Replies

1. 
   DrChops | Nov 28, 2005 07:17pm | #1

   hi dazz,
   i looked at the 17-990x, but bought the 17-968, and am very happy with it. belt drive is good enough for me, a nice solid chuck, and the speed settings are up front. i just didn't think the 17-990x was sufficiently better to justify the price difference.
   cheers,
   bert

   if it's worth doing at all, then it's worth doing well.
2. 
   bd | Nov 30, 2005 07:25pm | #2

   Dazz,

   I have that model drill press, pre-X5 version. Don't think they changed anything but the color scheme to go to the X5 versions (other than the price & the warranty). Two negative comments: it seems to vibrate some in the drive, but all of that seems to be damped out by the time you get to the quill. Have never had any problems with vibration, run-out etc. at the working end. Also, as a result of the vibrations & the homemade cover I put over the top, it's a bit noisy. That's right, the top of the drill press is open to gather dust & crud from everywhere unless they started furnishing an extra cost dust cover with the X5 models. On the plus side, the 6 inch quill travel is great if you do much drilling in thick stock. I really like the VS. I change spends frequently, & cannot tolerate futtsing with belts. Also, it's the only model of the Delta presses that are readily available (don't know what they offer in terms of industrial machines) that has a screw on chuck available. An extra cost option, of course. The screw on chuck is much better than having just the MT to hold the chuck on if you do any boring into hard woods with large Forstner bits, etc.

   One other comment, not sure if it's positive or negative. The table is solid except for the hole in the center, like a metal working table. The table has a port for a liquid drain if you're using cutting fluids, etc. As a result of that, you can't bolt thru the table to clamp jigs, fences, etc. on. If you want to use the supplied table for woodworking, you'll have to buy some T-nuts and bolts to fit the slots for clamping purposes -- available in sets from Grizzly, Harbor Freight & other places. I built a Rockler style table from scraps that I had & clamp that over the factory table for most woodworking applications. That also helps prevent any metal fillings from messing up wooden parts.

1. 
   Dazz | Nov 30, 2005 09:56pm | #3

   BD,

    

    Thanks for your comments. I purchased the drill press since I originally posted.  Delta does have a sheet metal top cover available, but it does not come with the press. Fortunately, Woodcraft gave me the cover they had on their floor model when my machine came in. Why Delta doesn't supply this chintzy piece of sheet metal to cover the pulleys is just unfathomable. Who in the world would want to have the pulleys/belts exposed in a shop? At the price of this machine, it's just ridiculous to omit the cover, which is just a flat piece of sheet metal.  Luckily, you can easily make one from most anything.  I'm not crazy about the plastic column crank handle either, but it seems adequate so far (as long as it doesn't get smacked).

   Aside from that, I like the machine so far... it came with both the threaded and morse taper chuck mounting capabilities (the supplied chuck is a morse taper).  Like you, I change speeds often, and don't want to deal with belt changes. That's the main reason I bought this press. It's so nice to be able to change speeds with the twist of a lever!  And I too really appreciate the 6" quill travel.  I put a shop-made table on top of the metal one, with t-slots, fence, etc.   

   I'm waiting now for my $100 rebate on this machine; so far,when I check the status of it at the rebate website, it says "we have no record of your rebate"; I mailed it in over a week ago, but it probably will take time to post there. I just hope I don't have to go thru what I did with Lowe's to get a rebate out of them.

    

1. 
   bd | Nov 30, 2005 11:50pm | #4

   I may have some pertinent experience with their rebate "process", too. I bought a Delta grinder from Amazon a while back & sent in for the $50 rebate. Didn't worry about it for a long time. Probably a little over two months after I sent the rebate request in, I started inquiring about the status. I got the same message you got "we have no record of your rebate request". The very next day the check came in the mail. To my knowledge, their web site never knew I was getting a rebate from them. They must not update that site at all.

1. 
   John_D | Dec 01, 2005 12:03am | #5

   I sent in my request for a $100 rebate on my X5 Unisaw about two months ago, and the website has no knowledge and I have no check.  I'm assuming it will, in fact, arrive eventually.

2. 
   joepez | Dec 01, 2005 10:11pm | #6

   dazz, i am looking at the same machine.

   interested if you checked the runout. someone posted earlier that the new presses were questionable?

   and if not to nosey, where did you buy and how much?

   thanks

1. 
   Dazz | Dec 02, 2005 05:02pm | #7

   joepez,

    

    I have not yet checked runout on the drill press.  I bought the machine from Woodcraft; I don't recall the exact price, but they're having a sale on it. I think it was listing for $829, on sale for about $749. Then there's a $100 rebate from Delta. Overall, probably a high price for the machine, but I really wanted the variable speeds and the 6" quill travel. Things I don't like are the the fact that it doesn't come with the top cover (although it's quite easy to make one from flat sheet metal or plywood), and the plastic table crank handle may someday break.

3. 
   kathy456 | Feb 28, 2018 10:44pm | #8

   My friend Aaron recently purchased this drill press for our small custom shop.  I want to share some experience with the drill press. 

    

   1. There is a full 1/16 of quill play. This exists between the quill and the gear in the handle assembly. This equates to a vertical rattle and an inability for the drill press to drill a hole to a precise depth. 

   2. The drill press quill stop is a piece of flexible bent steel and is not a part of the head casting as with many sturdy old drill presses. 

   3. The top of the head is open exposing the variable speed drive. It would be very difficult to get your hands down into the pulleys but this is still a safety issue. 

   Overall this machine is a disappointment in its price class. Some bad design elements, and some poor machining......made in China.

    

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