Harbor Freight Drill Press Purchase

[Swiftmotoring]

I was in need of a light duty drill press for my garage/shop at home....so I used a coupon to buy a Harbor Freight 5 speed drill press. The support locking handle that secures the table and allows height adjustment will not tighten enough to hold the table in place.....should I return the entire unit because of this or should I simply replace the locking handle with a bolt and nylock? The store is about 50 miles away and with the coupon netted the unit to under $50.....
Thanks

 

[Davefr]

I was in need of a light duty drill press for my garage/shop at home....so I used a coupon to buy a Harbor Freight 5 speed drill press. The support locking handle that secures the table and allows height adjustment will not tighten enough to hold the table in place.....should I return the entire unit because of this or should I simply replace the locking handle with a bolt and nylock? The store is about 50 miles away and with the coupon netted the unit to under $50.....
Thanks

Either the slit in the column locking collar isn't wide enough or there aren't enough threads on the handle.

I'd fix whichever part is the problem. (with a tap and die set or file) It's probably a 5 minute repair.

Using a bolt/nylock will drive you nuts because table elevation is always being adjusted on a drill press.

A 100 mile roundtrip isn't worth the gas IMHO.

 

[2oolhound]

Using a bolt/nylock will drive you nuts because table elevation is always being adjusted on a drill press.

+1

Can you replace the handle with a long bolt that works. just heat it cherry red and bend it to form a handle.

 

[darkk]

I was in need of a light duty drill press for my garage/shop at home....so I used a coupon to buy a Harbor Freight 5 speed drill press. The support locking handle that secures the table and allows height adjustment will not tighten enough to hold the table in place.....should I return the entire unit because of this or should I simply replace the locking handle with a bolt and nylock? The store is about 50 miles away and with the coupon netted the unit to under $50.....
Thanks

I'd return the POS and look for an older used DP on CL.

 

[fitz11]

Try putting the handle in from the other side. I had the same problem with mine and it will only lock with the handle in one side.

 

[Swiftmotoring]

Fitz.....you are the winner! I didn't think it mattered which side, the included directions didn't specify. After going onto the HF website and having a look at the directions there....it specified to install the locking pin from the left. Oh well....at least i can say i learned something today! I have less than $50 invested.....I will use it for as long as it will drill holes!
Thanks

 

[fitz11]

Glad you got it working!