I’m looking to purchase a drill press. My budget is the $300 range. I’ve seen the Delta in my local tool shop and a friend of mine owns the Ridgid DP.
From the reviews I’ve read, a lot of people say the Delta is noisy with rattles here and there. Havent seen any reviews on the Ridgid except that my friend loves his.
Any recommendations either way?
Replies
I would honor those reviews (Why not?)
I don't use a drill press (and am of little help to you), but my reading about and examining of Delta tools steers me away from the brand. Pick any type of equipment, and some of the Delta reviews are going to be weird. That is not universal among woodworking machinery.
For that price I've heard good things about Ridgid as well. Do some searches and you should find a thread from a couple of months ago.
At that price the Delta will probably be from the Shopmaster line which I've never heard anything good about.
If you can actually run the unit that you want to buy before you take it home, you would likely be surer of getting home with a good tool.
All of the major brands make mostly good tools. However, quality control seems to be pretty spotty, so while you may buy a tool that get mostly good reviews, the one you unbox may have significant problems.
I found this to be the case with two of my purchases over the past year. One was a Ridgid 14 inch band saw that runs like a top, now, but not without some significant work. The other is a Craftsman floor-model drill press that is still waiting for me to disassemble to it's component parts and fix it's several problems.
If you find a store that has more than one location in the U.S. that will permit your running equipment before purchase, please post it. Thanks.
Well, there's that problem, for sure. I haven't found any big box store that will allow this, either. They bring you out a big sealed box of parts, and their sincerest wishes for good luck. However, when I next purchase a major tool, I think I'll try my local Woodcraft store. They are a chain, but our store is locally managed, so I may be able to talk them into selling me the floor model. I'd even volunteer to help assemble it's replacement for them, at their store!:)
Up you budget by about $600 and get the new Powermatic 18" and then let me know if it is worth the extra money.
Aaron
In addition to the quality of the tool be sure to look at "quil travel" I seem to remember that the Rigid DP only had 3 3/4 inches of travel which makes drilling a deep hole more of a challange. I have a Rigid jointer and the quality of the tool and the customer service are good. You might also look at the used market they have been making drill presses for a long time and you might be able to get a nice industrial quality one for a good price.
Good luck.
Troy
Evening Tools...
I have had the Rigid press for 3 years and love it.... it's a good machine and lots of features that were geared toward WW'ing. The run-out is minimal and the table is easy to clamp too. Smooth operating quick change belts and a nice wide foot on the base. Built in light and the motor is plenty sufficient.
If I were to be in the market for one now (and I'm not), I would take a look at the Steel City with the split head and 6" quill travel. That's about the only reason I could justify that I would pay more than I did with the Rigid. But then again on a $300 budget... the Rigid would be an excellent choice.
Regards...
Sarge.. jt
Toolsguy,
FWW compared drill presses not too long ago. The Ridgid did well as did a much more expensive and larger Delta which they rated best. I had a stroke of luck and got the Delta for less than the smaller Ridgid. (Please, pardon the gloat!) However, if I were in the market again, I would give first consideration to one of several Deltas with the table which tilts on trunnions about an axis 90 degrees to other presses. These were designed with us WWers in mind. You can find the lowest priced model at Lowe's, but you will need a little more than $300. If money is limited, IMHO, you will be quite happy with a Ridgid drill press. Good luck!
Cadiddlehopper
I have been converted from a Delta guy to a Steel City guy. Last week I purchased their 17" DP, $469.00 with a $75 rebate. If you can come up with the extra 100 bucks you will not be disappointed.
Morning Jay...
I have pretty thoroughly gone over the SC line and your conversation is well justified. I have a Rigid DP which has performed remarkably well. But it won't get that 6" quill travel which on occasion comes in very handy.
Other manufacturers that went for that long quill travel in the past left off an important feature to avoid slop from the long throw down the road... splitting the head an adding an adjuster pin to take out any that might develop on the horizon.
The SC guys in-corporated the good features a drill press should have, added them and added the 6" travel with split head for a bonus.You notice they only offer one DP and for a reason. Why make several DP's and put a good feature on one and another good feature on another. It's makes more sense to just take the best of the best and put it in one complete package.
I don't need another drill press... but that 6" travel sure is tempting. Nah..... definitely not......... well............. maybe! ha.. ha....
Regards...
Sarge.. jt
The Steel City drill press in on my short list of machines. It's one of the best ones out there and the 6" quill travel is super.
Morning basset...
I need to get my mind on something else. I'm very satisfied with the Rigid 1500 DP.. but that 6" quill travel does have a nice ring. But after just having up-graded to a 18" BS.. 8" jointer.. Uni-saw.. and 20" planer, my wife would probably hire a "hit man" with another up-graded addition so....
Now I wonder of I could shoot one of those babies with Orange spray before I got home with it and make a quick switch before she arrives home? My mind always seems to be running on "red-line" and maxed out. ha.. ha....
Regards...
Sarge.. jt
Sarge,
I fully understand your problem. It will be quite a while before the LOML will be ready for me to buy a Steel City drill press. I think it would be a highly used tool in my shop, but it will have to go on a great sale or I'll need to have one for a "special project." I've blown my wad for the year with a Craftsman 22401 14" band saw, Steel City mortiser, Delta 300L bench top drill press (on sale), plus I added a 220 30 amp circuit and two 110 15 amp circuits to my shop (garage), and ordered an Incra fence for the SawStop I'm planning to order in the next two weeks. I will need a jointer and a planer, and maybe some other tools, before I add a floor model drill press.
Yowch...that's a lot of tool purchases there... I particularly like the way you dropped in that $4000 Sawstop as an afterthought (LOL). The SC drill press is a beauty and the price ($369) is pretty special right now. I think one of the extension table support legs on the Sawstop is about $369...just kidding.
I was intrigued by your comment on the Incra fence. Are you referring to one of their LS positioner type fences that you are planning to mount on the sawstop? I've read a bunch of good things about the Sawstop standard fence so I'd be interested in your motivation for switching. I have an LS positioner on my router table which has been completely overkill in my hands and I've been considering retraining it for the table saw so it will get some use.
What were you planning to tackle with such a fence on the table saw that would require that level of accuracy and repeatability? Just curious.
Rick
Actually the SawStop purchase was an afterthought. You must realize that I'm upgrading my saw and fence from an early '70s Craftsman table saw. While in its day this saw was a very good saw the fence on it has to be measured and measured and measured and measured both front and rear and even then the cuts aren't always accurate. My wife was watching me set up a cut on a piece of plywood she was helping me cut one afternoon. She couldn't believe all the girations I had to go through just to measure for the cut and then measure to make sure that the fence was parallel with the blade. After that one viewing of some of the videos on the SawStop and the Incra websites and she was sold.
The SawStop doesn't come with a fence. For approximately the same price as the SawStop fence I'm adding the Incra fence with the LS positioner that will solve all that measuring and remeasuring. Sure the fence tha SawStop sells for their saw is very good. I decided that the Incra was better. Eventually I'll add a router table, instead of the SawStop extension table you mentioned. When I do, the Incra will be used for both. Perhaps the fence is a little "overkill" but my wife said if I was going to spend that much money that I should get what I really needed and wanted. I wanted the best accuracy that I could afford. BTW -- I also paying an extra $200 for the 5 hp motor.
As for what I'm going to make with all this. I have some plans for some nice furniture, mostly Arts & Crafts. I'm especially interested in the style of Green and Green, but there are other styles of Arts & Crafts that I'd like to make as well. My first project for the new saw and other tools, however, will be an oak mantle and paneling for our fireplace. I already have most of the wood for that project. After that I plan to make some lamp tables for our dining room out of cherry to go with the beautiful Prairie Style table we bought last summer. I'd like to make them in a Prairie Style with a little influence from Green and Green like braedboard ends and square plugs. I'm still working on the design.
Sounds like a great plan and all those tools will get a good workout. Please post some pictures when you get a chance so we can admire your handiwork.
I had a similar experience with a Sawstop purchase and my wife. She used to hate to come out into the garage when I was using the tablesaw for fear of distracting me and facilitating an injury. Although I was very respectful of the saw, I wasn't that worried. Finally, we decided to purchase the sawstop and it has been on order for a few weeks while the company moved warehouses. The funny thing is just as soon as I placed the order I've been very reluctant to use the current saw. Hey...odds of a finger amputation must go up 1000% while waiting for the delivery of a sawstop...don't you think. At any rate, I finally just sold the older saw and have been sawless for a couple of weeks (although all fingers still attached). The 600 lb monster arrives next wed. I'd love to see some pictures of your Incra fence attached to the sawstop when you have a chance.
Have fun!
Rick
Rick,
My local supplier has a 5 hp in stock. I just need the time to go over there and make the purchase. They have even offered to demonstrate one while I'm there.
I was going to buy one from my closest franchise store (I'm sure you can figure out which one.), but all they would do for me was load it on my vehicle. I don't have a vehicle that would carry the saw, so I'd have to rent one of ask my friend, who lives two hours away (with no traffic-three hours with traffic) to help me with his truck. Of course he'd have to empty out all the equipment and stock for his vending business and put it all back too.
The tool supplier I'm going with, Eagle Tools in Los Angeles, is going to uncrate the saw, mount it on a mobile base (that I'm buying from them), check all tolerances, mount the pigtail (cord) that I have for the saw, start it up and check everything while it's running, load it on a truck with a liftgate, ship it to my house and roll it into my garage. The only extra I have to pay is $50 for the home delivery by a truck with a liftgate.
I fully understand your reluctance to use the old saw. My reasoning isn't just that I don't feel as safe with the sawl; I have so much trouble making an accurate cut. Yes, I have been somewhat successful with my old Craftsman, but I actually hate using it. I've decided to donate it to Habitat for Humanity if I can arrrange for them to pick it up when I'm available. I saw a post from someone else who did the same thing. I guess I could get $100 for it, but I'd rather have it go to a good cause. It would be fine on a job site. That's what saws like it were designed for.
Please let us all know when your SawStop arrives and how well you like it. Congratulations on your new saw.
Wow...that's a great setup you have for delivery. I had to go the more traditional route and have it drop shipped directly from Sawstop (which costs a bit) using a liftgate truck. I also am probably going to have to hire out a bunch of steroid-using umpah loompahs to manhandle the thing into position. Wish I lived close to Eagle tools. I'll post some pictures provided I don't electrocute myself wiring the thing...(lol).
TG, so ya want a drill press, I have a Roybi 10" aka TTI the oem, aka Sears, that does my very fine stuff but not more than 1/4" in wood or soft metals. The gorilla is a bench top Walker Turner (circa 1920) with monster SKF bearings for the automotive hard core drilling.
The beauty in the crowd is the Rigid that I picked up for $215 as home despot dumped it's floor models in the north east (you need to agressively check your area) , it has a flat ribbed three pully system and a good motor and the fit and finish is very good. Oh I had to spend about $15 for he missing chuck key and little yellow switch keys. boo hoo, I did great . All the best, Paddy
Dear Tools,
I have the Jet 16". I can't say that it stellar, but it has a built in light that I like quite a bit and overall it is a good, solid tool. I would buy it again.
Best,
John
Thanks everyone. I think I'm going to get the Ridgid. I'll be using it for mostly woodworking so from what you all have said it should be fine.
I recently was faced with the same question, and had sort of decided on the Delta, even though the reviews are pretty mediocre. Some say they are coming back, others say they wouldn't go near a Delta tool. I used to own several of them, and had (HAD) nothing bad to say about any of them.
So off to the Tool guy i go (local industrial sales company catering to wood workers) which advertises they sell Delta. I walk in and say i want to see a Delta floor model drill press, and the guy says we threw them out of here. They held on to the service business for a while, and said that is now getting so bad (with the merger with Black and Decker, i think) that they just have given up.
I bought a General International 75-200 RC Drill Press for $449.00. I believe it lists for aorund $480 or so. So far i could not be happier with the tool. All the fit and assembly were good; the unit is heavy as hell and appears made to last; there are NO rattles or vibrations; and the work that it does seems very accurate and fine. The only shortcoming which i have noticed is that you can't lower the chuck and then lock it in the lowered position--rather you have to bring the table up to the chuck if you were, for instance, using sanding drums and needed the chuck in the same position for long periods of time.
Never owned a piece of General equipment before. So far i am very pleased with the purchase. I stretched my budget, but that always seems to be the right thing to do--buy a little bit better quality and sturdier machine, and you will soon forget that you spent a few extra dollars. In fact, i have found that you usually are pleased that you did.
VJK,
Thanks for the input. I've read some good things about the General machines. Stretching one's budget seems to often be the way to go. Congratulations on your new drill press.
"we threw them out of here" "service business ... is now getting so bad"You have to wonder: was the that real reason? Is it because Lowe's can undercut his price or what he claims. Time will tell. I hope for the former because I have several Delta items with which I am quite pleased. I also have items from the other labels now combined under B&D with which I am pleased. My fingers are crossed.Cadiddlehopper
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