What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press? Is there
a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only "serious" way to go?
I'm not a professional by any means, but I take my projects seriously.
Either way I want a quality unit, It doesn't have to be the best though.

Thanks,

Mike Billings

"Michael Billings" wrote in message
news:fdKve.96679$9A2.29969@edtnps89...
What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press? Is
there a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only "serious" way
to go?
I'm not a professional by any means, but I take my projects seriously.
Either way I want a quality unit, It doesn't have to be the best though.

Depends on your use. Depends on how much space you have. Depends on how
much money you have.

No one has ever complained that a tool was too good. A 16" floor model will
suit just about any woodshop need you have.

That said, I have a Delta 12" benchtop that had done everything I need so
far. In any case, the table on most drill presses is made more for
machine work than wood work. You can build a nice table that sits on top of
it and has clamping ability and guides for repeatability.

"Michael Billings" wrote in message
news:fdKve.96679$9A2.29969@edtnps89...


What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press?

I personally wouldn't want one that didn't have a gear driven elevation
control (ability to crank up or down) on the table. RM ~

Michael Billings (in fdKve.96679$9A2.29969@edtnps89) said:

| What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press?
| Is there a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only
| "serious" way to go? I'm not a professional by any means, but I
| take my projects seriously. Either way I want a quality unit, It
| doesn't have to be the best though.

Mike...

Both bench and floor drill presses come in a full range of qualities.
I have one of both types, and prefer the floor model for most work.

I'll offer some things to consider:

[1] I've found that 1.5 hp is an absolute minimum for usefulness in my
shop. I drill wood, aluminum, brass, and (occasionally) steel and less
than 1-1/2 horsepower tends to stall in 3/8" and 1/2" holes when
drilling metal.

[2] I want /at least/ 3" quill travel. You'll need to decide how deep
you want to drill and chose a drill that has that much quill travel.

[3] My floor press has a variable speed direct drive that lets me
adjust the spindle speed to suit the drilling without needing to move
a belt from one pulley to another. IMO this is a *huge* convenience
factor.

[4] Think about how you think you'll use the press and what kind of
table would best suit those operations. There are tables that tilt,
rotate, and/or can be swung around the column. My floor model has a
radial head and non-tilting, non-rotating table that can be swung out
of the way. I wish it had a crank up/down capability, but I'm not sure
that wouldn't interfere with the ability to swing the table out of the
way.

[5] If you're considering a mortising jig, then you'll want to make
certain that the quill size allows for attaching that jig. Don't take
for granted that all quills are the same size - they aren't.

[6] You may want to pay attention to the range of bit sizes you can
chuck up on your DP. Most drill presses I've seen have a chuck that'll
hold up to a 1/2" bit but there is some variation in ability to hold
small bits.

--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/solar.html

On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 03:17:31 GMT, "Michael Billings"
wrote:

What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press? Is there
a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only "serious" way to go?
I'm not a professional by any means, but I take my projects seriously.
Either way I want a quality unit, It doesn't have to be the best though.

I've never really ran across a drill press that couldn't do the job,
but you definately want to make sure you've got enough room for any
project you want to do. I've got a benchtop, and while it's fine most
of the time, last week I had to remove it from the base and turn it so
it overhung the bench so I had enough clearance for the job I was
doing. It was more accurate than a hand drill, but not as good as a
drill press should be, since the "table" I was using was an uneven
concrete floor. In retrospect, I really wish I'd have insisted on a
floor model rather than the benchtop- As noted above, even a cheap one
will do the job, so go for size you need first. It does you no good
to have a top-of-the-line tool that you can't fit your work under,
after all!

On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 03:17:31 GMT, "Michael Billings"
wrote:

What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press? Is there
a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only "serious" way to go?
I'm not a professional by any means, but I take my projects seriously.
Either way I want a quality unit, It doesn't have to be the best though.

Thanks,

Mike Billings

====================
Mike:
Depends...I have and use 3 drill presses in my woodshop two
Delta benchtops (the real small one is mounted horizontally as a
horizontal boring machine) and a floor model Craftsman (spelled
correctly..since it is definatelny not crap)...

The floor model gets used 90 percent of the time..for woodworking and
almost 100 percent of the time for all other uses around the
house/garage etc that involves drilling metal... As for space
...lol..it really saves space since my workbench is at least a little
more roomy....


Bob G

"Michael Billings" wrote in message
news:fdKve.96679$9A2.29969@edtnps89...
What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press? Is
there a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only "serious" way
to go?
I'm not a professional by any means, but I take my projects seriously.
Either way I want a quality unit, It doesn't have to be the best though.

Thanks,

Mike Billings

I have and have never wanted for more than my 32" Radial drill press. It is
a bench top model that has a reach of 16". With that reach I can extend the
chuck out 16" past the end of the bench that it sets on. It then has the
same basic capacity of a floor model.

"Rob Mills" wrote in message
news:TSLve.1294$Zt.982@okepread05...

"Michael Billings" wrote in message
news:fdKve.96679$9A2.29969@edtnps89...


What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press?

I personally wouldn't want one that didn't have a gear driven elevation
control (ability to crank up or down) on the table. RM

This is also a major peave of mine with my current benchtop old timer.
Having used a non gear driven dp for the past many years, it is somewhat a
hassel when you need to go up or down a tad. The gear driven elevation
option is a major need (for me at least) and will be the driving criteria on
my next drill press. Quil stroke is also important. The delta 16" floor
model seems to fit the bill so I have for the most part narrowed it down to
that particular brand.
SH

Let me share from my very recent experience (yesterday).

I have only occasional use of a drill press. I own one of those delta
Shopmaster bench top models. I think they sell for about $100.

I have a job where I'm to install Dekarator brand balusters for a deck
railing. http://www.deckorators.com/colonialInstall.asp?Step=7

I am using the drilling method for these. Using a forstner bit to give me a
flat bottom hole. I pre-drilled all the horizontal pieces in my workshop. I
needed to drill the angled holes for the stair rail on site because I didn't
have the correct angle ahead of time. So, I packed up the drill press and a
workmate I mount it to.

I had never tilted the table on the Delta Shopmaster DP. I knew you could do
it because there was an attached angle guide. markings were present for left
tilt and right tilt. Well, wouldn't you know. The table does NOT tilt!!!!
Boy was my face red!!! I fumbled with this thing for almost an hour. Digging
out a socket set, finding the correct sizes (metric BTW) for the two bolts
under the table. Take both off an the table comes off. No way I could tell
to tilt the sucker. I just checked Deltas site. I think I have the DP200.
Ahh - A quick check of manual say I need to remove a stupid pin.

Anyway - This method of tilting the table is a PIA. If you need that feature
look elsewhere.

For me, portable is sometimes a requirement. Size it not critical for me. HP
is not critical for me.

Consider your uses, now and the future, and figure on getting something
better and your probably be happy.


"Michael Billings" wrote in message
news:fdKve.96679$9A2.29969@edtnps89...
What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press? Is
there a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only "serious" way
to go?
I'm not a professional by any means, but I take my projects seriously.
Either way I want a quality unit, It doesn't have to be the best though.

Thanks,

Mike Billings

I have 5 drill presses, 2 of which are benchtop. I prefer the floor models
because they are easily placed where I need them without having to take up
bench space.

My favorite one is a Harbor Freight floor model that cost about $150 - $175.
It has a pulley arrangement that allows for more speed options and a
rack/pinion arrangement to raise and lower the table. It runs smooth and
has a built in light. If I had it to do over, I'd probably purchase their
15" model instead of the 12" model.

The HF machine has less runout than a Sears machine I have.

Don Dando
"Michael Billings" wrote in message
news:fdKve.96679$9A2.29969@edtnps89...
What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press? Is
there
a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only "serious" way to go?
I'm not a professional by any means, but I take my projects seriously.
Either way I want a quality unit, It doesn't have to be the best though.

Thanks,

Mike Billings

On Mon, 27 Jun 2005 03:17:31 GMT, "Michael Billings"
wrote:

What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press? Is there
a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only "serious" way to go?
I'm not a professional by any means, but I take my projects seriously.
Either way I want a quality unit, It doesn't have to be the best though.

Thanks,

Mike Billings


It depends on your work. I have a Delta floor model and I like it.
There have been several times I was glad to have a floor model. The
most important "feature" of a drill press is the runout measurement.
A large runout will make the bit wobble.

In article fdKve.96679$9A2.29969@edtnps89,
"Michael Billings" wrote:

What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press? Is there
a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only "serious" way to go?
I'm not a professional by any means, but I take my projects seriously.
Either way I want a quality unit, It doesn't have to be the best though.

I have the Grizzly *baby drill press* bench top model, I can't remember
the model #. I wouldn't buy it again. We had a similarly priced Delta
bench top at the last wood shop I was at and I thought the Grizzly would
be as good as that, I was wrong. It's very weak, has gobs of run-out,
and every once in awhile the chuck falls off.
Billy

The Delta 11-950 benchtop I bought has a pin to secure the table but
the hole is too large for the pin. I put blocks of wood under the
table for necessary 90° holes.

On Tue, 28 Jun 2005 18:48:48 GMT, Billy wrote:

In article fdKve.96679$9A2.29969@edtnps89,
"Michael Billings" wrote:

What are the best options regarding the purchase of a drill press? Is there
a quality bench top model? Is a floor model the only "serious" way to go?
I'm not a professional by any means, but I take my projects seriously.
Either way I want a quality unit, It doesn't have to be the best though.

I have the Grizzly *baby drill press* bench top model, I can't remember
the model #. I wouldn't buy it again. We had a similarly priced Delta
bench top at the last wood shop I was at and I thought the Grizzly would
be as good as that, I was wrong. It's very weak, has gobs of run-out,
and every once in awhile the chuck falls off.
Billy