Delta variable speed FS drill press
In Britain this machine seems to be sold under the Fox brand as here:
http://www.dbkeighley.co.uk/masters/fox_f70-201.htm
I’d like to replace my existing drill press, which is of similar power/capacity but for the variable speed and one or two other useful additions on the Delta/Fox. I read Lyptus’ thread of 6 months ago concerning this machine and there seemed to be mixed opinions…..
For me the easy-change variable speed would be a boon. I do quite a lot of drilling, from tiny 2mm bits to 50mm forstners; but changing the belts manually on the pulleys is tedious and gives me the dirty black fingers, which I must go and wash in the house as the muck sticks tenaciously to workpieces otherwise.
At the weekend I visited Kendal Tools, a retailer near where I live. Although he hadn’t one of these Fox/Delta machines in stock, he has sold a couple and says that the customers are not too happy with the drive. Apparently there is slippage of the drive belt and the variable speed is often difficult to change. He has tried to find a better alternative drive belt but no joy. However, both these customers are commercial users and may put the machine to a lot more arduous work than I will
So, I’m wondering if there is any more experience of using this machine since the discussion last Christmas? I would be grateful for such experiences and opinions.
Lataxe
Replies
I have had the same problem with drill presses and belt changing so I looked for a different machine without much luck. What I did find is an AC motor speed control made by Penta Power. You will need to get a 3 phase motor to use it but they don't cost much. The dealer that sold me the speed control gave me a motor for free. So, the Penta Power speed control is a phase converter speed control that will give you a full range of speeds at any belt setting and while it doesn't eliminate the belts you will not change them as often and I find this to be a very good solution to the problem. I bought mine from Boulder Motors in Boulder, Colorado.
Lataxe,
I can't comment on the machine, but my SC drill press takes about half a minute to change speeds and leaves my hands squeaky clean.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Lataxe,
Since Christmas, I've had a chance to use the Delta 20" VS drill press quite a bit. I did have a few problems at first and Delta was very helpful working with me to fix the problems. The first problem was that the original belt had developed a "memory", having sat in the same position for while since construction. This caused the DP to vibrate at high RPM. Also, the two belts were not aligned correctly. Delta sent me a replacement belt and walked me through realigning the belts. The original depth locking screw was stripped and Delta replaced that too. Finally, the variable speed handle would migrate to higher speeds when set to 2000+ RPMs. Delta sent me an extra wave washer to put behind the handle and that eliminated the problem. So now, after 6-months, I feel that I have a decent machine. I also purchased an after-market laser for it but find it unnecessary and basically a time-consuming gimmick. I like the 6" of quill travel and the height puts the work right up to my face so there is no need to bend over.
In retrospect, I probably would purchase either the 17" Steel City or 17" Delta but at least all of my original complaints have been resolved and the variable speed at 1 hp are nice features.
- Lyptus
My experience with Delta is that they don't sell tools, they sell kits.
I think your experience backs up that point. I want my tools to be right "out of the box". I don't want to fix stripped screws, install missing parts, and re-work factory defects.
I expect to set up the tool, calibrate it and begin to work.
As far as customer service goes, my experience with Delta leads me to rank them as one of the worst, (I'm supposed to bring a 400 lb bandsaw to their "repair" center so they can "look at it"?)
If Delta cared at all about their customers they wouldn't make you jump through the hoops you did to get their junk to work. Delta management is penny wise and dollar foolish. They cut out quality control from the factory and make up the shortfalls with higher cost warranty service. They lose customer good will and brand loyalty. But, hey, they made a profit last quarter and next year they'll get their "golden parachute."
No, I wouldn't buy another Delta kit if it came with a gold brick.
Delta should pay you for field testing. I've been interested in the 20-950 but have held off buying one for fear of new machine issues ......... sounds like you've had a few. Sounds as though Delta is making some tweaks on the 20-950; it won't be avaible again till later this summer.
I've heard that Delta is changing their 20-950 too. To date, I have not been willing to purchase the highest end power tools. Deciding instead to buy middle-of-the-road Jet, Delta, Rikon, etc. All of these brands seem to require tweaking out of the box so I'm getting use to it. If I could afford it, I would just purchase Lie Nielsen quality power tools such as Laguna, One-way, Minimax, etc. - Lyptus
Why not give your machine a good clean and use a linked belt as they run cleaner. If your getting black fingers your belt is breaking up/melting and is due a change.
Nigel & L,
The news I got from Kendal Tools concerned the difficulty of getting the belts to work properly on the Fox-badged version of the Delta machine. In Britain there is poor customer service from many woodworking machine suppliers so that Kendal Tools, despite trying to get replacement belts from whoever supplies them with the Fox-badged thang, were hitting a stone wall.
This is the problem when there are too many middle men. A Far East firm supplies Delta. Delta supplies Fox. Fox supplies a British importer. The importer supplies a number of regional distributors. The distributor supplies the retailer. The retailer supplies me. Cuh!
As to my dirty belts on the Axminster-badged drill press I have now, they've been dirty since the day I got the machine and washing them seems to make no real difference. I'd assumed the compound was intentionally made as a soft, grippy stuff to ensure grip on the pulley wheels. Perhaps the answer is to go and get some alternative drive belts made of something else, as you suggest Nigel.
Lataxe
Look at the manual before you buy -- I have a Delta VS benchtop drill press which works OK after a part broke (which they sent me the replacement for quickly) but.... Delta reccomends oiling the VS once a week! Kind of a dumb design.
Lataxe,
No Upeen drill presses?
I'm surprised that you would stoop so low as to buy a US designed (probably not Delta but Tonka Toys) tool, made in China, OEMd to Fox, supplied to a British importer, shipped to a number of regional distributors, thence to a retailer, ultimately to you.
I'd betcha ye cud ha got Mr. Marcou to rebuild/refurb some old iron from down his way and had it shipped for a lot less. And you'd know it was right!
That'll larn ya! Huc, from the odder side of the big lake,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 7/8/2008 12:52 pm ET by KiddervilleAcres
Bob,
Mr Marcou keeps the good stuff for hissel - he cannot bear to part with such gems as he has a fetish for them. Anyway, how much do UPS charge to fly a 500llb drill press from Kiwistan to Blighty? (That's a rhetorical question, to which the answer is: "too bluddy much").
Of course, we Brits do have a nice little domestic drill press maker: Meddings in Ivybridge, Devon. This is nearly as far away from Galgate as is Kiwistan, if so-called Parcelforce are delivering at least. Also, they is not cheap albeit they are recommended by Robert Ingham, no less - a woodworker of repute, even if he does aim for and achieve an aesthetic he describes as"wood engineering".
http://www.meddings.co.uk/drilling_belt_drive.html
I will be looking for new drive belts for the Taiwanese thang I already have. After all, a recession is coming so the pension must be kept to buy candles, gruel and an old army blanket. Of course, we old pensioners can always strap up a leg and go begging in the town centre. I will be doubly convincing as I will make myself a wooden leg. It's an old scam but traditional amongst the peasantry during hard times.
Lataxe
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