Drill Press Value
- Thread starter mra243
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d.mcfarland
Well-known member
From that one picture, it looks like it's in good condition.
I would also have to drive about 5 hours to pick this press up.
For the same amount of $$$, I could have this delivered for free to my local Home Depot:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-in-Drill-Press-with-LED-R1500/205653862
Would there be any real comparison between the two?
For the same amount of $$$, I could have this delivered for free to my local Home Depot:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-in-Drill-Press-with-LED-R1500/205653862
Would there be any real comparison between the two?
The main things I would compare are HP, quill travel, and runout. Without knowing anything about the used one you posted, it *looks* like higher quality than the Rigid, and again, going on looks, it doesn't strike me as having been abused.
Bretny
Well-known member
Is it made in china? By the looks of the chuck and reat of the machine i would think its chinese parts. This and it being 5hrs away i would pass.
Are you drilling metal at all? If so look for a 3 pully drill press.
Are you drilling metal at all? If so look for a 3 pully drill press.
Packard V8
Well-known member
JMHO, American Machine Tools is a misnamed very large importer/reseller of generic Asian machinery. That is a nothing-special DP and i wouldn't drive five hours if it were free at the end of the road.
With a bit of patience, a better Craftsman/Atlas/Delta/Walker-Turner/Powermatic will come along.
jack vines
With a bit of patience, a better Craftsman/Atlas/Delta/Walker-Turner/Powermatic will come along.
jack vines
Last edited:
hammerhead611
Well-known member
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- Aug 15, 2017
- Messages
- 202
^^^This^^^
My dad had the equivalent drill press that was labeled as Packard Precision (they were imported under several different names). His was made in 1982. I'm in the process of restoring it. Research has shown that they are not that special. While it looks to be in great condition, you can do a lot better than $325 plus what it would cost to drive 10 hours round trip for it. If I had to put any more $ into the one I'm restoring, I would have just purchased a new one (I've only had to buy 2 bearings, 2 replacement power switches, and paint...got a free replacement motor from my FIL and found the other bearings in some of my dad's job boxes).
bubinga
Well-known member
anndel
Well-known member
It's like a Chinese made Wen. I would pay less but not $325 for it.
lafester
Well-known member
If I were getting a chinese press I would look at the wen 12" variable speed.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-12-in-Variable-Speed-Drill-Press-4214/204994931
Would rather wait for a used american made press though... $300 should get a pretty nice one.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/WEN-12-in-Variable-Speed-Drill-Press-4214/204994931
Would rather wait for a used american made press though... $300 should get a pretty nice one.
I'd cruise Craig's List for an older American made drill press. If you can find one that's even decent it will be a much better machine than one of these new Chinese imports. Look for a Rockwell, Delta, Wilton, etc. Craftsman also made some 'industrial' drill presses back in the '60s and '70s. I've got one and it's a great press.
part availability may be limited on some of the old American drill press. The most important factor to me would be operating speed. Make sure the drill press can operate at a slow enough speed to drill the material you wish to drill. The slower the better usually for steel
Packard V8
Well-known member
Ever tried to source a replacement part for a Chicom DP?
jack vines
bubinga
Well-known member
Must be a reeves drive.
lafester
Well-known member
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It looks like my Taiwan press. They were made on the thousands. Mine is a Continental. They can be decent. If it has a lot of quill travel and the bearings and quill are tight, it might not be too bad. I would take that over some Wen at HD. They can have issues, too. There was so much runout in one of the pulleys on mine that a machinist friend rebored and sleeved it for me. There is a shim in the table to square it front to back. It has worked fine for a lot of years. That is a Loooong drive.
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Look on cl for an American drill press. It will be well worth it in the long run. I scored and got a 1968 craftsman 113.24560 seems to be one of the last good us made drill presses and it was rusted from sitting out side but I stripped it down repainted it and works like a champ and it's one of my favorite tools I have. I spent a lot of time restoring it but I have like 40-50 bucks into it for paint/stripper quill bearings and a chuck key. But it's way batter then I have ever seen in a store for less then 1000 bucks. Just keep your eye out and check Craigslist regularly I find all kind of free older tools that just need to be cleaned up and serviced and work great. I got a 1942 craftsman scroll saw, and 1952 all cast RAS craftsman, drill press, a 20 ton press (harbor freight one but it was like new) a Taiwan band saw, and a shop smith (missing some parts and has major rust but still runs) and that's just some of the tools I got for free just by checking cl daily and sometimes many times a day. So just keep your eye out and asking around or even just ask people you know that have them and ask if they know anyone sometimes you will get lucky or when they need to down size your their first call. Here is my drill press 
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bubinga
Well-known member
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pepi
Well-known member
Must agree the old; if it looks like a duck, yada, yada The basics are the same, motor & stand can very but very little else. I will say later models have more plastic, just like your car.
Pep
lafester
Well-known member
Those 2nd gen Emerson's can be found cheap since they are unknown and kind of ugly. They are pretty much the same as the popular 150 line though as far as I know.Look on cl for an American drill press. It will be well worth it in the long run. I scored and got a 1968 craftsman 113.24560 seems to be one of the last good us made drill presses and it was rusted from sitting out side but I stripped it down repainted it and works like a champ and it's one of my favorite tools I have. I spent a lot of time restoring it but I have like 40-50 bucks into it for paint/stripper quill bearings and a chuck key. But it's way batter then I have ever seen in a store for less then 1000 bucks. Just keep your eye out and check Craigslist regularly I find all kind of free older tools that just need to be cleaned up and serviced and work great. I got a 1942 craftsman scroll saw, and 1952 all cast RAS craftsman, drill press, a 20 ton press (harbor freight one but it was like new) a Taiwan band saw, and a shop smith (missing some parts and has major rust but still runs) and that's just some of the tools I got for free just by checking cl daily and sometimes many times a day. So just keep your eye out and asking around or even just ask people you know that have them and ask if they know anyone sometimes you will get lucky or when they need to down size your their first call. Here is my drill press
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A friend had a later Emerson from Sears. Probably in the 70s. All I remember was how lightly built it was. The import the OP is looking at is probably heavier.
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lafester
Well-known member
Hmm. I had a 3rd gen and it was nice, just had the skinny belt. Not sure what came after but I think that was the end of us made.
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ez-duzit
Well-known member
Pass on all the Chinese DP's. Also I wouldn't give you $1 for a Craftsman or Wen or Rigid, if I needed to drill metal. Some of the Taiwan DP's are just OK, except for the crappy chucks. Look for a quality, older machine made in US.
Look for low speed ability.
Look for low speed ability.
Is it just my imagination, or in pix #6 does the word Taiwan appear just below the AMT? The bottom right corner of the front nameplate just shows in the picture.
That looks like a 14" DP (and also taking a clue from the model number) - and as such I think it is overpriced by at least double, not counting the long drive!
Now, if it were a 20" I would say go for it!
That looks like a 14" DP (and also taking a clue from the model number) - and as such I think it is overpriced by at least double, not counting the long drive!
Now, if it were a 20" I would say go for it!
bubinga
Well-known member
Yes!!
Good drill press still too.
I like how its the same quill feed handles as the 150.
I'm guessing that machine is an early Taiwan made machine vs. Chinese. The price is high but I'd take it over an older US made consumer/woodworker DP any day.
Here's why:
- It's 12 speed. That means you have a pretty wide speed range and can get lower then the typical 4-5 speed homeowner machines.
- It has table tilt, table rotate and table lift. A DP without table lift is worthless IMHO and you need tilt to be able to tram the table. (assuming you care about precision)
- The Taiwan machines usually came with decent TEFC motors.
- With an MT2 spindle, you can swap chucks easily and use other MT2 accessories like tapping heads.
However if you can find an old US made machinst DP then
that would be better. However they're very hard to find, expensive and usually need service/restoration.
Here's why:
- It's 12 speed. That means you have a pretty wide speed range and can get lower then the typical 4-5 speed homeowner machines.
- It has table tilt, table rotate and table lift. A DP without table lift is worthless IMHO and you need tilt to be able to tram the table. (assuming you care about precision)
- The Taiwan machines usually came with decent TEFC motors.
- With an MT2 spindle, you can swap chucks easily and use other MT2 accessories like tapping heads.
However if you can find an old US made machinst DP then
that would be better. However they're very hard to find, expensive and usually need service/restoration.