very little to worry about. The parts that can go wrong are the motor, the belt, the bearings. All of which are still available. Possibly you could have a quill get bent from mangling a job, but at that point, you are into serious problems (no matter what drill press you buy). In that case, you would need to find a parts machine to replace it with, vs ordering a part from an online store (both of which would be pricy).

If you could find an older Delta/Powermatic/Clausing industrial model, you would be well set. By older in this case I mean 20-25yrs old (mostly due to the lack of change in these, and the price difference you would pay). You probably woundn't need the variable speed (VS in above post) but they seem ot come with it on this level of machine, and it never hurts to have it.

Really it comes down to this. Is $1000 your budget, and you expecting to pay that or close to it, or is $1000 the upper limit of what would you would be able to afford, but cheaper is better (all things considered)?

Location may help us with the possibilities of used equipment near you. For example, Pittsburgh and Denver are vastly different when it comes to finding used equipment at a good price.

 

[matt_i]

Powermatic or Clausing, 15" or 20" would be my choice. These are not new and would need to be bought used. Clausings have very good parts availability from what I have found. Not quite sure on Powermatic as the original company is gone and the brand is just a faceplate for a line of machinery.

 

[Cyberbear]

I agree with everything posted by others, but choosing a craftsman 150 model is a great start. It sounds like you are just beginning your your experience with using a drill press, and the Craftsman is a great place to gain experience. These come with a 1/2" capacity chuck, and a larger motor can be added if you wish. When, or if, you out grow the Craftsman unit, you can always upgrade, or sell the first machine and obtain another suited to your continuing needs. Personally, I have three drill presses in different sizes for convenience sake, allowing me to make various set-ups w/o tearing down the old as I work to complete a job.

 

[Git]

Well - you mentioned $1,000....


Delta 18-900L
16 speeds
6" stroke
3/4 hp motor

One of the woodworking magazine gave it their top pick in the last year - (I think it was Fine WoodWorking)

$999 - but they occasionally go on sale. I bought mine from Home Depot about a year ago for $776) . First thing I did was check the runout at the spindle which measured approx .0002. At the chuck it was .0018. Very pleased with it and it was delivered to my door for free

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Delta-18-in-Laser-Drill-Press-18-900L/203293723

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003YCEEQC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[James-W]

Is this what your talking about?
http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200419823_200419823

or

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DQJOPEY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Not exactly, but close. I was actually thinking about a used floor model mill that was in good condition. If I need a hole in an exact spot, I find it easier to use the mill rather than the drill press. Maybe I am a bit weird that way, but it seems to work better for me.

 

[EricP]

I paid $75 for this Powermatic 1150...

With some work and some scrounged up parts it turned out like this...

 

[drmarkr]

And you sir....****!!!!


Awesome resto!

 

[matt_i]

@ EricP, do you have any ventilation in the enclosure for the VFD? Something I have struggled with, small enclosure is desirable, but how to remove the heat without perforating it for contamination.

 

[djjsr]

Also be thinking about a set of Forstner and brad point bits for that drill press when you find it.

 

[alfazer]

Have a look at some of those drill press tables as add-ons. Shopnotes have some good ideas and they are great for batch production, which I'm guessing you will be doing with you wife's business. Makes it easier to set up jigs, guides and toggle clamps for repetitive work.

 

[Dennis Leigh Henry]

Vintage steel. Most older drill presses are beasts compared with some of the junk coming out now. I have both a 1940's and 1960's Craftsman, and have yet to bog either down. Part of it comes from using them correctly (right cutting speed, lubricant when needed, cleaning out the cuts, etc), but part comes from the sheer industrial build of these things. I would keep an eye out on Craigslist for one that seems to be in good shape. Check for slop in the quill, and any loose/rattling parts. For one example, there is a current thread going on in the Vintage tool section about the Craftsman 150's.

I'll add a ditto to that... ^^ You can get an excellent vintage drill press for $500 ready to do all the work you're willing to throw at it.. and fixing and repairing them is easy.. Most have vitage repair parts (or standard off the shelf items like belts and bearings) readily available.. Mine is posted here, a South Bend Lathe version that I purchased at auction for $300 and its served me well for well over 25 years with minimal maintenance...

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?p=4476081&highlight=south+bend#post4476081

 

[bczygan]

Bridgeport:

 

[EricP]

@ EricP, do you have any ventilation in the enclosure for the VFD? Something I have struggled with, small enclosure is desirable, but how to remove the heat without perforating it for contamination.

Matt, I don't. There is a pretty good opening in the front and the enclosure is quite oversized, that's all. I have never really been concerned since I seldom run the drill press very long. Even then I don't think overheating would be as issue. I'll check for heat the next time I run it for more than a few minutes.

 

[brianh]

I would look on craigslist I have a lot of my shop tools from finds on there.

If you want new Grizzly makes some good stuff much better than 20 years ago. Bought a grizzly 20 inch planer a few years ago it is identical to my friends Powermatic he paid 3500 I got the grizzly for 1600 besides the paint and a few cosmetics its the same tool.

 

[Rockett69]

Gegu Welcome aboard the same boat I'm in. I just pulled the trigger on a 17" floor model Jet this morning. Everyone was very helpful with lots of insight. There is some info for you if you care to scan through the thread on it:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=326817

Here is the one I bought, it sounds very similar to what you are looking for, and in the price range as well:

http://www.jettools.com/us/en/p/17-drill-press/716300

I opted for new because I am simply not looking to make a project out of a tool that I need right now, that leaves vintage stuff out. Ease of use, part availability etc. Keeps me focused on my work, not what may need to be replaced next time I use it because its acting up. but just my .02

My plans with it are not far off from yours. Metal work (Thin stuff not to exceed 1/8" at most) wood work and maybe light mill work by way of a mill/drill vise (For slotting or elongating holes etc, not machine work). Sounds like my fiance and your wife are into similar things as I'm betting she jumps on my drill press before you get to. Best of luck to you!! I look forward to seeing what you end up with!!

 

[nadogail]

I bought an inexpensive Taiwan made drill press from the back pages of a magazine about 33 years ago. It worked as advertised, and still works today.

Recently the chuck started giving me problems, so I replaced it with a Ball Bearing Jacobs chuck and an appropriate arbor from MSC; it made that old machine work better than when it was new.

Not all old drill presses will respond to a chuck transplant but mine did.

 

[GEGU]

And you sir....****!!!!

I feel proud that my thread got a "YOU ****!!!!!" rating

You can get an excellent vintage drill press for $500 ready to do all the work you're willing to throw at it.. and fixing and repairing them is easy..

Good to know, but not easy to find near me.

If you want new Grizzly makes some good stuff much better than 20 years ago.

I am putting serious thought into Grizzly, plus I like the color.

Sounds like my fiance and your wife are into similar things as I'm betting she jumps on my drill press before you get to.

Not sure what to say about that comment, rofl

 

[jetrep]

Years ago I bought a barely used Grizzly off craigslist. It seems like a deal. When boring some holes in a block of wood the quill get sucked down into the wood. There was a lot of slop between the handle and quill. It was not a pleasure to use. This is definitely something I will check if I ever feel the need for another drill press.

 

[csp]

Good to know, but not easy to find near me.

I'd say that's probably the case anywhere. I find that patience is required for finding any vintage equipment.