Drill press advice

[Bachhus]

Finally time for me to get a drill press. I’ve researched a lot on here and other places. I’d love to buy a quality old American Clausing or older powermagic but I’m in Oregon and can’t seem to find anything. I’ll keep looking but if I don’t find one what are your thoughts? Dream drill would be a geared head with power feed. Will used for home garage type projects mostly metal. Not looking to do any professional milling but some hobby milling isn’t out of the question. I like the mill drill combos but think I’m priced out for a size that would give me the drilling options I want.

Locally I’ve found a powermatic PM2800B for around 1k and a Delta 17-925 for $900.

Anyway I’d appreciate your thoughts and and if you’re in the Pacific Northwest and have something for sale please let me know lol.

Single phase 220 available but I don’t mind going the 3 phase inverter option for the right unit.

Thanks
Mark

 

[nadogail]

Being aware of your budget; you don't have to tell us, is important before you begin shopping. It has been many years since I lived in Oregon, but Portland had used and new machinery dealers.

 

[Bachhus]

Sorry about that. I’d like to keep the budget on this under $1,500.

Do you know what the used machinery places were called? Found one called Liberty but not a lot of options there.

 

[isb cornbinder]

I was looking for a WF and John Barnes camel-back drill press. I found it in the classified on Racing Junk, in Seattle. I like to keep my searches simple and let Google do the search. I Googled for Camel-Back drill press and the machine I bought came from Washington, State. I paid $900 for this half-ton monster.
I have about 100 hours into the restoration .
NO REGRETS.
This stuff is out there. Do not give up too soon.

 

[alfadan]

You could always buy an import and use it until you come across something nicer, then sell the import and probably make most of your money back.

 

[Renegade1LI]

Patience, I picked up a pm 1150 for 300$, needed cleaning and a belt. The vs is nice to have and most old iron clans up pretty good.

 

[bubinga]

Finally time for me to get a drill press. I’ve researched a lot on here and other places. I’d love to buy a quality old American Clausing or older powermagic but I’m in Oregon and can’t seem to find anything. I’ll keep looking but if I don’t find one what are your thoughts? Dream drill would be a geared head with power feed. Will used for home garage type projects mostly metal. Not looking to do any professional milling but some hobby milling isn’t out of the question. I like the mill drill combos but think I’m priced out for a size that would give me the drilling options I want.

Locally I’ve found a powermatic PM2800B for around 1k and a Delta 17-925 for $900.

Anyway I’d appreciate your thoughts and and if you’re in the Pacific Northwest and have something for sale please let me know lol.

Single phase 220 available but I don’t mind going the 3 phase inverter option for the right unit.

Thanks
Mark

3 phase motor with VFD is a great option.

 

[RoninB4]

A DP for a decent price is always tough to find because everybody is looking for one. For your projected budget you'll find a DP that may have power feed or you'll find an import mill that likely won't have down feed. You cannot do milling with a DP, they aren't designed to do that and will vibrate badly. Milling in a DP with an XY table isn't good either. If you want milling AND power feed you're really looking at a Bridgeport style turret mill. Yes they're often more expensive, weigh up to 2,000 lbs., and have a larger footprint. The plus side is they'll do whatever you want (within reason) much better than a DP or import mill/drill in that price range. Import castings are usually less dense (weight of mass) less robust, and are of poorer quality than castings of older machinery. Imports usually have cheap bearings, short lived electric motors, and the overall build quality is not very good. Older machinery can be worn out, non-existent replacement parts, and is less plentiful on the market. You'll want to get creative with your searching, expect to look for a while (I did), and perhaps travel to get it (I did). Is it worth it? I feel it is. Getting something that doesn't do what you need it to or be in poor condition makes you wish you had waited/searched a bit longer. I've been a toolmaker for decades and this is just my opinion. Good luck hunting.

 

[mike93lx]

If I was willing to spend 1500 on a drill press, this would be it. Variable speed and tons of cool features like stopping rotation at a specified depth and auto reversing. They also have a bench top model

Nova Viking 16'' Floor Model DVR Drill Press with 9037 Fence

A full-height ''smart drill press'' with digital controls, programmable depth stop, and a quiet direct-drive motor—includes the 9037 Drill Press Fence.

www.rockler.com

 

[Bachhus]

A DP for a decent price is always tough to find because everybody is looking for one. For your projected budget you'll find a DP that may have power feed or you'll find an import mill that likely won't have down feed. You cannot do milling with a DP, they aren't designed to do that and will vibrate badly. Milling in a DP with an XY table isn't good either. If you want milling AND power feed you're really looking at a Bridgeport style turret mill. Yes they're often more expensive, weigh up to 2,000 lbs., and have a larger footprint. The plus side is they'll do whatever you want (within reason) much better than a DP or import mill/drill in that price range. Import castings are usually less dense (weight of mass) less robust, and are of poorer quality than castings of older machinery. Imports usually have cheap bearings, short lived electric motors, and the overall build quality is not very good. Older machinery can be worn out, non-existent replacement parts, and is less plentiful on the market. You'll want to get creative with your searching, expect to look for a while (I did), and perhaps travel to get it (I did). Is it worth it? I feel it is. Getting something that doesn't do what you need it to or be in poor condition makes you wish you had waited/searched a bit longer. I've been a toolmaker for decades and this is just my opinion. Good luck hunting.

I definitely don't mind traveling for the right deal if I can find it.

 

[Bachhus]

I appreciate everyone's suggestions and welcome more. I'll keep the hunt going.

 

[nadogail]

When my parents moved from Portland I was 12 years old more than 70 years ago.

 

[ez-duzit]

...
Locally I’ve found a powermatic PM2800B for around 1k...

You should be jumping on this.

 

[shawhite]

I believe the newer powermatics like the PM2800B are imports more suited for wood. Sounds like the OP should probably skip the DP and go for a milling machine.

 

[Bachhus]

I believe the newer powermatics like the PM2800B are imports more suited for wood. Sounds like the OP should probably skip the DP and go for a milling machine.

I'm not ruling out a mill but floor space is one concern I have. If I found a great deal locally i'd make the room but primarily looking for a quality capable metal DP at the moment.

 

[PoorUB]

I’d love to buy a quality old American Clausing or older powermagic but I’m in Oregon and can’t seem to find anything.

Search for online auction sites that specialize in shop tools. I used to see Clausing and Powermatic drill presses all the time in California and the Seattle, WA area. LA is probably to far to go, but for the right deal, maybe? I drove about 300 miles to get my Powermatic 1200. The PM 1200 and the Clausing were my two prefered drill presses. I looked for over ten years before I found one. I have had mind for about that long, then the funny thing was a buddy of mine was looking for a similar drill press and I found him a PM 1200 a couple miles away.

I looked hard at the Powermatic PM2800 and it looks ok, but keep in mind it is a Taiwanese import, I don't care whose label is on it. Plus the speed range is 250 to 3000 RPM. A bit fast for drilling large holes in steel. Like the other comment, more of a wood working machine.

Back when I bought my PM 1200 they were about $1,000. A PM 1200 depending on the work table and base is a 600 pound drill press. The PM 2800 is 250 pounds. That difference in weight adds to the rigidity and how the machine works. I would not trade my PM 1200 for a brand new PM 2800, if that gives you any idea! Another way to look at it is the PH 1200 sold for around $3,500 in the mid 90's when it was discontinued. With inflation that works out to about $7,000 today.

Another funny about the one I bought, I saw it for sale on Craig's List. I contacted the seller to get more information. He had it listed as a Powematic, and no other information. He was asking $1,000. I asked the model number and if it was single of 3 phase. He never got back to me. I would have paid the $1,000!

A month later it was advertised for $600! I e-mailed the the guy and asked if he still had it, he said yes and e-mailed back that I was on the way, remember a 300 mile drive. He took about an hour to get back to me and I am long down the road. He said he couldn't meet me but would try line something up, I kept driving! My buddy that was with got a kick out of it that I didn't even have anything arranged when we left. A while later a guy called me, said he worked for the seller and he could meet me at 7 PM. By now it was like 4 PM and I was about an hour away. We stopped and had a nice dinner at a bit more expensive restaurant close to the meeting point, then went over to pick it up. It was what I was hoping for other than 3 phase, but I had a VFD on hand. I have since replaced that VFD with one more suitable.

We got home about midnight, but it was well worth it!

My PM1200

 

[GrayFlattop]

Of the two, I'd be tempted to choose the Delta 17-925 and use it as a placeholder until the right drill press emerges. As others have said, the Powermatic PM 2800B is an import. It may be ok, but their older stuff was damn near bulletproof with a little TLC. I picked up a Powermatic 1150 in 1984ish and it was a great purchase. Funny - I'd say it was made around 1968. So it was 16 years old when I bought it and it's still going strong 40 years after I picked it up. I also have a Clausing 15" VS DP that has been solid as well.

Typically machinery dealers will have "gang drill presses" with two (or more) heads that can be had for a bargain. These are mounted on a larger table which may prove useful for metalworking.

Of course much depends on what you are going to do with it. Smaller 15-20" drill pressed are fine for all-around use, but if you are working with larger MT drills or if you want to drill and tap 1" holes you will probably want a geared-head drill press. You might get luck there.

Look for other brands like Wilton if you are considering a geared head unit. We have an Arboga geared head unit at work (maybe 40 years old) that is a beast - it takes tons of abuse.

 

[PoorUB]

Typically machinery dealers will have "gang drill presses" with two (or more) heads that can be had for a bargain. These are mounted on a larger table which may prove useful for metalworking.

I know of guys that bought gang head sets, stripped off one or two of the heads, rebuilt into one good head, then scrounged a column, base and table and built up a floor model, then sold or scrapped the rest. PM1200 parts sell well on eBay.

 

[shawhite]

I know of guys that bought gang head sets, stripped off one or two of the heads, rebuilt into one good head, then scrounged a column, base and table and built up a floor model, then sold or scrapped the rest. PM1200 parts sell well on eBay.

Lol I actually went this route with my clausing 20. Ended up selling that for my Wilton/arboga gear head. Takes up a lot less space and has the same capacity.

OP to bad we are on opposite sides of the country I actually have a spare Wilton/arboga and a spare clausing 15 VS.

 

[Bachhus]

Lol I actually went this route with my clausing 20. Ended up selling that for my Wilton/arboga gear head. Takes up a lot less space and has the same capacity.

OP to bad we are on opposite sides of the country I actually have a spare Wilton/arboga and a spare clausing 15 VS.

Man no kidding! I was hoping to stumble upon someone on my side with just that, one to spare. I have a budy with a Arboga BM2508 that I am in love with but he uses it daily.

 

[shawhite]

I have two arbogas one with a Wilton label and one with a jet label A2608. Wanted the power downfeed version but don’t drill enough holes as a hobbiest to warrant it. This is an older picture they both have vfds now

 

[isb cornbinder]

I was looking for a WF and John Barnes camel-back drill press. I found it in the classified on Racing Junk. I like to keep my searches simple and let Google do the search. I Googled for Camel-Back drill press and the machine I bought came from Washington, State. I paid $1,000 for this half-ton monster.
I have about 100 hours into the restoration .
NO REGRETS.
This stuff is out there. Do not give up too soon.

I should have mentioned that my total investment is around $1500cdn. I had to make a few fasteners to fit the 1800s non standard thread pitches. One shafts had to be remade. I had to turn a new shaft because the over 100 year old size was not available.
The original top gear guard and the crank handle for the platen lift were missing. I made the crank from some shop materials and an old socket which I shortened in a lathe. The handle is held in place with a rare earth magnet. It takes some serious pull to remove the crank.
I wanted the gear guard because the Quill and spindle gears are at the top of my forehead. My hair has thinned and I do not need the remaining fuzz to be jerked out.
I made a mobile base for the drill-press so I could move the half-ton unit around the shop. The handle for the mobile base fits several other heavy machine's Mobile bases.

 

[ez-duzit]

...Sounds like the OP should probably skip the DP and go for a milling machine.

Many make this same mistake--thinking a mill is a substitute for a drill press--it isn't. You really need both.

Besides a mill, I have 3 drill presses.

 

[PoorUB]

I was looking for a WF and John Barnes camel-back drill press. I found it in the classified on Racing Junk. I like to keep my searches simple and let Google do the search. I Googled for Camel-Back drill press and the machine I bought came from Washington, State. I paid $1,000 for this half-ton monster.
I have about 100 hours into the restoration .
NO REGRETS.
This stuff is out there. Do not give up too soon.

Nice old machine, but more than most of us need! I would want something with a bit more versatility, more speeds, (although a VFD can solve that) and less room and weight. If you have use for drilling larger holes then it is worth it.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Nice old machine, but more than most of us need! I would want something with a bit more versatility, more speeds, (although a VFD can solve that) and less room and weight. If you have use for drilling larger holes then it is worth it.

Just for the fun of it. this drill press has 8 speeds and reverse. I do not need a drill press like this. I have three more and a mag-drill.. The others are smaller.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Nice old machine, but more than most of us need! I would want something with a bit more versatility, more speeds, (although a VFD can solve that) and less room and weight. If you have use for drilling larger holes then it is worth it.

If I waited for need and "worth it" I would have missed out on way too many things. That WF&J Barnes gives me a good feeling when it is just sitting there. When it is running the whirring of the straight cut gears and the slapping of the belt's Clipper connections often makes my otherwise dull day into "glad to be here"

 

[Maui]

Why was my post removed??

 

[isb cornbinder]

You could always buy an import and use it until you come across something nicer, then sell the import and probably make most of your money back.

I used to buy, clean-up and resell drill presses. I almost always lost money on the imports. I cannot sell with a warranty so the value goes way down. I gave my last 2 imports away rather than endure the CL grinding. I stayed with tool-boxes and now, nothing.