Drill Press

[Erik Eitel]

I've seen some info on here and other forums regarding a good drill press.

Currently I'm leaning towards the Rigid 1550 from Home Depot. It's $279 plus I have a 10% coupon. So I'm looking at $250.

I've seen recommendations on here for the Central Machinery drill press from Harbor Freight.
Can anyone tell me which HF model they are recommending?
They sell three:.
43389-8VGA for $290 1 HP
43379-7VGA for $185 3/4 hp

The Rigid model is 1/2 HP.

I'm having a tough time comparing the three...

Any help??

Thanks!

[cabinetman]

Dollar for dollar, 3/4 hp is more than 1/2 hp. But, the thing to do is actually go look at them and see which one looks/feels better. Check out the specifications for each as to speeds, length of stroke, capacity (throat), and whether they are keyed or keyless.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[Erik Eitel]

I also just saw the Grizzly models. Any input on them?

[MilDoc]

Personally, I've used the Griz, the HF, and a Hitachi. I own the Ridgid. And would buy it again. Now, wish I had the bread (and still needed a DP) to get one of the newer "designed for woodworking" models.

[Erik Eitel]

Personally, I've used the Griz, the HF, and a Hitachi. I own the Ridgid. And would buy it again. Now, wish I had the bread (and still needed a DP) to get one of the newer "designed for woodworking" models.

Is the 3/4 HP motor vs the 1/2 HP motor a big enough advantage to make that a consideration?

Rigid also offers a 3 year warranty, Grizzly only offers 1 year, I don't know what the HF Central Machinery one is.

I'm leaning towards the Rigid. I am by no means a great woodworker, but it would be nice to have a decent tool for the money.

[WoodButcher26]

I bought my Griz in 1988, love it, would buy it again. Would highly recommend it to anyone.


kim

[SARGE..g-47]

I purchased a Ridge 1550 3 years ago just after they made some desing changes. The table was changed to promote clamping. Added a light. The stoke is pretty long and the chuck was good quality. I shopped the field and chose the Ridgid over the Jet and Delta as money was not a factor. I love the machine as it is geared to WW, IMO.

Don't worry about the 1/2 HP. What would you be doing to warrant having high horse power on a machine that basically drills very small holes in wood and metal? The 1/2 HP is fine as the drill press is a "finesse" machine as opposed to say a TS where more horse means thicker stock with less stress on the motor.

Good luck...

[MilDoc]

Is the 3/4 HP motor vs the 1/2 HP motor a big enough advantage to make that a consideration?

Nope. Not unless you plan to drill a lot of metal. My Ridgid does fine, even with 1.5" Forstner bits. Just pay attention to speed setting and take it slow.

When I bought mine Ridgid offered their "Limited Lifetime Warranty." Ask at BORG if still available.

[wardprobst]

I've got three Central Machinery drill presses- the baby, the bench radial and the floor radial. I am sold on radial presses and these are decent quality and good prices. I'd be sceptical of any hp ratings on cheap stuff- you can rate stuff by the peak produced right before ignition but that's not a useable figure. A true
1/2 horse motor is adequate for most shop tasks unless you are spinning hugh forstner or sawtooth bits.
DP

[Cheeky]

Rigid also offers a 3 year warranty, Grizzly only offers 1 year, I don't know what the HF Central Machinery one is.

I'm leaning towards the Rigid. I am by no means a great woodworker, but it would be nice to have a decent tool for the money.

The Ridgid has a 3 year warranty, as with all their power tools and pneumatics, h but if you register for Ridgid's Lifetime Service Agreement, you will receive free parts and service for the liftetime.

[cwsmith]

I looked at several different brands before I purchased my Ridgid 1550. Fit and finish on the Ridgid was better than anything else I saw within a couple hundred $. Good quality all the way around, excellent chuck, good quill travel, and steady column and base. No runout or slop in the quill either. One of the things that I noticed on some of the other price competitive DP's was that the "travel" wasn't smooth. Almost like the gears were deburred or something.

The Ridgid has a measuring hub (not sure if that's the right term), rather than the more "typical" stop rod, for quill travel. Personally I like the hub.

And as a previous post mentioned, its got a 90-day Satisfaction Guarantee, 3-year warranty, and (if you register the tool) a Limited LIfetime Service Agreement. That latter covers motors, bearings, switches, etc. (But you do need to take or send it to an authorized Ridgid Service Center.)

I hope this helps,

CWS

[sbs]

Can anyone tell me which HF model they are recommending?
They sell three:.
43389-8VGA for $290 1 HP
43379-7VGA for $185 3/4 hp

I have the 43389, based primarily on recommendations from this board. It can be had for about $145+tax when on sale + 20% off coupon. You won't find anything remotely comparable for the price.

[vaking]

To me the size, weight and how the press is built is more important than power rating. Drilling should not take much power. I have a 14" Jet floor model. Big and heavy and works well. My model was bought from Costco and it is a big press with only 1/3HP and so far I never felt shortage.
http://www.i-55.com/portiers/newmach...rillpress.html