Table top drill press

[Dentaltec]

So the Ryobi cheapo I have intermittently used over the last few years, well today it decided to say drop the damn drill one too many times for my sanity, The chuck just is not good for anything but really light duty and the runout is like well ****.

So I have a few bucks to buy something nicer to put on my bench and looking for suggestions. Back in the day I lusted over the Delta DP300L the lasers blew my mind back then.

So I am looking for your suggestions, what is the go to for better quality table top

Thanks

 

[paulsomlo]

I had a Delta 12" benchtop - chuck fell off one day while drilling a good sized hole, never stayed on for very long after that. I replaced it with a used Buffalo 18 floor model. I'd say most new benchtop drill presses are going to disappoint. Find a good, used old USA one, old Delta, Walker Turner, Buffalo, etc..

 

[PhysicsDude]

I have a Delta DP300L. Bought it on cragslist for $140 or something like that a few years ago. For a <$200 12" press, its pretty good, but its not amazing. They're fairly hard to find these days since they don't sell them anymore.

You can look up reviews from when they were new and they were just OK. I guess its when Delta just started selling branded Chinese home use grade things, and people were upset that it wasn't a professional quality item. Its not professional quality, but its not priced that way, and its still pretty good for a home user tool.

I quite like mine, I think its definitely a setup up from Ryobi or HF or something. I don't ever use the laser, once you adjust it its only accurate at near the elevation where you calibrated it. Obviously on a drill press you move the table or drill different things, so the laser is just inaccurate. Its also fairly wobbly and really not that great. Maybe if you were setting up to fab a bunch of stuff with the same table height it could work, but overall its more gimmicky than anything.

Still, I'd recommend it. For what they cost used, I think they're a solid mid-priced drillpress. I'm not a machinist or anything, but my chuck seems to be robust, not much runout or wobblyness to it. Plenty of power in the motor.

 

[mbshop]

Get an older craftsman.

 

[mike93lx]

Just put a new chuck in your existing press.

 

[lilredex]

Cannot say enough about my early HF #38142 that I picked up for $40. It is big and solid. It just needed a motor, which I added, but I have yet to add an Asian style (15MM bore) pulley....good enough for now as it rarely gets out of the very lowest speed.

 

[bubinga]

Cannot say enough about my early HF #38142 that I picked up for $40. It is big and solid. It just needed a motor, which I added, but I have yet to add an Asian style (15MM bore) pulley....good enough for now as it rarely gets out of the very lowest speed.

l needed a motor too!
Cannot say enough about my early HF #38142either

 

[bubinga]

Get an older craftsman.

0ld K/S 150!

 

[Dentaltec]

0ld K/S 150!

That is awesome!

 

[engineer2]

I have floor model Delta 17-900. It's overkill for my needs. I'd be interested to hear what people recommend for a decent table-top drill press.

 

[Davefr]

I agree that you should look for an older machine. Old bench top DP's are still plentiful. (CM, WT, Delta or even early Taiwan).

This one was $5 unrestored and it's the only DP I've seen that has zero measurable runout. A dial indicator won't even move when the arbor is rotated.

 

[Dentaltec]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/JET-15-Benchtop-Drill-Press-3-4HP-716200-FREE-SHIPPING/291992316375?epid=2173124188&hash=item43fc1929d7:g:zQkAAOSwaLJbT3eG
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rikon-30-212VS-12-Inch-3-4-HP-Corded-Variable-Speed-Benchtop-Drill-Press/202428607043?hash=item2f21af6a43:g:VtsAAOSwLVFbkVf-
https://www.ebay.com/itm/WEN-4214-12-Inch-Variable-Speed-Drill-Press/362190144334?hash=item545437034e:g:brEAAOSwZlZaN2Pt

 

[Marctrees]

0ld K/S 150!

Yup.. excellent example.. gonna be real hard to beat.

There are some other "Oddball" benchtop DP's made for finer more exacting work.. not really good for overall shop general use, but for smaller accurate fussy stuff.

I'm a firm believer in Old Arn and using Searchtempest for CL, then arranging to ship, typically via UShip.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

Dentaltec - Post City/ state.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

Here's an example of stuff out there..just among first search quick results..


This one is.. I dunno.. kinda high priced, but still all told probably worth it... cause seems to have been gone through.. possibly maybe by a conscientious guy..

Marc

https://ventura.craigslist.org/tls/d/drill-press/6717631034.html

 

[Dentaltec]

Dentaltec - Post City/ state.

Marc

Redlands California

 

[Dentaltec]

Yup.. excellent example.. gonna be real hard to beat.

There are some other "Oddball" benchtop DP's made for finer more exacting work.. not really good for overall shop general use, but for smaller accurate fussy stuff.

I'm a firm believer in Old Arn and using Searchtempest for CL, then arranging to ship, typically via UShip.

Marc

Were the 3 I saw on ebay that were more modern not good quality?

 

[Marctrees]

More modern, but are part of the imported disposable generation.

May I ask approx what age you are ?

I am 61.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

Some folks like the new shiny .. like Sharks w Laser beams stuff....

America was built and wars were won w machine tools including drillpresses w no laser beams..

And they were not styled to look like R2D2...

Further...

Most of those machines are still being used a half century PLUS later.

I have, among other old equipment, a Delta/ Rockwell "17"" drill press from approx 1950... still as good as the day it was Born.

My main tablesaw is a 1972 Powermattic, made in Tennesse, and in the wings, ready to get cleaned up... is a Delta/ Rockwell " 12-14" " saw from late 40's.

The 12/14... 850 lbs of stuff that will last potentially forever.. w minimal maintenance.

Now, I do not mean many advances over the years aren't good, the problem is... Unless you get into high end stuff, typically EU made, $$$$ ... most of it is **** ****.

Not all, but most.




Marc

 

[Marctrees]

A drill press you want rock solid solidity to facilitate accurate consistent repeat-ability.

This comes from heavy and accurately machined castings... cured actually over time since poured... alot alot of other details that are not known to the average buyer.

I am sure in your trade there are many similarities.

You have some excellent quality tools, and you have **** tools available to you.

Same deal.

Idunno, but I'm pretty sure when a Dentist, Endodontist, etc needs a new drill head of some kind, or air compressor, or hand tools, or whatever... ... there must be a HUGE range of quality w corresponding price...

That's what this is about.

Marc

 

[lightning02]

im in the same boat. looking for a nice bench top DP. something that can do metal as well and not just wood. its for home shop use so not making a living with it.

 

[isb cornbinder]

the little green bench drillpress is a CANEDY OTTO. I found it on Craigslist for $100. I made a base/cabinet for this drill press. I wanted to have a line-shaft style drive for old-time-sake. I turned out the stepped pully set and the flat belt pulley for the final drive. The motor and the "line shaft" are tucked inside the cabinet. The flat Leather belt came from TANDY LEATHER.
I do not remember the name of the small engravers drillpress. It is driven with a 100 year old GE motor, made in New York. I made the four step pulley for this unit.
The round leather drive belt, for this drill, came from a local commercial sewing machine shop.

 

[Marctrees]

Heres an example in your area of what I meant by little "Odball", like more for modelmaking kinda stuff, rather then shaker cofee cup racks, etc...

https://inlandempire.craigslist.org/tls/d/microlux-miniature-drill-press/6686565116.html

If you would like to share the type of work you do, or plan to do, would be glad to help.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

OK, so this is interesting..

Unless something is funny like it was crash dropped sideways to concrete floor... even if it has a 3 phase motor... it probably should be grabbed for the $75 asking price, then cleaned up.

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/tls/d/drill-press-industrial/6717175458.html

 

[Marctrees]

Not benchtop, floor model... but this may be your new Baby...

https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/tls/d/beautifully-restored-vintage/6716356779.html

Again, if nothing else, a good example of what is out there if one patiently searches.

I just REALLY want to encourage you to get something like this for ballpark this price rather than your 3 Ebay option kinda units.

Marc

 

[Dentaltec]

Marctrees,

Thank you for the time you have shared with me, I appreciate your wisdom and 100% agree with your thought process. I hate to buy anything twice, when I need the best I save until I can afford it. So today as I age (52) and have more means than I once had I want instant gratification and buying new most times is easier to do than searching. With that being said I love the retro look and solid real metal stuff WAY more, I have just redone my garage and its pretty shiney as you call it and a real cool referb would fit in nicely.

This DP will be in my home, I am just taking up welding and making some small things where I need to set up some fun jigs and have repetitive bores. So this new machine will likely get way more use than the cheapo Ryobi and metal more than wood so that's why I was looking for a step up.

Thanks again
JOHN

 

[rpcraft]

A friend of mine just linked me to this over the weekend and I went ahead and bought it off Amazon. I travel a lot and had a ton of Hilton points I can use for purchases on amazon. I got it with a new Casio watch (the 80's version), and a drill press vice. It cost me nothing other than points!!! Even if I had paid for it directly it was a great deal I think at 161 bucks.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00HQONFWS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Marctrees]

Couple advantages of what rpcraft got, , and similar...

Ready to (Hopefully !) use out of box... no refurbishing... grease/ rust cleaning, possible bearing replacement, etc..

IF something is wrong w it.. you have the usual "easy" replacement options from Amazon... and or using Credit Card, etc.

So it really comes down to what attracts a buyer the most.

Overall - All said and done.... I think when considering Old Arn one needs to be ready to enjoy the ride, understanding the destination may not be immediate...

UNLESS... one is fortunate enough to find a unit that has previously had love and $ invested into it..

That last option is best if one really wants to do stuff WITH the machine. .. rather than first.. ON the machine.

Basically comes down to that.

Other than, the pride of ownership of a restored old piece, and the fact that it can live onn WAYY past your time, has some meaning.

The others will be in the landfill easily by then.

Marc

 

[bubinga]

That is awesome!

 

[bubinga]

I agree that you should look for an older machine. Old bench top DP's are still plentiful. (CM, WT, Delta or even early Taiwan).

This one was $5 unrestored and it's the only DP I've seen that has zero measurable runout. A dial indicator won't even move when the arbor is rotated.

 

[bubinga]

I agree that you should look for an older machine. Old bench top DP's are still plentiful. (CM, WT, Delta or even early Taiwan).

This one was $5 unrestored and it's the only DP I've seen that has zero measurable runout. A dial indicator won't even move when the arbor is rotated.

Heck of a deal. [emoji56]
I gave $40.00 for the craftsman, and $50.00 for the harbor Freight.
The 150 on CL looks nice.
A little high, yes, but if he restored it properly, it should be "plug and play". [emoji106]
Edit.....
That CL Craftsman may be an 80 or a 100, on 2nd look.
Can't make out the last number on the tag.
103.231?...... 8 I think?
It's about an decade older than my 150.
Still a nice looking Machine.
Not sure if you are close enough to him with out a Google map search.
If so, you could always offer $200.00.???
EDIT, Looks tike a "3"
103.2313,
Sent from my MotoG3 using Tapatalk

 

[rpcraft]

I searched on craigslist for a while and had a couple of good potential buys but at the end of the day I am tired of waiting and the timing being right. I travel a ton so it's hard to be home in time to snag that deal. The last one I sent the guy an offer, he agreed to it, then sold it out from under me later that evening before I could make it to pick it up the next morning. I guess that at least saved me driving 180 miles round trip.

 

[Marctrees]

It is totally realistic... one will probably have to put up w what like rpcraft explains if searching for Old Arn on like CL.

Always a Dice Roll, but sometimes you can have a great Win.

Marc

 

[Dentaltec]

It is totally realistic... one will probably have to put up w what like rpcraft explains if searching for Old Arn on like CL.

Always a Dice Roll, but sometimes you can have a great Win.

Marc

You have inspired me Ill spend a couple more weeks searching Thanks!

 

[rpcraft]

Yeah if I did not have projects on hold that I need reliable straight drilling I'd keep fighting the fight, lol!!!!

 

[PugetDude]

An older (Taiwan) Drill press from Grizzly is also a good unit.
If you want new, their catalog selection looks pretty good too.
http://www.grizzly.com/search/?q=(drill+AND+press)+OR+(drill+OR+press)

 

[Marctrees]

Dentaltec - Make sure you see this thread -

Marc

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=116677

 

[engineer2]

How are the Delta benchtop drill presses?
There are a few for sale locally. Models 11-099, 11-985, 11-950
Anyone have a Delta decoder ring?

 

[paulsomlo]

How are the Delta benchtop drill presses?
There are a few for sale locally. Models 11-099, 11-985, 11-950
Anyone have a Delta decoder ring?

Junk - I had one, paid $200 new, sold it for $40 after replacing the chuck, was glad to see it go. Couldn't handle anything large, chuck wouldn't stay on the taper anymore.

 

[bubinga]

Junk - I had one, paid $200 new, sold it for $40 after replacing the chuck, was glad to see it go. Couldn't handle anything large, chuck wouldn't stay on the taper anymore.