Benchtop Drill Press Advice Needed Please!
Hi Everyone,
My name is Steven. I am looking into purchasing a benchtop drill press. I am looking into the either the Oliver Machinery 14 inch version vs the Jet 12 inch version.
Both are 1/2 HP Motors based on the specs, both have an LED working light, a laser for accuracy purposes, and depth stop.
The big differences are the Jet is a 12 inch version, the Oliver is a 14 inch version. The Jet is a mechanical variable speed drive system for easy speed changes vs the Oliver is a manual variable speed drive system that requires the belts to be properly rearranged in order to meet speed requirements.
I am aware that Oliver Machinery just entered the homeowner/Hobbyist/DIY market for woodworking within the past two years.
Both are priced around the same right now, the Jet is $599, the Oliver Machinery is $649.
Links for reference:
https://olivermachinery.net/14-swing-bench-model-drill-press
https://jettools.com/woodworking/drill-presses/716000
Does anyone have any experience with either benchtop drill press? Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Replies
I don’t have personal experience with either of these tools but I’d like to point out the optimistic horsepower rating on the Jet. They say it’s 1/2 HP but it’s only 5 amps. The Oliver is an 8 amp motor.
So you think the 8 amps is closer to a true 1/2 HP motor and can prob handle alittle more?
Yes,
Here is an Amazon link to a 1/2HP Baldor motor.
https://www.amazon.com/Baldor-L3504A-General-Purpose-Enclosure/dp/B007ZQR898
Zoom in on the nameplate and you'll see 8.4 amps.
I trust Baldor to give accurate HP ratings.
Mike
FWIW, I have a benchtop Delta model and the clunky variable speed via mechanical handle quit working a long time ago. Now I only have fast n’ slow. My future drill press will either be old school pulley (like the Oliver), or smart digital speed (like the Nova).
I've owned the Jet 12 inch version (JWDP-12) for a couple of years. It's well-made, and suits my purposes as an avid hobbyist. The only criticism I have is with the table. It's not square, and it lacks through holes at the corners. That's a bummer for creating a table jig.
That's my only complaint, but it's minor. Jet tools are not deluxe. but they fill the bill for hobbyists like me, I believe.
I don't know anything about the new Oliver machines other than I don't think that they are the Oliver from before. I have some Jet machines and I find them to be just so so. Not as good as I had hoped but not bad enough to replace them. Changing belts is no big deal and bigger is better.
In that quality range I would also look at the Grizzly G7943. Look back at reviews and you will see it win or come close on a few.
https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-14-heavy-duty-benchtop-drill-press/g7943?gclid=CjwKCAjwrdmhBhBBEiwA4Hx5g8-sDs8qASRLkjyw7e5seW4T7MexHisBpBzO0G2Uyluxgzshg5Fr9xoCcV4QAvD_BwE
The $200 freight seems out of line but that does put it in range of the others you are considering.
I have personal experience with the Jet JWDP-12 model and it has been nothing short of a disappointment. The machine was packaged well and the instructions for assembly and use are good, but the quality of the chuck and spindle is very questionable - I measured runout of the spindle at 0.018 and called Jet to have it replaced, which they did. I then replaced the chuck with a Yukiwa chuck due to similar problems. I have replaced the drive belt, etc., ad nauseam. I've had many challenges and perhaps I have expected too much from the drill press. My friend has an older Delta bench top drill press that has manual fixed spindle speeds vs fully variable speed, but is much truer and more powerful than this Jet model. I don't recommend the Jet but I've no experience with the Oliver model.
For what it's worth, Jet is seemingly the same as the Wen available at Amazon for about $300. There are several models that are at least basically the same and I'm sure they are all made in the same factory in china with different paint and brand logos. I've had the Wen for a few years and it's worked well for my purposes.
Makes total sense, and yes I would agree, the jet Wen rikon are all prob made in the same factory! But Im looking for a drill press slightly more durable than that, which I think I will get out of the oliver!
I haven't looked at the Oliver as the Wen is more than adequate for what I need. If you regularly run really huge bits you may need more power. I will say that the variable speed adjustment is very handy and a feature that I actually use on a regular basis. I'm sure the Oliver is a good machine.