SIP drill press review/comments invited
 

Hello there.

I am looking to purchase a drill press for use in my garage.

Q. Has anyone bought,or worked with, the SIP bench drill featured on
page 8 at the following URL?

http://www.sip-group.com/Promotion%2...oodworking.pdf

I like the look of a variable RPM drill, but this is the only one I
have found in the UK with an LCD RPM readout, and MT2 chuck, and only
£159 too!

Q. Alternatively, I was looking at the £40 bench drill from Clarkes,
would it be possible to change a pulley or two to drive the drill at a
"slower than slowest" speed (thinking 180 rpm like more expensive
models), AND use MT2 chuck.

Q. Can you fit an MT2 chuck to the Clarke cheapo model?

Thanks in anticipation! Carlton

SIP drill press review/comments invited
 

"Carlton" wrote in message
m...
Hello there.

I am looking to purchase a drill press for use in my garage.

Q. Has anyone bought,or worked with, the SIP bench drill featured on
page 8 at the following URL?

http://www.sip-group.com/Promotion%2...oodworking.pdf

I like the look of a variable RPM drill, but this is the only one I
have found in the UK with an LCD RPM readout, and MT2 chuck, and only
£159 too!

Q. Alternatively, I was looking at the £40 bench drill from Clarkes,
would it be possible to change a pulley or two to drive the drill at a
"slower than slowest" speed (thinking 180 rpm like more expensive
models), AND use MT2 chuck.

Q. Can you fit an MT2 chuck to the Clarke cheapo model?

Thanks in anticipation! Carlton

I have a similar type of bench drill. These machines are marketed with a
number of badges but are basically the same under the skin.
Mine is a 3/4 hp 2 MT machine. I have had it for some years and been very
happy with it. Things to consider a
The big problem is flexing of the table. This is only a problem with large
drills or heavy material. If you have a look at one, put a piece of wood
between the chuck and the table and press the chuck down to see how much it
all flexes.
The variable speed on it's own doesn't give increased torque at the lower
speeds so it won't handle a large drill as well as a pulley belt drive where
the speed is mechanically reduced and the torque is increased.
Don't bother buying a £40 Clarke machine unless you only want it for small
jobs. They are OK for that sort of work. You get what you pay for. Also,
don't try to increase it's capacity. You will only meet weaknesses
elsewhere.
Try Machine Mart. Their web site doesn't want to work at the moment though.

John

SIP drill press review/comments invited
 

(Carlton) wrote in message om...

Q. Has anyone bought,or worked with, the SIP bench drill featured on
page 8 at the following URL?

http://www.sip-group.com/Promotion%2...oodworking.pdf


I guess at $149.00 it isn't made by Societe Genevoise D'Instruments
de Physique (AKA SIP)
I was expecting a much different machine when I read "SIP" in the
title.

Regards,
Dave