Replies

1. 
   BenA | Jul 23, 2005 08:50pm | #1

   Marty:

    

   Jet makes some pretty good drill presses. The have all different versions , but the most popular is the 16 1/2" floor model list price is around $490 , but you'll probably get a discount when you ask for a price. good luck. See link below.

   http://www.wmhtoolgroup.com/index.cfm?area=shop&action=detail&iid=11025

2. 
   DrChops | Jul 23, 2005 10:47pm | #2

   hi marty,
   you didn't say what your intended use is, but i use mine for woodworking. i have a delta 17-968 which i'm very happy with. it's a 3/4 hp variable-speed model (induction motor, 200-2500 rpm), and came with a task lamp and a tool tray. i bought mine at (my local) woodcraft for $400.

   jet makes a 3/4 hp step-pulley model (JDP-17MF) which is also about $400. ridgid makes a 1/2 hp 15" model (DP1550). i didn't look at craftsman when i was buying. sturdiness for me was a big deal: my shop is in the garage, and i was not going to sink bolts into the concete floor. so, the 230 lb weight of the delta was a plus for keeping it stable during use. (i've since built a mobile base for the DP and it's bolted to that. the whole thing is very stable in use, but seems a bit "tippy" when moving it around.) the delta and jet had longer spindle travel and another 1/4 hp, so i ruled out the ridgid. i bought the delta because it seemed sturdier (50 lbs heavier than the jet), and i prefer variable speed control to step-pulley adjustments.

   incidently, my local woodcraft is having a 10% anniversary sale on the 28th which would apply to the delta or jet. perhaps other woodcraft stores are as well...?

   happy hunting,
   bert

   if it's worth doing at all, then it's worth doing well.
1. 
   Marty | Jul 24, 2005 01:56am | #3

   Hi Bert.  I will use mine mostly for woodworking though I am just beginning.  I will be putting it in the shop I am building in the basement so mobility is not as great an issue.  I saw a Rigid floor model, 3/4 hp, 16 1/2inches, that was well-rated and the warranty is interesting. I'll check that out.  Have you heard about it? 

   Thank you for the information Bert

   Marty  

1. 
   DrChops | Jul 24, 2005 10:31pm | #4

   hi marty,
   the only ridgid DP i've seen is the 15 1/2". i did a little looking around on ridgid's web forums and product site, but couldn't find anything. is it new? perhaps they're introducing it later this week at AWFS? if you get a look at one, i'm interested to hear what you find.
   cheers,
   bert
   if it's worth doing at all, then it's worth doing well.

3. 
   MichaelPB | Jul 26, 2005 07:56am | #5

   Most woodworkers barely use a drill press but for me and the work I do, it is one of the most used machines in my shop.

   I would never again own a drill press that doesn't have a quill lock.  Most of those available today don't have one, most floor Deltas do, I think Generals do but most others dont.  What a quill lock does is allow you to lock the quill in some extended position.  The most common use for this is to have a sharp pointer in your chuck and be manuvering the board so your X is directly under the pointer before locking it down to drill.  Imagine trying to do that with the pointer 2 or 3 inches from the X!

   A genuine depth gauge on the side, not one of those pointless round ones but an honest to god depth rod.  I use that all the time to get duplicate depths on boards that vary in thickness.  You run a forstner bit down till the outside teeth are even with the top of the board, run the depth nut up 1/3 inch or whatever and drill your hole.  You can't do that with one of those stupid round ones

   Another thing, here is an easy test for quality.  While you can tilt the table left and right, you can't tip it forward and backward, it has to be bored correctly from the factory.  Take a coat hanger and make a "Z" with a piece of wire with one leg in the chuck and the other leg bent out so it reaches just inside the outside rim of the table.  Now, rotate by HAND the quill and tilt the table to the wire touches equally all the way around.  Get the left and right close but REALLY watch the front and back.  If it touches in one but not the other you can't fix or adjust that.  Whatever amount it is off will be drilled into every hole you make with it.

   Another thing to think about is how much travel there is.  I switch from short/tiny drills to big ones and since the length is different I need a fair amount of quill travel to make that work.  The Delta I have has more than most 4 5/8ths some have 3 1/2 which means you can't use differnt length drills all that well.  As soon as I can afford it I am going to get the BIG Delta with 6" because those inches really make a difference.

   I use a small milling table on my Delta drill press and do all sorts of neat stuff with it but again, it isn't how most woodworkers use a drill press.

4. 
   LarryN | Aug 06, 2005 06:03am | #6

   Marty, I have an older Delta Benchtop and I have been seriously considering the Wilke for $299. http://www.wilkemach.com

5. 
   Walker1 | Aug 06, 2005 06:35am | #7

   Hi Marty,  I have a General International 1hp, 17in. floor model#75-200RC M1.

             It's a well built machine, with all the features you could want. This model has been around awhile, no bugs, no surprises.  A real workhorse, and you can't go wrong dealing with General.   Model #75-200RC M1

             Good Luck.                               Walker1 

1. 
   steelhead | Aug 07, 2005 09:04pm | #8

   Walker1,

   Love my Delta 17-965: almost 5" of quill travel, 16 speeds, 3/4 HP and can be found for about $350 if you shop smart... Delta also sells an almost identical machine with 12 speeds that typically retails for about $25-50 less if price is your primary deciding factor.

   Jet sells a similar 16 1/2" machine, but the depth stop is set so close to the head of the machine that all three that I looked at had damaged threads and jammed stop collars.

   I've seen the specs on a Griz that also looks impressive, but have no experience or know anyone with their equipment, though they usually receive high marks for customer service.

   Hope this helps.

   Steelhead