Drill Press Preference

[Sparhawk]

I had some issues with my drill press over the weekend and it set me to thinking. A lot of discussion is put into the type of scroll saws people prefer. But what about one of the other frequently used pieces of equipment in most scrollers' workshops?

What brand of drill press do you use or do you use one at all?

What features does it have that you particularly like?

What features does it have that you particularly don't?

Does it meet the expectations you had for it when you purchased it?

Just curious about the preferences on something different. By the way, mine was a GMC from Lowe's. A cheapo that I thought would do fine for drilling a few holes. But apparently not what it was cracked up to be. And that laser guiding hogwash is just that. I never used it. Never saw the need for it.

[jttheclockman]

I have 2 and they are both Deltas. One is a table top 12" and the other is a floor model 16" Depends on what you are using it for. If it is just scrolling and light woodworking the table top is great. I highly recommend the Delta. Get at the big box stores. The thing I would really like and they just came out with it is a speed controller wheel up front. Makes changing speeds easy not that moving a belt on a pulley is that hard. But it is a gadget that is new and if I were buying either a table top or a floor model it would have this feature. The big key when getting a new drill press is to make sure the quill runs straight and true. The thing I hate to hear people do with a drill press is use it as a drum sander. Drill presses are made to put pressure downward not sideways. This is my opinion.

[CanadianScroller]

Well I have to bug JT again. I have 2 drill presses one for drilling, one for sanding. I know they use thrust bearings, and they are not the best for sanding but at 38 bucks I can throw them away when they burn out.
They are both made by Mastercraft who gets them made by Delta. 8 Inch models.
I am still using the same ones for 8 years now.
Sorry JT, I know its not right but I can't help myself. I don't do a lot of sanding anyway. My blades are so sharp I don't need to

I do have an antique thickness sander which I am having trouble getting paper for
It is hard to by 8" x 25" sheets. I know I can get 150 foot rools, but thats a lot of sanding

[earlinjax]

I have a Craftsman benchtop next to my saw and a Harbor Freight floor model. One thing I did that improved the HF a whole bunch was to replace the belts with link belts. It runs real smooth now. That would probably help any drill press out there.

[GrayBeard Phil]

I like my Sears Floor model drill press.

Not because it was so-o great when I bought it, or anything like that.

When I bought it, (about 2 to 3 decades ago), my dad had just retired as a senior Master-Craftsman (Union designation) in the Automotive Tool and Die trade (ran a machine called a 'keller.') He looked over my Drill press and gave the Tisk-tisk and usuall grunts that any craftsman gives before announcing 'Yes, I can fix it, but it will take some time and a little bit of money.'

Anyway, I was living just outside of Baltimore MD at the time, and three days of his eating his fill of Balitimore Crabs (Blue Fin Crabs??) (Steamed, Crab cakes, and crab Imperial; all with lots Old Bay) my sears drill press was declared fit to use. And yes, the 'fixing' took just as long as it took him to get his fill of crabs.

I won't bore you with the details, but the drill press has been moved several times, and it still works great. I just cannot afford another crab feast now that I am living near Detroit, and fresh Crab meat is a little expensive shipped all the way from the East Coast. So I will stick with my Sears Drill press.

Phil

[Gill]

I've got a Dremel in a drillstand. Works fine.

Gill

[Rivari]

Carl will love to hear this and at least one other probably won't, I have a dirty little secret in my woodshop...a Ryobi drill press.

For the light duty work I need to accomplish and the price, I could not avoid the urge go with Ryobi versus other models. I am pleased thus far and have had no problems yet. My only limitation is dealing with larger peices of material as I cannot get those inside holes drilled...but that is when a cordless drill picks up the slack.

[jttheclockman]

First let me address Carl. I am not bugged because I don't follow what your point was. I said I have 2 Deltas and would recommend them to anyone. I never said there are not other good drill presses out there for what actually is a drill press just a drill motor mounted in a stand. I stand by the Delta recomendation and if you talk to any true woodworker not hobbiest they will agree Delta is a very good brand. You mention you have 2 one for drilling and one for sanding and they still run. It sounds like you are more surprised than I, they still run. I stated it is not a good idea to use a drill press as a drum sander because of the sideward preassure being exerted on the quill not the bearings unless and this is a big unless they have a device where you can anchor the bottom have of a drum sander. If you took a true machinist rod and chucked it into the drill press that you use as a sander I bet your last dollar that the runout is more than the one used for drilling only. Runout is important if you have to accurately drill something not putting holes in wood to thread blades.Any drill can do that. It was mentioned a Dremel is used. So what is your point?? You said you pay $38 dollars for it then this is good for you but the question was what drill press is used by others I voiced my ownership. So Carl it is not a case of disagreeing with me my friend.

[wwalker47]

I have a Horbour Fright bench top and it gets the job done. I only use it for inside cuts and only wood. But, it works fine.

-Bill

[Neal Moore]

I used to build a lot of doll furniture ( miniatures) so most of my power tools are small. I have a proxxon drill press with a milling bed installed. It works well for drilling pilot holes in small fret work. I also use a miniature table saw by proxxon and a miniature router table by the same manufacturer for shaping small moulding strips. All three machines do very precision work.