Having decided to search for lower-priced, full-height drill presses that might be a good choice for a home shop, I came up with nine 15-in. to 17-in. models to review.

To evaluate and compare them, I noted the condition of each after shipping and the ease of assembly. I looked at chuck-to-post distance, table size, overall height, motor rating, speeds, length of quill stroke, finish, and stability. I tested the accuracy of each machine out of the box: runout on the chuck and spindle-to-table perpendicularity. Finally, I looked at noise level, vibration, table-height adjustment, speed changes, depth adjustment, quill-return tension, and the presence or absence of a quill lock.

The General is the only machine tested to have a 1/2-in. chuck (the others have a 5/8-in. chuck), but the chuck was one of the easiest to use. The belts on the General, however, were tight and difficult to change, and it’s the only one that did not have a setscrew that allows the user to adjust the table for perpendicularity.

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