Replies

1. 
   Mike&L | Sep 18, 2006 05:20pm | #1

   Hi,

   I'm not that happy with the new Craftsman drill press that I bought earlier this year.  It has lots of quality issues.

   Mike D

   If my hands were only as smart as my head.
1. 
   Mike&L | Sep 18, 2006 05:34pm | #2

   Actually, as I think about this, you might want to consider finding a used unit that you can run before you buy.

   Because so many of the major manufacturer's tools are now made in China, the quality control is not even, which typical of new industry - they'll get that straightened out eventually.  But until they do, I don't think that we can depend too much on the tool reviews, because.... while the tool that they review may be near perfect, the one that we get may well not be. 

   A case in point is the new Rigid bandsaw that I recently purchased.  Got a great review in Fine Woodworking, and it has nice features.  But the one that I purchased had a raft of quality problems.  I've sorted those out, and I enjoyed doing it, but you may not have that kind of patience.  Basically, the main problem with the unit that I bought was out-of-round sheaves (pulleys to you and me), and a low quality drive belt.  It also shipped with a blade welded at an angle rather than straight, and out-of-balance upper and lower blade wheels.  Oh yes, and an amazing amount of slop in the upper and lower blade guide mechanisms. 

   All was fixable, but gee whiz!  And the unit doesn't come with a rip fence - that's a hard to find extra.

   Bottom line is that I should have been patient and waited for a good used Jet or Delta to show up on the local market, or purchased the floor model at the local Woodcraft store (assuming that they would sell me the floor model).

   Mike DIf my hands were only as smart as my head.

2. 
   cadiddlehopper | Sep 19, 2006 03:55am | #3

   Go to Lowe's & take a look at Delta 17-950. Table tilt is 90 degrees to all the others, tilts on trunnions, & table is larger. It made me wish I had not just bought a 17-965 at a bargain though it is a larger unit. Sigh!!

   Cadiddlehopper

3. 
   JMartinsky | Sep 20, 2006 01:51am | #4

   I have a Jet 16" floor model, that works well. Simple, reliable belt drive, smooth, quiet operation, and best of all............. a built in light!

   John