Replies

1. 
   slo | Feb 10, 2007 10:53pm | #1

   Like all tools it depends on your budget. Delta has a new one coming out soon model  20-950 that is worth looking at

1. 
   Glaucon | Feb 10, 2007 11:01pm | #2

   I think I should be able to get what I want for $400-$500 (US). Could go higher, but I'm not sure why I would need to.Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

1. 
   slo | Feb 10, 2007 11:30pm | #3

   The size and versatility of the table, large base, 6” quill travel, and adequate horse power is what has got me looking at the delta but I think it will be in the 750 price range. Youre needs may vary they have a 17-959 that will have the nice base and table but only a 4 7/8 quill travel that might be  a good choice as well

2. 
   cadiddlehopper | Feb 11, 2007 05:23pm | #7

   Mr. G.: I just purchased a Delta 17-965. It is excellent. I did not know about the three new Delta presses aimed at WWers at the time. I wish I had waited a few months to buy. You definitely should look at the new Deltas for WWers. Prices are from under $400 to about $800.I use a mortising kit on mine quite a lot with fine results. If you really want to do that, a radial drill press is probably out of the question.Good luck!Cadiddlehopper

2. 
   colebearanimals | Feb 10, 2007 11:47pm | #4

   Hi Glaucon,

    

              Have you looked at the radial drill presses? I have a standard fixed head type but the radial looks like it might have some merit for woodworking with it's extra capacity and ease of angle drilling. Although, I've heard somewhere they aren't as accurate( hard to return to a true 90 degrees ) . Plus, if you are considering a mortising attachment how stable are they? There is quite a bit of force when using these. I guess these are more questions than advise. Just my thoughts.

                              Paul

3. 
   PADDYDAHAT | Feb 11, 2007 04:56am | #5

   Mr. G, it depends on what you want to do. Mount a mortising kit, drum sanders, I would not recommend it at any hp or size. Do heavy industrial, all day drilling every day? Do serious hobby wood working? There are a multitude of choices. The SC is super, the Ridgid is a best quality/price and better if you can snag one as they drop all their floor displays(mine was $215). The big bucks DP's are good if you need heavy use. Note that I didn't say power. Use a chart for speed vs. type of drill/drill size like a fanatic as it works, let the tool do the work use the speed (three pulley type is great)match the task, no problem. Paddy

4. 
   philip | Feb 11, 2007 08:54am | #6

   G, you might give a thought to a mill drill. I don't know how this would fit budget wise,but one gets more value for the price compared to ww drills and a bench top one has some serious advantages over a woodworking drill:
   1)Plenty of quill travel-more than most woodwork drills
   2)Reliable clamping of quill
   3)Plenty of throat
   4)More solid construction and bearings since it is aimed at engineering functions
   5)More reliable depth stop
   6)Much more rigid- will easily cope with hollow square morticing
   7)Even a bench top model has a lot of capacity between the head and the table, as the column extends well below the bench top-it can be cranked upwards
   8)Best of all it has a compound table which makes milling mortices very easy and accurate. A compound table just makes life much better.Philip Marcou

   
   

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   Edited 2/11/2007 12:57 am by philip

5. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Feb 11, 2007 07:14pm | #8

   Morning G-man..

   I am going to second Paddy on his thoughts. A DP is not so dependent on power as it is a finesse machine. There is not a great amount of power involved in drilling holes with a quality drill bit in either metal or wood. I can do either with a 3/8 hand drill for the most part.

   And as far as mortising on a DP.. I'm also with Paddy. I know people do it.. but I am not one and will never be. I am not going to subject the machine to that kind of stress in heavy hard-wood. The travel gearing is not designed for heavy dog-fighting, it's for finesse as I mentioned. I want to keep run-out at minimal as part of my reason for choosing whichever DP I chose. It won't stay that way asking the machine to do heavy-weight task it wasn't designed for as I see it.

   More important IMO, is run-out and quill travel. The press should be able to deliver these and that's the advantage of just doing it with a DP over a hand drill. I am very happy with my Rigid as it has qualities that I want for WW (table for clamping.. very acceptable run-out.. deep as about any quill travel.. built-in light.. etc.) and the price was right.

   But.. if I had to do it over again.. I would go the the "you know what brand" with 6" quill travel and a way to ensure that it can be a adjusted down the road from excessive side play which has always been the detriment to increasing quill travel. I have not looked over the new Delta's, but I would imagine that the price would reach out ot touch you in the pocket-book from previous Delta pricing? At $479 and a current $75 rebate.. I know what would get taken home at my house.

   Examine the Delta's and SC locally.. then you will have your answer as to what is best suited for you, IMO!

   BTW.. I asking Scott Box (SC co-owner) why they only had one DP? His reply was that he had put a lot of years in at Delta and they had far too  many choices in a DP. Depends on what you want to pay and what feature is on a given machine is how you have to decide when shopping Delta and he felt that was not where he wanted to go. He told me they decided to take the best of features and put it into one DP and take it to market. And that is why you only have one DP from the SC Tool-works offered.

   And.. consider a dedicated mortiser (at least bench) if you do that many as it will save time you won't be asking a light-weight champion in it's class to step in the ring with a heavy-weight contender and duke it out!!  

   Regards...

   Sarge.. jt

   
   

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   Edited 2/11/2007 11:27 am ET by SARGEgrinder47

1. 
   Glaucon | Feb 13, 2007 05:45pm | #9

   Thanks Sarge- and others.I agree with your assessment of a DP as a finesse machine. I am pretty much looking at it for boring holes accurately. As for mostising- well I've got my pig stickers...Guess I'll do a compare of the Delta and SC... given the basic reqs I need from the machine, I think the warranty will be as important as anything else,Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

1. 
   glennwarner | Feb 13, 2007 06:43pm | #10

   I think both the new powermatic and the new delta have easy to set variable speed controls that are much easier than belts and pulleys

6. 
   rdufresne50 | Feb 13, 2007 08:11pm | #11

   Hello,

   If you are going to do mortising, a floor model is a must. Benchtop model are not strong enough to support a mortising kit. In fact, most manufacturers do not recommend to do so on a benchtop model.

   For companies, if you are cost-conscious, I would suggest Rigid DP15500. For solidity and good construction, Delta is next. Please look at http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolguideDirectory.aspx?dir=Drill+Presses

1. 
   cadiddlehopper | Feb 14, 2007 02:07am | #12

   I mortised with a benchtop press for several years. The ones which are equal to floor models with short posts are just as strong. The baby drill presses may not be adequate.Cadiddlehopper

1. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 14, 2007 02:24am | #13

   I diddled around with this new Powermatic in the showroom just yesterday, and it is a sweet machine, if you're willing to pay the extra $$ for a variable speed -- which in my old age I am coming to thing of as a necessary convenience.http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17186********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

1. 
   jc21 | Feb 16, 2007 06:38am | #23

   I looked at the new PM today- looks pretty good except the slowest speed is 400 rpm. Seems it would be a bit too fast for those big Forstner bits or is 400 rpm slow enough?

1. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 16, 2007 07:17am | #24

   I would think it would be ok.My old belt driven DP goes down to about 300 rpm, and that's pretty slow.********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

7. 
   oldsub86 | Feb 14, 2007 05:39am | #14

   I bought one of these a year or so ago and really like it. I used to change speeds on my old drill press with the belts and step pulleys but not like I do now. I would sort of use whatever speed was set unless I really felt it was really wrong. Now it is a simple matter of turning the handles to change the speed. Much easier so I do it. Also seems to be a good solid drill press - at least compared to my old one.

   Randy

   http://www.deltamachinery.com/index.asp?e=136&p=4749

8. 
   VT-Terri | Feb 14, 2007 03:35pm | #15

   Hi
   I just purchased a new Rigid full size drill press. I compared it to the new Delta 17-950L ($379). The full size delta had a larger table that tilts forward with t-slots, a removable center insert, and a laser feature, but still uses standard belts which vibrate and make lots of noise. I was able to run the tool in the store and was not impressed. The Delta also has, what looks like, a last minute add-on gooseneck light which I suspect will just get in the way and it isn't even wired internally and has it's own cord and plug. As I played with it at Western Tool, it was an irritation just in the store.

   The rigid in contrast, is $100 less, has a smallish table, built in light (wired internally), uses a poly belt, TEFC motor, and is amazingly vibration free and incredibly quiet! And in testing the tolerence, it has less than .001" runout. I checked both the quill, the chuck and a drill bit in the chuck with a machine gauge and I was very impressed! It's better than just about any tool in my shop. For $279, it's a deal. The capacities are mostly the same (quill movement, chuck capacity, speed ranges). So while it doesn't have the 5 and 6" quil travel of the big guys (neither of these), the price is much cheaper and for the few times I might need to bore a 6" hole, I'll re-chuck the drill bit mid-stream or turn the board over if it's a through hole. I'll make a nice table for the Rijid with some rockler t-slots in it for a fence and hold downs.

   Terri

9. 
   achome | Feb 14, 2007 08:39pm | #16

   Got a Delta tabletop at Lowe's a few years back.  Motor burned out after relatively little use.  Also check the concentricity of the spindle.  Mine isn't great.

   Johnny

10. 
    cmiller231 | Feb 15, 2007 05:01am | #17

    I looked at a Delta vari speed  dp at a wood show two yrs ago .It had 6" quill travel but sadly it had a LOT of quill slop.( with the quill extended ) This factory Rep says to keep pushing down on the handle so it won't shake .I never heard of anything so crazy, They must think every body is a dummy..Buying one with a split head would be more desirable.

      Iam sure if you throw enough money at a new one the slop can be  reduced.In the case above the mach is made to Deltas  spec. The sales rep seemed to know exactly  how to answer my question and i doubt if it was the first with slop,

       Now dont get me wrong i have quite a few Delta products and like them over all  so iam not bashing all their products. The above case was ONE!   I'am just calling what i seen, it is what it is.      Chris

1. 
   Glaucon | Feb 15, 2007 07:45am | #18

   Chris,Thanks for your post. I wouldn't want to paint with too broad a brush, but my sense is that overall quality has declined at Delta in the past 3-5 years. Still, it's probably worth checking out their machines and the SC, perhaps the Rigid as well.Glaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

1. 
   cadiddlehopper | Feb 15, 2007 04:59pm | #19

   Mr.G: I don't know how to account for the Delta rep's dumb answer except to say that perhaps a sale rep and a tech rep are different species. My Delta 17-965 (and other decent machines as well) has an adjustment screw for controlling quill play. That is not a reason for condemning a product nor an entire brand, Delta or any other. Frankly, I am impressed by some IMPROVEMENTS that I have seen since manufacturing was moved to the far east. One of those is the addition of rack&screw drives for drill press tables. Maybe you never used one of those which did not have such a feature. It wasn't fun.Cadiddlehopper

1. 
   Glaucon | Feb 15, 2007 05:26pm | #20

   Mr. C,Point taken. I guess my concern regarding Delta is not just their off-shore manufacturing, but the overall quality reported on things such as Unisaws, etc. As old line manufacturers are acquired by congolmerates, the race to the bottom begins. Some firms- such as General, Festool- and perhaps SC are bucking this trend. It may affect QC in the end.-mGlaucon

   If you don't think too good, then don't think too much...

2. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Feb 15, 2007 05:52pm | #21

   Morning Chris...

   What you stated about slop on the long 6" travel is exactly why the co-owner of SC (who worked for Delta many years) told me they put the split head on their 6" quill travel DP.

   I have personally discovered by doing my home-work that the SC ads that state they are "tool guys" is not just a "smoke-screen" (well thought out advertising gimmick line) to sell product. They back it up by putting "tool guys" machines on a show-room floor designed by attaining years of knowledge that elevated them to "tool guys" status IMO.

   Regards...

   Sarge.. jt

    

1. 
   cmiller231 | Feb 15, 2007 09:48pm | #22

   Hi Yes agree that the split head is the way to go and i don't think it would cost that much more. The split head is done a lot in tool rom mach ,jig borers heavy  duty drill presses. Ill bet SC found out that it is cheaper to provide the splithead than trying to hold a close tolerance .

     Afriend of mine has a Seras industrial   DP and the spindle is sloppy on it because there is really no top bearing in the quill.The spline in the top pulley acts as a top bearing.inserting brass welding rod inbetween the splines .has taken out almost all the slop.

   It would be interesting to call Delta and ask them what their quill slop tolerance  is.

      As far as having a  dp that has slop the only thing i can think of  short of reboreing and rebushing (which is way too expensive)it is  to drill and tap for a set screw through the side of the head  so it will bear against the quill,a piece  of brass or plastic inserted in the hole will prevent scroreing  the quill.Now if the quill or the bore is tapered the above will not work. The only thing that might work is to insert a stiff spring behind the set screw.                                                                    Chris

1. 
   SARGEgrinder47 | Feb 16, 2007 08:08am | #25

   Hey Chris...

   Not only did they use the split head.. they thought a step beyond the split head and put an adjustment screw on-board also in case that somewhere far down the road that it does wear to a point that it would require adjustment.

   Did I mention they are "tool guys"? :>)

   Regards...

   Sarge.. jt