----- Original Message -----
From:
Newsgroups: rec.crafts.metalworking
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2004 9:00 PM
Subject: Bench-top drill press recommendation? and what I found so far.


Greetings,

Having a need to drill some stainless steel, I am looking for a small
drill
press. I have done some research and gather that bigger/more
sturdy/heavier
is better, but it costs more... so I'm concentrating on 12" bench-top
models,
and the arbitrary price limit is $200, although I would consider
raising it
if all that can be found under it is useless for drilling stainless
(up to
1" holes). Snip

I have a 12" Ryobi that worked well for smaller (less then 1/2") holes in
thinner material IE: quick & dirty. It met its demise when I attempted to
drill an 11/16 " hole in 3/8"s mild steel and the casting that holds the
table to the column fractured. It was real exciting for a moment while I
watched the table and my workpiece spin and wobble. Any way I replaced it
with a mid 1950's Delta 17" floor model. I got it at an industrial surplus
place for $250, it came with an 8"quick vise and a box of assorted drill
bits(3/4 and up). It is built like a tank and most of its parts are still
available from Delta. The motor was replaced sometime ago and is a bit
undersized @ 1/2 hp but it does the job. I have a 2hp 3 phase motor that
will fit and as soon as I scrounge the right VFD I'll switch things over and
have a very capable variable speed drill press for far less then the cost of
a new one.

If I was going to drill a lot of large holes in thicker stainless (or
anything for that matter) I would look at getting a set of rotobroches and
whatever adapters I needed to mount them in my drillpress. They would likely
do a better job and require less of the drillpress then the equivalent size
drill bit.

My 2 cents hope it helps.

Enjoy the hunt

Andrew V