Table top Drill Press recommendations

[LA1]

I was looking at HFT's 12" Table top drill press then I noticed others had some like home depot, lowes for a few dollars more with laser. I found a popular mechanics where they compared 10 table top drills. each one had a paragraph and it seems speed cutting through metal was the only attribute they rated, the HFT drill won... I will be using the DP to drill out several stripped rocker arm bolt holes on an aluminum head. I probably will need a vise to hold the head or some means to make sure the hole is perpendicular with the drill bit.

 

[TomB19]

I really like my Masterforce 12" variable speed DP. It may not go slow enough for metal work but it has 5/8 hp and you can adjust the speed directly with a leaver. No step pulley adjustments.

For a wood worker, it's a dream.

Mine has been fantastic but I've only had it about 18 months and it is said the variable speed mechanism is hard on belts.

Here's the one I have. It goes on sale fairly often for $190.

http://www.menards.com/main/tools-h...masterforce-drill-press/p-1498047-c-10086.htm

Here is a Jet version of the drill with 1/3hp motor and a lot more money.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200392033_200392033

This same Chinese drill is available in several other brands, as well.

I don't know if the motors are actually different or the same motor with different ratings. All I know is that my drill has no problem putting 1/2" holes in unistrut. My old drill would also do it but it would would bog down.

On the other hand, it's not a fair comparison because I rarely changed the speed of my old DP. It was too inconvenient. Now, I just twist the lever to the desired speed and drill away.

 

[TomB19]

Oh yes... a quirk of this drill is that it will speed up as the belt wears. Mine currently won't go slower than 580 RPM on the DRO. If I wanted it to go slower, I would need to replace the belt with one a bit thicker.

It's been this way since new. It was my intention to upgrade the belt but I've never gotten around to it. It works fine, as is, but there have been times when I've wished for less speed when I'm swinging a 6" hole saw.