Drill Press

[Beau Cassidy]

My small drill press finally crapped out on me a few weeks ago in the middle of a project. I am looking around at another one. I don't need anything expensive or production. Don't want to spend a ton of money. After looking at amazon and other sites I have about settled on this one. Anybody on here have any experience with this one? I have a 25% off coupon that makes it just that more attractive. It has a longer stroke and more power than others I have seen.

http://www.harborfreight.com/12-spee...l#.UyPE-l5BFoo

[MT Gianni]

We have a saying about harbour freight. Make sure you plug it in before you leave as it's 200 miles back to the store. No matter the cost of things 10% don't seem to work when they are first plugged in. If you can live with those odds or are closer to a store go for it.

[jcwit]

Have yet to have any issues with any Harbor Freight tools power or hand or otherwise except for their Vib tumblers when they first came out and I received my money back. This is after buying from H/F for 30 years now, back when they were only mail order, as in no stores.

I've spent thousands of bucks there.

Something like that drill press is available from many other outlets under different brand names.

[Frank46]

My HF saw crapped out the first time I used it. Threw it back in the truck and drove to where I bought it. Got another one. Instructions went something like this. If switch is bad replace switch. If motor is bad replace motor. I went and bought a milwaukee extended throat portable band saw when they went on sale before Christmas. Frank

[Beau Cassidy]

Harbor Freight is close. A lot of things from there are junk and disposable.

You are right about a lot of different equipment being the same- just branded different. My 15 inch Jet planer is basically the same one made by powermatic, steel city, etc...

[badbob454]

just check out the lateral movement of the drill bit some have a lot of sise to side play like the bearings are trashed ... otherwise beats a hand drill

[bangerjim]

That's a lot to spend on a HF drill press!!!!!!!

I have one of their bench models that has rack & pinion table adjustment, but have 3 milling/drilling machines and a floor drill press also.

Problem with HF is you have to check the quill "wobble". When I bought the little one above for my back shop, I insisted on opening it up in thier back room and grabbing the quill, extending it, and checking the amout of play back & forth. Amazing how quality varies over 4 different units!!!!!
Finally found that was acceptable. Even so, I took it apart, drilled and tapped 2 holes 90 deg apart and added nylon bolts with lock nuts to tighten against the quill to eliminate the play.

I do not have any experience with that one, but I got a name brand one (Delta) like that for less at Home Depot a couple years ago. Shop around.

banger

[retread]

I would take a look at Grizzly. I would rather deal with them for that kind of money.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/G7948

[R.M.]

I've had a HF floor model for 10+ years, and for the price, it can't be beat. I'm a retired toolmaker, so I know machines, and this drill press cuts the mustard for what I use it for.

[lylejb]

I wouldn't spend that much on something with only a 90 day warranty. Other drill presses have a 1 year warranty.

Harbor freight's quality is hit and miss. Sometimes that's ok for small stuff.

I wouldn't buy that.

[MtGun44]

Find a used Delta from the 50s or 60s. Available at good prices most of the
time and top quality machines.

Bill

[a.squibload]

That does sound expensive.
I have a smaller (shorter) HF drill press bolted to a workbench,
One day the chuck fell out (taper fit), pushed it back in.
Otherwise have had no problems with HF stuff, even their angle grinder
is still going strong.

[smokeywolf]

Beau, don't know where you are, but I'd be more inclined to look for a deal on a used Rockwell-Delta, Powermatic, Clausing, Walker-Turner or Avey.

smokeywolf

[6bg6ga]

Find a used Delta from the 50s or 60s. Available at good prices most of the
time and top quality machines.

Bill

I'll have to second the old delta machines. All that I used were 100% true and you just cannot hurt them. Well worth the price.

[762 shooter]

+3 on old Delta. Or old Craftsman. Great old machines.

762

[farmerjim]

I have one 20 years old. It works fine. I do agree that most of HF is cheep junk.

[jcwit]

I think some here made a good suggestion, check for a used one, Delta, Craftsman, etc. Look around at your local pawn shops, might have just what you want for half the price.

[Petrol & Powder]

I think I'd go hunting yard sales & Craigslist for an older high quality machine rather than paying $500+ for something that you're going to use only occasionally. If you're not in a huge hurry I bet you could find a very good quality drill press for less than $200.

[wch]

I bought a floor mount Black Bull drill press from Tractor Supply, seems to be a good one and it cost about $230.00.

[Handloader109]

Your paying for the big table and a "better" rack on this one. I would not spend that much on a hf drill. Find good used for a third of that.