"Joe AutoDrill" wrote in
message ...
Your best bet is to find and older used model, something with lots of
cast
iron in the construction. The newer models have too many aluminum parts
and cheap, unbalanced motors. You end up with lots of vibration.

100% correct as long as you get one that you can still find parts for
going
forward. I have a number of customers with $200-300 workhorse machines
(i.e. huge, bomb proof) with a broken this-or-that which they can't
replace...

As long as you find one that works and there is at least the chance you
can
get a parts machine as well, you're much better off with what some call
WW2
era machines.

Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
http://www.autodrill.com
http://www.multi-spindle-heads.com

I have a WW2 21" Super Service Cincinnati Bickford at work. 3 HP geared head
and MT4 spindle, power down feed. Cincinnati-Bickfords are still supported
by Giddings and Lewis- although I'm a little scared of finding out what the
parts cost. In a more reasonable size machine, but for a bit more than $200,
Clausing appears to be a good choice. I don't have one yet, so I can't say
from experience. It seems like they don't change the models much from year
to year. I have an old Gosiger which despite only having an MT1 spindle
weighs close to 600 pounds. It has leather belts and is a decent drill press
but lacks power due to an old 1/2 HP single phase motor which can be slowed
down or stalled way too easily. One of my next projects is to replace that
motor and the anemic 50 year old single phase 3/4 HP motor on my Heavy 10.