Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Jun 21, 2007 05:00pm | #1

   Most of the heavy bench top drill presses are just the head of the floor drill press mounted on a shorter post.  If you have the money get a floor mount, the extra capacity for handling large workpieces is worth it.

   John White, Shop Manager, Fine Woodworking Magazine

1. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Jun 21, 2007 05:41pm | #4

   For whatever it is worth, I've had a benchtop drill press for 20 years or so, and have never needed to have anything taller.

2. 
   mudman | Jun 21, 2007 05:14pm | #2

   Like John said, if you have the space and the price difference is not an issue (usuallly about $40 on a $150 model) then get the floor model. If you got a bench model there could come a time when you wished you'd gotten the floor model, like when you try to bore the end of a post or leg.

   Pardon my spelling,

   Mike

   Make sure that your next project is beyond your skill and requires tools you don't have. You won't regret it.

1. 
   mvflaim | Jun 21, 2007 05:32pm | #3

   "there could come a time when you wished you'd gotten the floor model"

   I'll agree to that. I have a bench top radial drill press that works great for me 95% of the time but there are times where I don't have enough room to drill some things. The biggest advantage to a bench top is the ability to make a cabinet to set the drill press on top of and store all your bits and accessories in. 

2. 
   kenshep | Jun 21, 2007 10:11pm | #6

   The benchtop can sit on a bench at a height of your choosing.  The floor model can extend no higher than the length of the pole/stand it is on.  Since the table on my benchtop can be rotated out of the way I can drill vertical pieces limited only by the height that I can reach and the bench I set it on and the clamping mechanism I use to fix the drilled item.  The portability of the benchtop is useful too.  I can carry it by myself, though I wouldn't want to go far with it in hand.  Ideally, I'd have the floormodel with wings on both sides, in my one bay garage shop, I have other priorities.  I need a benchpress that I can store under a work counter or roll into the driveway if I am working on something too long for easy tiny shop work. 

3. 
   BruceS | Jun 21, 2007 06:33pm | #5

   One advantage you'll find on the floor models of jet/powermatic is that they have a #2 Morse taper shanked chuck while the Deltas' have a Jacobs taper. The chuck can be easily removed with a tapered drift and the chuck can also be used in your lathe, which is very handy at times.  And if you get into drilling large holes you will be able to get #2 Morse tapered drill bits to fit the drill press.  The Deltas come with an open motor with class B insulation, the Jets come with a drip proof totally enclosed fan cooled and class E insulation, which is better.   The Jet also comes with a built in table light in the head casting. Little things count but often go overlooked.

   Work Safe,  Count to 10 when your done for the day !!

   Bruce S.