Want to Buy a Standing Drill Press
Highwaywingrider
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
Looking to buy a standing drill press but can’t seem to find any current sites or discussions that compare the current models for use by woodworkers. Looked at a Powermatic yesterday at a woodworking show but don’t have enough experience with these models to compare it to. Have heard Grizzly and Jet are good choices as well. Any help in comparing models is much appreciated.
Replies
My biggest frustration with the one I have (Delta, about 15 years old) is the awkward, messy and time consuming effort to change speeds. A one lever or knob to adjust speed would be a must for me now.
Cheers,
Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
Peter,
Couldn't agree with you more there, about the need for a variable speed lever. I recently spent a half hour cleaning up the belts, pulleys and housing-for-same of my drill press - black rubber dust everywhere. Also, why does the blasted metal hood that goes over the pulleys always get a new rattle whenever it's raised and refixed after a speed change? Cuh!
The other thing that I find frustrating is the relatively short vertical travel of the chuck. Mine will do just short of 4 inches, which is quite "good" for one of these machines; but 6 - 8 inches would be better, as there are times......
I wish also that the machine was rigid enough so that one of those mortising attachments would actually work on it. In practice, the high pressure required to push the chisel through the wod is difficult to get with the short arms of a standard drill press; but the chisel will also jam quite easily as the high forces involved seem to bend the whole chuck/chisel assembly just a tad off the vertical.
One good feature is the accurate depth stop on a rotating/lockable dial. Drilling accurate stopped-depth holes is a regular need.
And did I mention that my drill press lacks an integral worklight? I have to use a one of those torches with a cordless drill battery stuck in it. Another feature that is probably good to add to the must-have list.
****
One day some enterprising company will stop just copying metalworking drill presses and make one for us woodworkers.
Lataxe
Powermatic is now making one. Sorely tempted.http://www.powermatic.com/Products.aspx?Part=1792800
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
The New Jet 17" with 14 x 18 table, Laser cross hairs and replacable MDF zero clearence center is nice. I put one together for the showroom floor and within two hours it was sold. Go figure. Had to tear it down and rebox it. Now I have to go through degreasing its replacement and set that one up. But it's easy enough.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Unfortunately, for me anyway, its the same old system of changing speeds.Cheers,Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
I own the Steel City 17" drill press and have no big issues. I don't find changing belt a hassle l- it's simple and takes all of about 30 seconds. The most time consuming part is checking which RPM is suitable for the bit you are using and which pulley combination gives you that speed. I don't know if there is any truth behind this, but I have heard that the variable speed (lever controlled) machines are noisy.
The 6" stroke is a real plus. It's not every day that I drill a 6" deep hole, but with different bit lengths and material thicknesses, it saves moving the table up and down a lot. Have a look at the depth stops too. I like the simple style of the SC version, with a quick-release button for rapid depth changes.
Personally, I don't trust lasers.
Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
(soon to be www.flairwoodworks.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
The Powermatic I looked at had a lever for adjusting speed, had a large work area with extensions on both sides. Didn't pay much attention to the depth stop, but think it was a single rod with a quick release. Looked to be a good set up.I saw on another blog somewhere that folks liked the Grizzly, but not sure what model.
I have the Powermatic VS, and yes, the belts are a bit noisy (not like ear protection noisy), but it broke in and I got comfortable and I never have to touch the belts! It's a big, lumbering, expensive excuse for a drill, but it does what it does very very well and I can change speeds in two seconds mid-operation. This is in no way to put down your lifestyle! By the way, how's business? Just curious.Brian
The proto-type Steel City 17" DP with mechanical variable speed that Steel City un-veiled at IWF in Atlanta in August will be on my shop floor being field tested soon... so I will let you know how it preforms. If it preforms as well as it did at IWF when I demo'ed machines for Steel City.. I expect the results will be favorable.
Sarge..
Thanks Sarge. Now I will definitely hold off buying the Powermatic until I see the SC. Cheers,Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
You're welcome, Peter. I will have the proto-type as soon as the stock models hit the door as it is the only one they have in their show-room. They will give me call and I told them I will come pick it up. So... soon I hope but you can't tell cargo ship captains to speed it up so I sit patiently using my existed DP which will ge the call on a small, decorative box in about 30 minutes.
It's been a good press but as much as I use it I definitely could use the variable speed as I changes speeds often. It's not that bad to change speeds on it but... a touch of the lever would be a time saving improvement.
Sarge..
Sarge
Please do let us know all the details. I have been waiting for it to hit the market. Would some pics be possible? If it's as good as I think it will be then the line forms behind me.
RichThe Professional Termite
I have no problem snapping pictures so I can and will, Rich. My wife has no problem putting them on as I am a computer dummy. So.. I most definitely will. I used the machine at IWF but I won't to over-work it to test the mechanical speed changer. Steel City is aware of the problems Delta had with their electronic changer and opted to avoid getting bit by the same snake. :>)
Regards...
Sarge..
Thanks Sarge, I'm looking forward to it. The mechanical changer rather than electronic sounds good to me. When mechanical stuff fails I can fix it but when them electrons start to get creative and wander off the designated path it gets to be more than my synapses can snap at to restore order.
RichThe Professional Termite
Yeah.. Delta found that out too as they should have known better. :>)
Sarge..
Is that why they had to stop selling the new DP? I was wondering when they took it off the market so soon after making a big ad blitz.Cheers,Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
1 + 1 usually = 2-shea.. :>)
Regards...
Sarge..
Brian,Now that your drill press is "broken it", is it quieter? What does broken in mean? Did the belts wear to the pulley or stretch?Thanks for asking about business. In the months leading up to starting the business, I've been getting job requests and slowly working towards completion. Right now, I am nearing completion of two medium-sized projects and have just started one large one. I have three projects waiting to get started. So in a word, busy. Right now I've got a little help from my brother - he can do some of my more labourious tasks (can you say "sanding monkey"?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.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
The press does seem to be quieter now. Can't tell how much is my perception and how much is the machine breaking in. Wasn't really a bad noise to begin with, just didn't inspire confidence. But it's a great machine.That's great you're working with your brother and are busy. Hope you are doing the kind of projects that you aspire to. Brian
I have the Delta 17-959L. I got this about a year ago, and I think they had just started shipping them at that time.
I am totally satisfied with it. Belt system of changing blades does not bother me. Power is sufficient, chuck is dead-on, table stays locked (three deficiencies in my bench top unit). The incredibly accurate laser on this unit is wired into the power supply -- no need for batteries.
Word of caution when assembling a floor standing drill press: test the fit of the head and column in a safe manner before assembly. I did not do this, and found that the set screws on the head were tightened; thus, the head was maybe 1/2" on the column when it hung up. Fortunately, I had a hex wrench handy to loosen and allow the head to seat properly, but that sure could have been an expensive oversight.
What size motor does your Delta have, and is the work area big enough?
3/4 hp. prewired 120v. Can switch to 240v. I am currently running 120. Need to install a 240 outlet on that wall of the shop...
18" x 14" table. I forget the size of the backerboard insert in the center.
Check out all the specs here:
http://www.deltaportercable.com/Products/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=15685
I still use the 20" x 14" table I made for my bench top on this unit. Which reminds me, The fence I use is no more than 2" high. When using a small bit, and therefore the table is quite high, the fence can interfere with the laser sights. Using a good spacer strip alleviates this situation.
I did buy this from Amazon. I wish I could remember where I found it for less. It was some tool seller somewhere in Michigan. At the time, their delivered price was quite a bit less than Amazon (no free shipping on amazon at the time). A lengthy phone later, they did a price match. But this was over a year ago, probably a week after Delta started shipping the unit (and 4-5 months after my bench top unit was out at the curb).
Regardless of how big the table is, I'd strongly recommend attaching a wooden auxillary table. I built a drawer under the table for the more commonly used bits.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.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
Yes, the power head sure is a heavy piece. Not to mention 5' off the ground. If you don't have help to put the power head, I'd recommend that you assemble the unit on its side, then tilt it upright.(Red, yes, I realize that you are not looking at a drill press yourself. You refers to the reader, whoever that may be).Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.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
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