Jet Drill Press Comparison

[DuncR6]

I could use some help with understanding why the 716300 press is considered woodworking while the 354400 is under the metal working category. They seem nearly identical with the 716300 press looking like the better unit. It can spin slow for metal and is rated at only 10 more rpm than the 354400 model which seems negligible to me. Any thoughts about this? I'm not a machine shop, just a home user. I am typically drilling metal, but also do wood and other soft materials. Why would I get the 354400 instead of the 716300? Thanks.

http://www.jettools.com/us/en/p/17-drill-press/716300

vs

http://www.jettools.com/us/en/p/j-2500-15-floor-model-drill-press-115v-1ph/354400

 

[4Kings]

Different tables. The metal working tables are designed to collect cutting fluids. Woodworking tables are generally flat. I have a metal working drill press that I also use for woodworking by attaching a homemade woodworking table.

 

[454ragtop]

Key things are spindle travel, 5" for the 17", 3-3/8" for the 15". Both have a MT2 socket in the spindle, although they don't list it in the specs for the 17", had to go to the manual to find that out. The 15" has a rotating table, nice feature is you can clamp a part anywhere on the table, then by rotating and pivoting the table on the column you can align the part with the drill bit. But the bigger table on the 17" is a plus also, so not sure which would be more important. Poly vee (serpentine type) belts and adjuster on the 17" seem better than the plain vee belts and less user friendly adjuster of the 15". Larger diameter column on the 17" should be more rigid as well. Led light on 17" versus incandescent on the 15".

 

[6PTsocket]

It is hard to get everything in one press but the short quill travel would nix that press for me. Under 4" is a PIA. If you are trying to drill a deep hole and have to stop in the middle to raise the table and again to lower it to free the work, you will re0gret your choice. 5" of travel is really nice. The big press has LED lighting, a better belt arrangement and a lubricant channel. You can add a nice wood working table with a fence and T tracks for clamps and a removable plug for a sanding drum. That is better than just a big table. As you said, the speeds are similar.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[skipnay]

I bought the Jet 354170. I also use mine for metal and wood. It is nice enough to go slow for metal but fast enough for wood also. 150-4200 rpm. I haven't had a problem with what I bought. I was also looking at smaller machines. But decided I didn't want to buy something else down the road.

 

[svtdv26]

I see Jet has a wide range of drill presses such as:

Jet JDP-17 3/4 hp Drill Press
Jet 716000 JWDP-12 Drill Press
Jet 716200 Jdp-15B
JET J-2530

but they seem over priced to me.

 

[tarbellb]

Seems the J=2500 "metal" drill is the old standby design that hasent been improved or upgraded in decades and is now made overseas.

The other is their fancey (read more plastic) model w/ some interesting features like one rotation for full quill travel, fatter column, and that table looks nice for light duty clamping (also made overseas).

Both are overpriced and still coming up at least 1" shy of their older 6" quill travel models of the 50/60's.

Both will give you decent performance, but there are much better buys, especially if you can buy older used. If not, I would look at Grizzly, same performance, better price.