Drill Press?

[Greg]

I've been thinking about adding a drill press to the tools in the garage. I had one that I was borrowing & it was so convienent, I hate to try working without one now. I want a floor mount with a 1/2" chuck.

I hate to say it, but Harbor Freight has a Central Machinery model for $179, which seems to be a good price. I'm very leary of buying anything from HF, but as often as a drill press gets used, I think it would last.

For those that have a drill press, what brand do you have? Anyone with a HF model?

 

[bobdog]

I would be looking at 5/8" chucks. 1/2" ones are for hand drill motors. I would also concider a cheep Mill/drillpress over a cheep drill press.

 

[Greg]

I would be looking at 5/8" chucks. 1/2" ones are for hand drill motors. I would also concider a cheep Mill/drillpress over a cheep drill press.

That's what I meant, 5/8".

Why a mill/drillpress? I mean, I haven't really needed a mill before, plus the space it will require might be a bit much for my needs.

 

[muleskinner]

I have a HF model, It's been fine for what I do. I know someone that has a HF for sale that's never been used if your interested. I'll ask how much he wants tomm.

 

[Hickey]

I wouldn't bat an eye at buying a HF drill press.

 

[Caleb]

That's what I meant, 5/8".

Why a mill/drillpress? I mean, I haven't really needed a mill before, plus the space it will require might be a bit much for my needs.

the mills usually have nicer chucks (which, from my experiences, is what goes bad first). Also, a small mill wont be much larger than a drill press. Let me see if I can find one form HF.

 

[Caleb]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47158

this is a small one, but if you just search mill on HF.com a bunch pull up.

 

[RockMonkey]

Bought mine from HF. I've used it a ton, and it's been flawless. Would buy one from them again.

 

[Coreshot]

I bought a Delta from Lowe's. I don't remember exactly what I paid, but I know it was in the low $200s, for some reason $219 stick in my head. Anyway, it doesn't see a whole lot of use, but when I need it, it's indispencible. Like was said before, for a light use tool, the HF would be fine.

This is the one I have, it only has a 1/2" chuck, so I have to buy stepped-down bits. I used it to drill 3/4" holes in 3/8" steel for my shackles and it worked just fine.

 

[ZUKEYPR]

I don't know why some folks are learing about HF. Yes, you have to pay attention what you buy but I have Snap on, craftsman, and Pittsburgh (HF) and the only wrenches, sockets, and rachets that I never have a problem with is the harbor freight. I do as well have their drill press and abuse it religously and have never had any issue.

 

[anvil]

I have a Central Machine Drill Press that a friend was throwing away. All it needed was a new belt. I hate the chuck it slips no matter how hard I tighten it. The belt will slip too if the chuck doesn't slip first. My slowest speed isn't slow enough for me either. It's okay for a free machine. If I had the money I would buy a large continuously variable speed Delta drill press.

If you're planning to drill large holes in steel look for the slowest slow speed you can get. It sucks trying to drill a 1 inch hole through 1/2 inch plate at 500 RPM with a wobbly machine.

A 1/2" or 5/8" chuck doesn't really matter. You will still need to use Silver & Demming or step down bits to drill big holes. Silver and Demming bits usually have a 1/2" shank

ZUKEYPR are you seriously trying to compare a Pittsburgh rachet with a Snap On? This is blasphemy

 

[Shawn]

All my tools are Craftsman. My drill was about $249.00 and has been a dream to use.

maybe I should take that back, my bandsaw is from harbor freight and it has cut miles of tube

 

[anvil]

Greg which HF drill press are you looking at?

 

[James K]

I have a craftsman one that is tha size of the one Coreshot posted, works awesome.

I also have a free satnding one I got out of a shop that went out of business about 6 years ago, and I would rather have the freestanding one for my metal work needs. The smaller one gets mainly used for all my woodworking projects(which are quite a few )

 

[kobyhud]

also using the HF drill press... ~200RPMs is the slow speed... its been great. I am pretty certain you can blow out the chuck on just about any drill if you want to.

 

[MRJ]

We bought a Rigid brand drill press from the Home Depot as a back-up to our other more expensive but broke at the time drill press. It's been great. The warantee they offer is second to none. We also have a Rigid compound miter saw that we cut platics on, one of my employees worked it over in about a month of use. I called the local warantee center, in Ogden, and they sent it back and I received a brand new unit in about a week. The drill press was in the $200 range, I don't remember exactly.

As for the chuck, you would not need anything bigger than a 1/2". For large holes you would be using a silver and demming drill (the reduced shank) that are all 1/2". I recommend you buy quality drills, on the reduced shank ones they have 3 flats for the chuck to drive off of.

Just my two cents.

 

[Tacoma]

I'll be picking up a sweet Delta this week. Pricey, but I won't ever have to wonder, and it's going to be used daily.

 

[troutbum]

I also have the Home Depot Rigid, $200 and change I am real happy with it.

 

[neagtea]

Check out the home depot

 

[EZRhino]

Go ahead and get it , Greg. Carl and I both have HF 'presses (different models) and they both work great! Carl's will run a little slower than mine will, but I don't find the speed a problem. The oilers that come with 'em suck, but other than that they are great. We concluded that some of HF's machinery is relabled Delta machinery.....everything is identical except for the sticker.

On the other hand, DO NOT BUY their small bench top drill press ($50 range) it is garbage. (The green one). I threw mine away. Chuck was crap and it slipped constantly.

Some HF stuff is garbage, some is just fine...you just gotta ask around.

EZ