I can't seem to find much info on this machine. Right now I can't
envision the need to drill to the center of 32" stock, but if it does
other DP tasks well I guess "more is better"...right?

Any opinions as to the usefulness/quality of this machine for a
woodshop?

JP

On 9 Oct 2005 19:05:26 -0700, "Jay Pique"
wrote:

I can't seem to find much info on this machine. Right now I can't
envision the need to drill to the center of 32" stock, but if it does
other DP tasks well I guess "more is better"...right?

Any opinions as to the usefulness/quality of this machine for a
woodshop?

JP


I have one and find it quite useful. Most of the time I keep the Ram
right up against the column and use it as a regular dp. however, it
is nice to be able to extend the ram and drill into a large piece or
rotate the head and use it like a gun drill on very large workpieces.

the only down side is that because it has a ram mounted drill head it
is not quite as rigid as a standard dp. and becomes somewhat less
rigid as the ram extended.

Quality of mine is excellent, however, my unit is one of the older US
made versions.

Frank

I had one of these and the previous owner had put a washing machine
motor on it (1hp 3450 rpm vs 1/3 hp 1725 rpm). The motor was too big
and wouldn't allow me to move the belts (he just drilled out cabinet
door mortices for blum hinges). It was a nice machine but because of
the modifications it was no longer as useful and I couldn't slow it
down (the 3450rpm didn't help with that either). I've seen several of
these in our local paper with 1hp motors listed, so be sure yours isn't
modified such that you can't move the belts from pulley to pulley.

I ended up selling mine and buying a 16.5" fixed head and have been
happy as pie ever since.

Oh, one other thing worth noting is the footprint it takes in your
garage. Because of the size of the head it requires a stand with
splayed legs and ends up taking up about 2' x 4' on the floor versus
like 1.5' x 2' (or whatever, you get the idea -- it was a pain having
to try and walk around the base of that thing, I really like the small
footprint my current DP uses).

Good luck,
Mike

Well I didn't get the Model 32, but I *did* get a drill press. And
it's big. Once I get it back to the "shop" I'll post the specs.

JP