Drill Press for Small Shop

[nicholam77]

Hello everyone,

I'm looking to add a drill press to my small 18x20 garage that I also park my cars in. It's got to be small-ish, benchtop model. Not looking to spend a fortune but don't want junk, either.

I predominantly do woodworking projects, and have had multiple times where I've really wished I had a drill press! But I don't think I need huge capacity, or have the room for that.

My question is, I was looking at something like this baby Grizzly G0925, which would definitely fit in my space. And seems decently reviewed for its size, plus good price point.

But then an option (I'm sure there will always be more) like this 12" Grizzly G1199 showed up on fb marketplace for $200. Older model, about twice the price of the "baby" 8 inch:

My question is, given my shop size constraints and probably somewhat limited use, do you think it is worth it to get a larger model and make it work? Will I regret getting a small one? I've never had one before so it's hard to forsee every single thing I might use it for... also, is this used 12" Grizzly for $200 a decent deal? They say it is mechanically in good shape.

Thanks for any advice, and here's a pic of my space so you can see what I'm working with. Have to keep everything on the back wall pretty much to get the cars in:

Thanks!

 

[Davefr]

8" is a toy. Get at least a 12" model. The footprint won't be that much bigger but it will be much more useful and better built. I'd also look for older CM, Delta, etc. Good used benchtop DP's aren't hard to find.

 

[Larwyn]

In my opinion there is no tool more worthy of floor space than a good floor model drill press. It takes up less room than most other tools in the shop and is useful more often than a lot of them. While a bench top drill press takes up bench top space and often has to be moved out of the way, besides having a more limited capacity.

I would definitely go for the floor model. In fact I have two my little two-car garage shop.
One is set up with a cross slide vice for the oily metal work, and the other I keep clean for working with wood.

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[joshmodelskidoo]

Go with the biggest your budget will allow. You can put a cabinet on wheels and put it under the drill press table and wheel it out of the way if need be. I had a tool shop brand 8in and it broke from using a Wire wheel in the chuck. I now have dads old 1980s craftsman floor model and theres no comparison in power, quality and room

 

[shawhite]

Floor model for sure.

 

[TailGunner3000]

Hello everyone,
It's got to be small-ish, benchtop model.

I would choose the larger of those two if those were my only choices. But if time wasn't pressing, I would look around for a better machine at a better price.

There are good vintage benchtop DPs to be found with a little patience.

 

[seber]

Forget the 8". It will never be big enough for whatever project you are working on. Toys are for kids.

 

[Gotcha640]

You probably already know this, but the size rating is double the depth of the throat. So the 8 inch press only has 4 inches from the chuck to the post (can hit the center of an 8 inch board).

I have a ryobi dp121, 12 inch bench top, and it's been a great compromise. I don't know what the current equivalent is, but in ~2010, it was the recommended entry level on lumberjocks, and was regularly on sale for $150.

It's been great for my needs, but the whole arrangement could be stiffer. When drilling big holes in steel, I put a jack under the table.

It also only goes down to 300rpm. Hole saws in steel want a lot lower.

For $200, I'd be tempted to get the bigger one. As mentioned, it won't take up any more space, and the bigger throat and chuck (5/8 vs 1/2) alone would make it worth it. You would probably be annoyed by the flex in the 8 inch drilling anything harder than yellow pine. Big one will be stiffer table and head and foot.

 

[ez-duzit]

Get a real drill press. Make sure it has low speeds for large holes.

 

[The Cobbler]

the $200 FB drill press is a well regarded asian import. they work well & seem to be favourable . $200 is probably a fair price ( not a deal) for the looks of condition it is in.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I have had good luck with the Harbor Freight Benchtop one and have heard good things about it too. It maybe one too look at for you.


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[tarbellb]

the $200 FB drill press is a well regarded asian import. they work well & seem to be favourable . $200 is probably a fair price ( not a deal) for the looks of condition it is in.

This ^^^^


Grab that DP now, offer less, take whatever the # is.

(plug in and do a test in what your use would be)
(pss ..bring your own bit/material)

 

[nicholam77]

Thank you everyone for all the advice! Very helpful. Seems overwhelmingly the opinion is bigger is better.

I understand the pitch for a floor model, but due to my other woodworking equipment and parking the cars (not willing to give that up in MN winters), I don't have a permanent spot for a floor model right now, and I really need it to be mobile.

I think as someone mentioned a 12" on a cart would be a good compromise.

Might just be my location but many vintage drill presses I've come across for sale look like they need a lot of love, or the good ones are more than I want to spend ($350-$400).

I made an offer on the 12", going to look at it tomorrow, and yes I will test it and make sure it's in good shape. I think it will be a good place for me to start... I can always upgrade down the line if my space requirements or nature of work changes. But for now I'm really just a hobbyist doing personal projects out of wood.

 

[Packard V8]

The Delta Homecraft 12" is the best small DP I've used. They are readily available and usually less than $100. I have one in my basement shop.

jack vines

 

[dubdoc]

It looks about like mine. Works great and was $150 are a closeout sale.

 

[bpjr]

I have an 8" and a 13". The 13 does everything the 8 will and more. The 13 has a crank for adjusting the height and the 8 doesn't. Having the crank makes small adjustments way easier and I didn't realize that until getting the 13. Footprint on the 8 is small enough to make a difference but the lighter weight is noticed when you want to move it to a different position. I stored the 8 under the bench and brought it up when needed and you can't do that with the bigger press. The 13 is overall bigger/heavier and isn't easy to move. Both of my presses are "chi and tai" and been fine. Bought the 8 about 40 yrs ago and 13 from Northern Tool 10 yrs ago for about $200.

 

[ez-duzit]

...the crank makes small adjustments way easier...

True, but it makes large adjustments take much longer.

 

[tool_scrounge]

The Delta Homecraft 12" is the best small DP I've used. They are readily available and usually less than $100. I have one in my basement shop.

jack vines

I thought the Delta Homecraft was an 11" drill press. But regardless they are built like a tank and share the interchangeable spindle design with the Delta 14" DP220 model. They are amazingly heavy for their size.

 

[PugetDude]

I have the Grizzly G1200 Drill press= the floor model of the one you reference.
Bought it 35+ years ago, it's been awesome. Still running original belts and motor, did replace the chuck a couple of years ago. COO was Taiwan, not China.
This thing has drilled tens of thousands of holes, will do 5/8" diameter in steel with a good sharp bit and a well-secured workpiece. It runs smooth, quiet, and has served me well for three and a half decades. Mine is a floor model, but I can't really remember a time when I needed the additional height.

Buy it.

 

[lastgoodusername]

Don't overlook a floor model and just cut the column off the top to fit your needs. Better selection and cheaper usually. Do get one with the third pulley as it will increase your speed range. Hope this helps.

 

[lardy1]

I wanted something affordable and relatively mobile when I was looking. This Wen is just another rebadge of a basic, Asian, dime a dozen bench top drill press. I forget the details now but when I researched, the Wen had better bearings than some of the others.

I built the stand with drawers to accommodate bits and accessories. It's full. I probably should have factored the height of casters into it and built it on wheels. Most everything in my shop is mobile.

It isn't a high quality unit but it works for my home game quite well.

 

[exmaxima1]

I'd look at Craigslist as well in your area:

https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/dak/tls/d/jordan-drill-press/7166347140.html

That old Dayton has a 6-inch stroke and would be a great benchtop tool.

 

[Larwyn]

My 17-in Delta is on a mobile base so I can move it anywhere in the shop at any time. There is also a little 8-in delta which lives on the base which serves mostly to lower the overall center of gravity, not really necessary. The little 8 incher sometimes comes in handy if I need two different setups, or if I need it at a work site.

I also have a 17-in central machinery floor model drill press which has been living in the same corner for several years now being always useful for drilling metal, and has never been in the way when I am working with metal.

I know there are many ways to build a stand for a benchtop drill press. However I have never seen one that had a smaller footprint than a simple full-size floor standing drill press. The Delta stand that I once used under that little 8-incher actually had a larger footprint than the floor standing 17.

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[nicholam77]

In case anyone wants some closure I got the 12" Grizzly. I think I am going to be plenty happy with it.



Again, appreciate everyone's input.

-Nick

 

[830singleshot]

If you're looking for a nice upgrade, buy a keyless chuck. My 1/32 - 1/2" Shars w/#2 my arbor was only $26 delivered off of eBay. Great addition for short money.

 

[Indexmill]

That used Grizzly is a damn nice DP for the money. It will serve you fine.

Second getting a keyless chuck.

 

[darkzero]

I've got limited space in my garage. I also don't use a DP that often. So a cheap benchtop model is all I ever needed, one that I can put away when not used. I had a $100 8" Craftsman for like 20 yrs. Last year I bought an older gen 12" WEN from CL. It's got a Reeves drive but only goes down to 500 rpm. Wish it had slower speeds but I can just used my mill/drill when needed. I too recommend getting at least a 12" & one that has 12 speeds if you want to drill big holes metal.

I ended up disassembling the whole thing, repainted, put new bearings in it, minor mods, & cleaned up all the things I wasn't happh with. Probably unheard of but I actually shortened the height of the WEN. But I made an adapter for the piece of the column that I cut off to bolt back on if I ever need to (unlikely). Many people would probably laugh at my cheapie & think I spent too much time on it but in the end I'm happy with.

 

[CD1]

Wen 4214 12" Variable speed with light and laser

https://www.amazon.com/WEN-4214-taladro-velocidad-variable/dp/B00HQONFY6/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1989K8IPMRMJ3&dchild=1&keywords=wen+4214+drill+press&qid=1598684168&sprefix=wen+4214+drill%2Caps%2C185&sr=8-1

This what I have.

 

[darkzero]

That's the model I have above. I totally didn't expect WEN stuff to get mentioned here.

 

[nicholam77]

Working great so far. I cleaned it up, built a mobile cart for it, and a melamine clamping table.

 

[Bessy]

Wen 4214 12" Variable speed with light and laser



https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HQONFY6/?tag=atomicindus08-20



This what I have.

Have you owned it long? How are you liking it? I've been looking for a good quality used Delta or similar, but Wen is intriguing if I do decide to go new (used are hard to come by in good shape in this area).

How is it for accuracy with the laser?

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[Indexmill]

That used Grizzly is a damn nice DP for the money. It will serve you fine.

Second getting a keyless chuck.

Thirdly getting a keyless chuck. I happen to have a perfect 1/2" Albrecht but it will cost nearly what you paid for the machine.

 

[nicholam77]

Thirdly getting a keyless chuck. I happen to have a perfect 1/2" Albrecht but it will cost nearly what you paid for the machine.

Copy that, I'll look into a keyless chuck

 

[Hack Fabrication]

I understand the pitch for a floor model, but due to my other woodworking equipment and parking the cars (not willing to give that up in MN winters), I don't have a permanent spot for a floor model right now, and I really need it to be mobile.

Harbor Freight 17" on a Shop Fox mobile base:

This doesn't take up a lot of valuable floor space, and it's relatively stable and easy to move. It also can slow down to 200 rpms for swinging big hole saws. Only drawback to the cheaper drill presses is the belt system method of changing speed. But a good variable speed machine is pricey.

 

[mercifiknow]

Harbor Freight 17" on a Shop Fox mobile base:

This doesn't take up a lot of valuable floor space, and it's relatively stable and easy to move. It also can slow down to 200 rpms for swinging big hole saws. Only drawback to the cheaper drill presses is the belt system method of changing speed. But a good variable speed machine is pricey.

I like the base!


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[mercifiknow]

Bought myself a bench top Walker Turner off of FB market place for $150. Couldn’t be happier.

Would’ve loved a floor model but won’t have a lot of space either once the shop is done. I’m trying to put as much stuff on wheels as possible.

They aren’t common here but I would get an older one if you can. Good luck.


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[nadogail]

I bought a bench top Drill Press (I guess) a 12 or 14" from an advertisement on the back page of a magazine in 1976, it was made in Taiwan. The spindle has a#2 Morse Taper.
To date, the import chuck has been replaced with a Jacobs chuck.
One of the best tool investments I have made. The oil table rotates and cranks up and down.

It, like every other tool in my shop, sits on wheels.