Drill press basics?

[Chaznsc]

I'm always on the prowl for a drill press. I have no immediate need, just something I'd like to add the the arsenal. Probably interested in drilling wood and metal (angle iron) and would like to know just a short list of what to look for.

Thanks as always.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

If you want to drill metal look for one with slower speeds preferably with an intermediate pulley setup often called a slow speed attachment. You'll want at least a 1/2" chuck, I prefer a drill press that uses morse taper chucks that allow you to remove the chuck quickly and mount different chucks or drill bits directly in the spindle.

check for slop in the spindle, and excess runout if you have a dial indicator. Crank up tables are nice, minimum of 1/2 hp and of course heavier is always better.

 

[Chaznsc]

Define "slow" for metal.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

RPM is dependent upon the material you are drilling and the size of the drill bit. Do a google search for drill speed charts to get an idea. Rule of thumb is the harder the material the slower the speed and the larger the bit the slower the speed. So if you plan on drilling 5/8" holes in stainless you are gonna want to be around 100 rpm.

 

[brownbagg]

you also want a floor model, don't pay attention to the idiots that say a bench top is just as good, they are wrong

 

[PT Doc]

If you want to drill thicker material, use a vise and possibly use a compound table, ten get a floor press

 

[Davefr]

I'm always on the prowl for a drill press. I have no immediate need, just something I'd like to add the the arsenal. Probably interested in drilling wood and metal (angle iron) and would like to know just a short list of what to look for.

Thanks as always.

In addition make sure it has a table elevation feature. (ex: rack and pinion)

 

[LutzTD]

you also want a floor model, don't pay attention to the idiots that say a bench top is just as good, they are wrong

I have a little bench top I use all of the time. depends on what someone mostly wants to drill. for drilling holes in angle it would be fine. Ive found that a bench top sitting on top of a cheap HF grinder stand can do most small to medium drill jobs with the benefit of being much more mobile. I dont have a large freestanding drill becuse I just dont need it most of the time. On the few occasions I needed more power I use a mill, but its not very often. The side benefit of the set up I have is that its just the right height to sit down while working. Standing in front of a drill press to drill 64 brackets which was my last job, would have been murder.

 

[Kevin54]

Stay away from a cheap drill press. By that I mean HF, and along those lines. Look for a Rockwell, Craftsman, Delta......a brand name press. You can pick them up fairly reasonable. Like stated above, get a floor model. It will allow you to drill long parts. And again, as stated above, make sure the quill of the press, or what the chuck goes into has no slop to it. You don't want to buy one then find out you have to rebuild it, or find out you have a press you can't get parts for, hence the reason for getting a brand name press. If you can, go no less than 1/2" for the chuck, but 5/8" would be more preferable.

 

[PT Doc]

There are many folks that have hf presses that have been running strong for years. The head castings are the same for many Asian rebadged drill presses. They are quite good.

 

[zcar751]

As you see opinions very depending on need. Several good suggestions on what to look for. If you are working on a car project and small wood projects you can get buy with a bench top press. And don't be afraid of a Harbor Freight press. I have had several presses over the years and my last purchase was a Harbor Freight bench top press that has met all my needs drilling through 3/8" mild steal with out a problem. The biggest issue most people have with presses is the set up and trying to rush the drill. When you drill metal you need to apply even pressure and use cutting fluid for cooling or you will dull your bit and make your work harder. The benefit of a floor mounted press is they come with deeper throats (the distance between the drill bit and the drill press base shaft) and they are available with more power.
Things you do want are 1/2" or larger chuck, a press table vice to hold the material, variable speed (usually through belt/pull setup), minimal shaft runout.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If you're in no hurry, then I suggest looking and looking. When you get tired of searching CL, search some more.

If you spend $200 on a new one, I think you can find a better one for less that is used and 30 plus years old.

 

[bad_idea]

I enjoy metal fab as a hobby. I do very little woodworking. So a bulk of my drilling is in steel. Lower RPMs are preferable. I have a 1/3 hp 80's C-man floor mount drill press, I needed one and it was cheap. It only slows down to 400 RPMs, that has been a hindrance at times. I also haven't figured out why I need a floor mount, I am thinking of chopping it down and putting it on my workbench. I have more bench space than floor space. I haven't found a project that I needed the additional height of a floor model. Can anyone chime in and explain the value of a floor mount? A good X-Y table is a great accessory for the drill press. IMHO any drill press that functions and turns the RPM range for the projects you plan on doing should get it. The secret to a drill press is in the accessories. So what are your planned drilling operations?

 

[Ed Litsch]

I got a drill press a while back. Don't know how I ever got along without it. Holding a part in a vise and trying to drill it by hand got to be tiresome. Thank goodness I got smart and bought one.

 

[Slednut]

I have a bench top and wish I had a floor model. Use it daily, my son in law just bought a Craftsman floor model on craigslist for $80. It was missing the vise.

 

[ez-duzit]

Watch for a "deal" on an older, little-used one from a well regarded manufacturer. I have 3:

My go-to is a high end Rockwell/Delta floor model I bought, new, decades ago. Very handy with its quick to use, sliding table.

Also have a heavy bench-top, imported, Chicago I bought decades ago, new, for $100; has a crank-up table; usually has a large countersink installed.

And a newer, extremely heavy duty, ***********, imported Delta with a massive crank-up table; found this on c/l.

 

[larry_g]

DRILL SPEED CHART

Above is a a very rough chart of what speeds are needed for different materials and hole sizes. Figure out what your really want to do with your DP and then get one that does what is most important to you. When you look at a machine distance from the column to the quill is the swing. This determines how far from the edge of a part you can put a hole. Quill travel determines how deep of a hole you can drill in one setup. horsepower is how much work you can do. Floor standing or bench-top is somewhat determined by budget, shop layout, and need.

I have 4 different drill presses, all different and all serve a different purpose. One is a 20,000 rpm for drilling tiny holes. One is a production sensitive DP the has a big slotted table for holding a fixture to do many of the same parts. A general purpose 14" Rockwell and and older benchtop. All serve different. Add to that a couple of mills and lathes I have a lot of tools capable of making holes. Size, material, location accuracy, hole size accuracy, and many other factors will determine what tools you need to put a hole in your project. Good luck in acquiring your first DP.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Oldtymeflyr]

I have a 1/4 hp Delta. I wish it was 1 hp. I drill mostly steel and a drill press is the way to go.

Good luck!

 

[MFolks]

If you're going to drill metal, get some cutting/taping oil, I've been using the black, sulphur based oil for years, but Aluminum may take different lubrication.

Get yourself a good drill press vice(the kind you can bolt down to drill press adjustable table) to hold parts steady when drilling. To deburr the parts after drilling, I use a selection of Weldon 82 and 100 degree countersinks in a cordless drill.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I also haven't figured out why I need a floor mount, I am thinking of chopping it down and putting it on my workbench. I have more bench space than floor space. I haven't found a project that I needed the additional height of a floor model. Can anyone chime in and explain the value of a floor mount? A good X-Y table is a great accessory for the drill press. IMHO any drill press that functions and turns the RPM range for the projects you plan on doing should get it. The secret to a drill press is in the accessories. So what are your planned drilling operations?

I had (still have)a bench mount , albeit a cheap one, and found a floor model on CL. I moved the bench top over to the wood side of the garage and kept the floor model for the metal stuff.

I've found the bench top makes a mess not only on the drill press table but also on the bench itself, which can some times be a problem when you're working on something. Having a floor model the excess goes on the floor and can be cleaned up the next day, leaving the bench top clean for project space.

One other thing with a floor vs. bench top, is positioning of material. Having it set on the bench top, it's primarily in one spot. If you have a floor model, you can scoot it around a bit for unusual work if need be.

 

[805gregg]

You can't go wrong with an older Sears King Seeley, I have my dads from the 60's still going strong, I recently drilled some 3/4 holes in 1/2" steel for my model 32 bender, no problem and it's a bench top model

 

[Chaznsc]

As always, I want to thank you guys with the helpful input. Im not in a hurry for this, just didn't want to purchase something without knowing some basic information. That drill speed chart is very helpful as well.

Its funny, as a layman, my mind would have thought metal needed a higher speed than wood. THATS why I dont get paid to think!

chaz

 

[NUTTSGT]

As always, I want to thank you guys with the helpful input. Im not in a hurry for this, just didn't want to purchase something without knowing some basic information. That drill speed chart is very helpful as well.

chaz

That's the greatest thing about this site, the wide and vast amount of knowledge some of these guys have and are willing to share.

 

[240sxguy]

I'll counter with this, I have a floorstanding drill press. I thought I really needed one. I never use it, maybe 2 times a year at most. It's primarily in my way usually.

 

[ez-duzit]

Then I'll counter with: "Couldn't live without one. I use it nearly every day."

 

[Falcon67]

I'll take a third position on it I'm on my second Cman drill press. I traded up about 10 years ago for a 15" 3/4 HP model with a #2 morse and 1/2 chuck. Goes slow enough to drill most mild steel. Used the **** out of it.

Then - I bought a square column chinese mill/drill about 4 years ago. While it's not aerospace tolerance quality, it's a hell of a handy machine. With a draw bar that keeps things in place, a 1 HP 3 phase motor and fairly accurate X-Y-Z controls, I can punch a hole in anything I might need around here. And hold +/- .005 doing it. So now the DP kinda sits there next to the mill, feeling a little overlooked. But I still would not be without one.

And I have considered cutting the column down to make it a bench mount - but sure as I do I'll need the reach of a real floor mount.

 

[jetrep]

At one point I had a Grizzly floor standing model. It had axial play in the spindle that I did not care for. Sometimes the drill bit would want to pull itself into the wood (drilling through a 2x4 with, say, a 5/8" drill). There was slop between the handle and spindle. You had to always make sure you were putting a certain amount of downward pressure on the handle to avoid this. I will be checking for this if I ever buy a drill press again.

 

[InPrimer]

I have a Chicago electric?? 16 speed floor model. The main drawback was the Jacobs chuck. It grenaded after a few yrs. Bought a 5/8 ball bearing chuck at Pomona swap meet about $65 (used) My friend is a retired machinist and told me "grab it at that price" The thing is flawless such an improvement over the stock chuck, as an aside the most valuable accy was a HF foot control for about $11 the power is controlled by your foot thus both hands can be used. It prevents you from moving your left hand to find the on/off switch at the most inopportune time.

 

[bullitt67]

That's the greatest thing about this site, the wide and vast amount of knowledge some of these guys have and are willing to share.

NUTTSGT, Hit the nail on the head with that statement!!!I have joined this site roughly over 4 months ago and I log in everyday and find myself learning something new everyday.

 

[plow]

Whatever you go with, Get the table elevation feature and a Drill Doctor. I'm sure most guys here can sharpen bits on a bench grinder by hand, But if you can't........................