Open Question – What tool to choose? Drill Press or Spindle sander?
Lothius
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
Hi Everyone. I’m a newbee and I’ve got most of my tools, but for now I have to choose between a drill press and a spindle sander. I would like some feed back from some experienced woodworkers on which I should get first between a drill press and a spindle sander. I’ll be making birdhouses, assorted boxes and small furniture like coffee tables and end tables, night stands etc…..
Thanks
Replies
Drillpress.
No doubt!!!!!! Drill press
You can always sanding sleeves on a drill press, Very tough to run drill bits on a spindle sander ;-)
choices and alternatives
Based on likely frequency of use, an oscillating spindle sander might be the logical choice. But, you can always sand by hand. Drilling precision holes by hand doesn't always turn out well, especially with Forstner bits that want to "walk" (more so on expensive wood, of course). I'd go for the drill press, too.
Why not both?
Check out the Grizzly HO626 oscillating drill press. If I had to buy a new drill press, I'd go that route.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/Oscillating-Drill-Press/H0626
To make stuff you need jigs and fixtures. Jigs & fixtures require jig components (toggles, stops, fences etc), components have to be fastened with nuts, scrwes & bolts. Ergo you have to drill holes before you can fixture and before you can make furniture.
Get a drill press, a drill press with stuff:
http://patwarner.com/images/drilling2.jpg
Plus one for drill press...
Another vote for a drill press. I never knew how useful they were until I bought one. Doesn't have to be an expensive one either. While I'd love to have a nice big floor model with long quill travel, big woodworker's table, lots of power, etc., etc., I get by with a benchtop Delta with ratcheting table mechanism as an upgrade to the first itty-bitty DP I bought.
I was not going to comment but your question got me thinking. That gets me in trouble often...
For me, I could not do without either. But then again you can drum sand with a 'good' drill press. I say 'good' because a very inexpensive drill press probably does not have 'quality' quill bearings needed for the side loads from a sanding drum.
If I had to choose only one item, I would go for the drill press. For much, but not all work, a small bench top drill press will work.
Long ago I built a boat (inboard engine) with a 'drill press'? very much like the one in the link below. This is not a plug for any brand or supplier. With a few clamps, a tool like this can do most common drilling tasks that need a straight hole. I admit that it is NOT perfect but at that time I also repaired doors on very old houses. I needed something portable!
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=2405&utm_source=GoogleBase&utm_medium=aff&utm_campaign=GAN
It was ideal when drilling straight holes in the boat. That boat would have never fit under my table-top drill press.....
Yes, some/many? may think the above tool is just trash.. I do not agree.. I agree it does not replace a true drill press in any manner. However, for the price, it is a wonderful tool depending on your point of view... With a 'Jurry Rigged' As in some improvised base for clamping, it will do everything a common drill press cannot do!
But then again, I'm just an opinionated old man...
Neither tool you want will do the exact job of the other.
What tool to choose?
I wood choose the drill press. WillGeorge is absolutely correct that drill presses are usually designed to take axial loads and using sanding sleeves place lateral loads that will eventually, depending on the quality of the press, increase runout and ruin the accuracy of the press. If you choose to use sanding sleeves be absolutely sure that the press is designed for same - but this will increase the $$$ needed.
I also have chosen the portable 'drill press' in his link. It comes in handy very often. For accurate drills use clamps as WillGeorge suggested.
Forrestb
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