Hi All,
I am thinking of buying a drill press sometime soon and was hoping to
poll the wreck on size. I primarily am a woodworker, though a year ago
I would have said that I was primarily a metal worker so something
powerful enough for both is helpful, as is speed adjustment. Mainly I
see myself using the drill press for small applications where I want to
have holes perfectly aligned, perpendicular to the work piece etc.

I am basically wondering about the size of the throat or reach or
whatever the distance from the spindle to the pole is. Is bigger always
better? Or is this one of the few chances where I can save some money
and get a 60B sooner rather than later.

Thanks

Not all the info here is applicable, but a good place to start is...

http://www.metalwebnews.com/howto/dr...ill-press.html

Joe - V#8013 - '86 VN750 - joe @ yunx .com
Northern, NJ
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Born once - Die twice. Born twice - Die only once. Your choice...

Have unwanted music CDs or DVDs of any type? I can use them for our
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Know someone with a motorcycle in the NY Metro area?
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"Tattooed and Dusty" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi All,
I am thinking of buying a drill press sometime soon and was hoping to
poll the wreck on size. I primarily am a woodworker, though a year ago
I would have said that I was primarily a metal worker so something
powerful enough for both is helpful, as is speed adjustment. Mainly I
see myself using the drill press for small applications where I want to
have holes perfectly aligned, perpendicular to the work piece etc.

I am basically wondering about the size of the throat or reach or
whatever the distance from the spindle to the pole is. Is bigger always
better? Or is this one of the few chances where I can save some money
and get a 60B sooner rather than later.

Thanks

"Tattooed and Dusty" wrote in message

I am basically wondering about the size of the throat or reach or
whatever the distance from the spindle to the pole is. Is bigger always
better? Or is this one of the few chances where I can save some money
and get a 60B sooner rather than later.

Thanks

Bigger is always better. Far easier to drill a tiny hole with a larger DP
that to try to do the opposite.

I have a 12" Delta benchtop and it suits my needs. If I had the space and
the money, I'd go bigger.

Once you finally have the DP of your dream, make a table for it with clamps
and a sliding fence. It can easily be removed for metalworking if you are
going to se cutting oils, etc. There have been photos of a few of them
posted so when ready, either do a Google search or ask again.

....think all the popular cheap machines are the same other than color. I
had the Delta 16" floor model and now have the Delta 17" floor model. Hate
the latter (threaded rod depth stop that is worthless), loved the former
(dial depth stop). Doesn't take much pressure to bypass the threads on the
threaded rod thing whereas when you locked in the dial on the other one, it
was set. For woodworking throat depth on either machine was more than I
ever needed, usually drilling to within 1-3 inches from the edge and both
provided enough table to clamp a rear fence to get the job done. Other than
that they machines are pretty much the same...speed change via re-arranging
the pulleys is not that big a deal...chart on the wall with speed
suggestions depending on the type/size of bit, speed chart on the inside
cover of the DP with the pulley arrangement to get close to that
speed...literally seconds such that I don't see the big deal with the newer
variable speed machines driven by dial.


"Tattooed and Dusty" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi All,
I am thinking of buying a drill press sometime soon and was hoping to
poll the wreck on size. I primarily am a woodworker, though a year ago
I would have said that I was primarily a metal worker so something
powerful enough for both is helpful, as is speed adjustment. Mainly I
see myself using the drill press for small applications where I want to
have holes perfectly aligned, perpendicular to the work piece etc.

I am basically wondering about the size of the throat or reach or
whatever the distance from the spindle to the pole is. Is bigger always
better? Or is this one of the few chances where I can save some money
and get a 60B sooner rather than later.

Thanks

IMO bigger is better.
Mark

"Tattooed and Dusty" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi All,
I am thinking of buying a drill press sometime soon and was hoping to
poll the wreck on size. I primarily am a woodworker, though a year ago
I would have said that I was primarily a metal worker so something
powerful enough for both is helpful, as is speed adjustment. Mainly I
see myself using the drill press for small applications where I want to
have holes perfectly aligned, perpendicular to the work piece etc.

I am basically wondering about the size of the throat or reach or
whatever the distance from the spindle to the pole is. Is bigger always
better? Or is this one of the few chances where I can save some money
and get a 60B sooner rather than later.

Thanks

"Tattooed and Dusty"
I primarily am a woodworker, though a year ago
I would have said that I was primarily a metal worker so something
powerful enough for both is helpful, as is speed adjustment.

I like my Delta Model 17-968. I do both metal fabrication and woodworking.
This machine 16-1/2" does fit the bill nicely. Having the variable speed
control on the face is a big benefit. I would buy it again if I needed
another.

Dave




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Floor models save bench space...I have mine on wheels, but it's tippy. So
far, I've never needed the increased depth.

Wider belts are better. It's hard to get enough torque for big bits with
some belt systems.
Wilson


"Tattooed and Dusty" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hi All,
I am thinking of buying a drill press sometime soon and was hoping to
poll the wreck on size. I primarily am a woodworker, though a year ago
I would have said that I was primarily a metal worker so something
powerful enough for both is helpful, as is speed adjustment. Mainly I
see myself using the drill press for small applications where I want to
have holes perfectly aligned, perpendicular to the work piece etc.

I am basically wondering about the size of the throat or reach or
whatever the distance from the spindle to the pole is. Is bigger always
better? Or is this one of the few chances where I can save some money
and get a 60B sooner rather than later.

Thanks

"Wilson Lamb" wrote:
Floor models save bench space...I have mine on wheels, but it's tippy. So
far, I've never needed the increased depth.

In an emergency, you can take a bench-top drill press, clamp or bolt the
base to the bench, and turn the head around 180 degrees so it hangs off the
edge of the bench. This lets you drill stock which wouldn't otherwise fit
under the chuck.

I have the 16-1/2" floor model Delta drill press and use it for metal
and wood. It has a lot of speeds and would rather have the dial to
change speeds, although that adds to the cost. The floor model is
much better than the bench top. A larger drill press is better than a
small one when you have big jobs to do. Yesterday I needed to drill
and countersink 16 holes in 1/4" alumimum and the job was easy and
fast. The throat distance is important when you want to drill in the
middle of a sheet of something--with mine I could drill a hole in the
middle of a 33" square or circle of ply. "Travel" and runout specs
are important too.


On 9 Mar 2005 18:23:26 -0800, "Tattooed and Dusty"
wrote:

Hi All,
I am thinking of buying a drill press sometime soon and was hoping to
poll the wreck on size. I primarily am a woodworker, though a year ago
I would have said that I was primarily a metal worker so something
powerful enough for both is helpful, as is speed adjustment. Mainly I
see myself using the drill press for small applications where I want to
have holes perfectly aligned, perpendicular to the work piece etc.

I am basically wondering about the size of the throat or reach or
whatever the distance from the spindle to the pole is. Is bigger always
better? Or is this one of the few chances where I can save some money
and get a 60B sooner rather than later.

Thanks

On 9 Mar 2005 18:23:26 -0800, "Tattooed and Dusty"
wrote:

Hi All,
I am thinking of buying a drill press sometime soon and was hoping to
poll the wreck on size. I primarily am a woodworker, though a year ago
I would have said that I was primarily a metal worker so something
powerful enough for both is helpful, as is speed adjustment. Mainly I
see myself using the drill press for small applications where I want to
have holes perfectly aligned, perpendicular to the work piece etc.

=============snip snip snip========

I am a serious woodworker BUT also do restoration work on old cars
as another hobby... BUT I own 4 drill presses.... 3 of which are in my
woodshop...
1.small delta benchtop (infrequent use but convient)
2. older Sears floor model which is a workhorse and I
would never part with... (a duplicate is in the garage)
3. a Second delta benchtoip...but mounted horizontally to use as a
horizontal boring machine.. (I use it a lot)

All are belt driven and speed is adjusted via pullies etc...not any
big deal to adjust speed...10 second job at most in the dark faster
with the lights turned on.. honest....no problem

Get the biggest one you can... IF I had only one it would be the floor
model ..Both of My Crapsman Floor models were purchase in the late
60's-early 70's and I would not trsade them even up for a new Delta of
Jet...

Bob Griffiths

On 9 Mar 2005 18:23:26 -0800, "Tattooed and Dusty"
wrote:

Hi All,
I am thinking of buying a drill press sometime soon and was hoping to
poll the wreck on size. I primarily am a woodworker, though a year ago
I would have said that I was primarily a metal worker so something
powerful enough for both is helpful, as is speed adjustment. Mainly I
see myself using the drill press for small applications where I want to
have holes perfectly aligned, perpendicular to the work piece etc.

I am basically wondering about the size of the throat or reach or
whatever the distance from the spindle to the pole is. Is bigger always
better? Or is this one of the few chances where I can save some money
and get a 60B sooner rather than later.

Thanks



1) if all you want to do is drill the occasional hole a little
straighter than you could by eye and only in small stuff, the harbor
freight $50 benchtop mini gets "good value for a cheapie" reviews.

2) if you want a serviceable machine shop type press, which will
probably be a bit too small swing-wise for most woodworking, the field
is wide open. if you can find one, get an old, weighs-a-ton american
made iron machine. even if you have to rebuild it, you'll be ahead.
there are a kajillion cheapie imports you can choose from- what color
do you like?

3) if you want woodshop capacity and don't care about machineshop
accuracy, the radial head adaptations of the 2) class machine will do
ya.

4) if you want lots of capacity, a big table with dog slots, plenty
of motor, r8 collets and the rigidity to do metalworking, do what I
did. get a mill-drill.