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Nullus Anxietas |
Dear SIGforum Oracle, Got a future project that'll demand a drill press. More-or-less muddled through all these years, with variable degrees of success (or not!) without one, but now it's time. Budget is ±$500 to ±$800. I'm keeping my eye on Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist, but the pickings are slim. If I buy new, does anybody have any make/model recommendations? Preferably something you've used or you've seen widely praised? So far, at the lower end of my budget, the Wen 8.6 Amp 15 in. Floor Standing Drill Press with Variable Speed looks hard to beat. It's highly-reviewed everywhere I've found. At the higher end, perhaps the Jet J-2500, 15" Floor Model Drill Press 115V 1Ph or JDP-17MF Floor Drill Press? The Wen has many more features than the Jet, at considerably less cost, but Jet has a reputation for quality, and quality is more important to me than features. E.g.: Low quill runout is way more important to me than a work light, laser guide and continuously variable speed all put together. More in the price range of the Wen, somebody on another forum suggested the Rigid 15 in. Drill Press with LED, but the Wen noted above is more highly-rated and gets better reviews. Back when I used to hang out in a fine woodworking group, the go-to economical choice for many was Grizzly. I don't know if their stuff is still decent. "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher | ||
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I have a Jet JDP-17MF that I bought about 10 years ago on sale from Rockler. It is well-designed, well-made, solid, and has worked great for me, but I also haven't made especially demanding use of it. I've never measured the runout, because I've never used it for anything where a bit of runout would cause problems. Even with fairly long bits, there is never any visually observable eccentricity, which is good enough for my purposes. | |||
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| On the wrong side of the Mobius strip  |
Variable speed control is a nice feature. Much easier than mucking around with the belt and pulleys. Are you using this for metal or woodworking projects? I am using a fairly cheap Delta drill press geared towards woodworking. It has a larger table that is square shaped rather than the round shape generally found on drill presses geared towards metal work. It has been reliable and sufficient for my woodworking needs. Drilling pen blanks, pepper mills, etc. My understanding is Grizzly is still a good choice for a decent machine. | |||
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It's an added expense, but there are a variety of aftermarket woodworking-oriented drill press tables that mount to the metal table. I've been thinking of getting one of these: https://www.woodpeck.com/drill...clamps-1-filler.html Of course, if you have the tools (really, I think you just need a router) and the time, you can also just buy some plywood or MDF with a laminate surface and some T-track and miter gauge track and make your own pretty easily. I made a router table that way years ago before buying a Jess-Em table with a router lift and height readout. | |||
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| On the wrong side of the Mobius strip |
If I found a great deal on a metal working press, I would either spring for a table like the Woodpeckers one or as you indicated, make my own. | |||
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I picked up one of these years ago...want to say it was under $400 at the time, maybe with a coupon or on sale. Has done what I needed, can't complain. https://www.lowes.com/pd/PORTE...ALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds IDPA ESP SS | |||
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| Nullus Anxietas |
Thanks for the feedback, guys. This is proving to be one of the more difficult product research tasks in which I've engaged. It's made more complicated by things like reading a four-year-old positive review and finding the "same" product for sale now isn't really the same product it was back in 2015. Re: Delta: Like Porter Cable, ain't what it used to be. Used to be good, but expensive. Now it's mostly just expensive. Re: What I'll use the DP for: Probably mostly woodworking, but I'll also want to be able to drill metal with it. Now that I've had my first experience using taps (a successful one, I might add): Going forward I'll want to drill straight, round holes  So far I'm finding that, unless I want to increase my budget to $1,000 or more, I won't be able to beat that Wen 4225 at around $400. I'm not certain who Wen is, exactly. At their price-points I assume their stuff is made off-shore. But, after doing my homework, I recently acquired a Wen mobile base for my venerable old Delta 10" Contractor's Saw and it's solid. That saw is heavy. (I long ago upgraded the stamped steel wings to cast iron.) It was a challenge for two strong-ish guys to get that thing off its stand so I could fit that base to it. Once the saw was back on it was trivial to move it about the garage floor and solid as a rock once the two retractable wheels were raised. "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher | |||
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I just finished doing what you're doing last week and settled on the WEN 4214 12-Inch benchtop. It was delivered last week so I don't have a whole lot of time with it. So far I'm very satisfied with it. ___________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ | |||
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| Just because you can, doesn't mean you should |
I would also watch on eBay. Put a mileage limit on to limit the search area. You will only get Chinese stuff new at that price range as you've probably found out so used is the only option I'd consider. ___________________________ Avoid buying ChiCom/CCP products whenever possible. | |||
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Might want to also check grizzly.com. They have a large selection of drill presses at all price points. I don’t have any of their drill presses, but the other woodworking tools I’ve bought from them have been reliable and performed well. | |||
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I also recently pursue a Wen 4214 and am quite satisfied so far. Search for video reviews of it, I recall watching a number of them which helped sway my decision. No car is as much fun to drive, as any motorcycle is to ride. | |||
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I have a 35 year old Delta floor model; it runs just as true and quiet as it did new. Heavy cast iron construction, tough to move around the shop - but my go to tool. I don't know what I'd buy if I was in the market now; probably a Jet. | |||
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goodheart |
Fine Woodworking did a comparison review in 2015. Favorites were the Delta 18-900L, now about $1500, and the Porter-Cable PCB660DP, now $500 at Lowes. Both are floor-standing models.This message has been edited. Last edited by: sjtill, _________________________ “Remember, remember the fifth of November!" | |||
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I am also using a vintage press. (Old school- spindle speed controlled by different pulley sizes). I retrofitted new LED lighting and updated the wiring, replaced motor/spindle bearings, etc. Cheap compared to buying a new press. If you are still looking, I highly recommend this search engine- (Search Tempest)- it searches Craigslist, eBay and other sites all at once. You can search by distance away/state, etc. Very useful and finds the estate sales also. Search Tempest | |||
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There should be pretty good selection of quality US made equipment in your area... Better than my selection in TX anyway If at all possible, I would hold out for a good used vintage Powermatic, clausing or classic Delta. I got my Powermatic model 1150 (variable speed) for $300. Not pretty, but it's a boss. Very little spindle run-out and came with a light used keyless Albrecht chuck ($200+ dollar chuck) These presses are worth over $1k on the used marked but can be found much cheaper if you are patient. Added, https://grandrapids.craigslist...peed/6997553933.html This would be a good choice, buy a 120v 1/2 or 3/4 horse single phase motor ($200-300) and slap it on there. You'll end up with a much better press than the import stuff now sold by the big names. | |||
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I agree about checking Grizzly. I have one of their mill/drills, and it is a fine machine for the money I paid. All three of the models you linked have a good low RPM available, which, together with some cutting oil, you will find invaluable for drilling steel, especially with larger bits. I would say "nix" on the third one, simply because its table is round and small. The rectangular tables give you more space for mounting hold down clamps, a vise, or even an xy table. A good hold down clamp that doesn't eat up a lot of space yet is very firm holding is the Bessey RiteHite. With a couple of those you could secure just about any workpiece so it doesn't end up across the shop. When in doubt, mumble | |||
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If I had a choice on a new drill press I would get a Powermatic. But I dont thick it's in your budget unless you find one used. Otherwise I would search Craigslist fo r an old Walker Turner, Delta, Clausing, or Buffalo. It stinks that you would have to manually change the belts but I must admit I very rarely change mine. Let all Men know thee, but no man know thee thoroughly: Men freely ford that see the shallows. Benjamin Franklin | |||
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| Nullus Anxietas |
After fondling a Jet JDP-17 at a local tool store earlier today, I'm kinda sorta leaning in that direction. At $1,000+, over my desired budget, but buy once, cry once
Delta's quality has taken a serious dive, particularly in the last few years. I'd be wary of the Delta. And that particular PC DP apparently isn't what it was back in 2015, when that shoot-out was published. Re: The Wen DPs. They seem to be a good value for the money. Two problems:
That being said: I think I'm down to either the Wen 4225 I mentioned in my OP, or going whole-hog for the Jet I mentioned above. That is unless the right thing for the right price shows up w/in a "reasonable" distance on FB Marketplace or on CL. Re: Buying an older DP and refurbishing it: Thanks for the suggestions, but I'm looking for a DP to accomplish a task, not a DP to become a task in an of itself. I've enough projects lined up to last me the rest of my life. Trust me  "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher | |||
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quarter MOA visionary |
Jet makes good stuff and I would look at Grizzly. I only have a desktop unit and it is was pretty cheap when I got 25-30 years ago and still going strong, belt drive and I don't know the name. Not much really to them technically so the need to overdo it is less, IMO. I would imagine the bigger ones the shipping is a big part of the cost. Still Jet or Grizzly for me. YMMV | |||
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| Nullus Anxietas |
It's funny how no matter how things change, some things seem to stay the same. Back when I dipped a toe into fine woodworking that was becoming the "common wisdom" in the rec.woodworking Usenet newsgroup. My problem with Grizzly is the same as with Wen, though: For that kinda money I'd sure like to be able to lay my hands on one, first. My old next door neighbour on one side had a Grizzly table saw. I suppose it worked for her to her satisfaction, but, fit- and finish-wise it couldn't hold a candle to my beat up old Delta 10" Contractor's Saw. "America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system,,,, but too early to shoot the bastards." -- Claire Wolfe "If we let things terrify us, life will not be worth living." -- Seneca the Younger, Roman Stoic philosopher | |||
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