DELTA DP300L bench drill press??

[steve-u]

Anyone have any thoughts on the DELTA DP300L 5 speed 12 " drill press or own one and wish to comment.

Right now I can by one at Lowes for $127.17 during their power tool sale and after $25 mail in for gift card. Seems like a nice drill press for my very modest needs and a step above the $50 bench types. The HF 16 speed bench drill press looks nice for not a whole lot more but it is heavier and taller than what I am looking for. Thanks for any comments.

Steve

http://www.amazon.com/DELTA-DP300L-1...5560025&sr=1-4

[gsmittle]

I got this DP for Christmas. So far, I'm very pleased. Of course, this is my first DP.

[LCHIEN]

that's a decent drill press, I had the Pre-shopmaster model 19?-990
The shopmaster revision added a tray, laser and light.
Good deal for $127

[timb]

My "local" Lowes has it for $152. What is the $25 mail in gift certificate of which you speak?

A DP would come in handy right now so many one of these want to be mine. Looks better than the equivlent 12 in craftsman particulary for this price.

One thing I'm confused about. What does the 12inches measument refere to? The max vertical travel of the bit or the distance between the center of the bit and the rear supporting column. Both measurements seem interesting to me with the 2nd being perhaps more interesting.

Tim

[mikeg]

Well Tim, you're in luck then because that's what the 12" means. The travel of the quill is usually about 3" on a drill press of that size.

mikeg

[LCHIEN]

Real DP specs

Well Tim, you're in luck then because that's what the 12" means. The travel of the quill is usually about 3" on a drill press of that size.

mikeg

the DP300L has a 2-3/8" Quill travel., or "Stroke"

Also, 12" on this drill press is the "Swing" and that is TWICE the distance from the Column to the bit center.
OR to put it another way, you can drill anywhere in a piece 12" in diameter.
You can only drill 6" from the edge of any piece.

[steve-u]

Thanks for the input gentlemen. Looks like I will be looking hard at purchasing a Delta DP300L. For Timb check the link below for the mail in rebate.

Thanks, Steve

http://www.lowes.com/lowes2/Promos/s...=550&lks=tla15

[gwyneth]

that's a decent drill press, I had the Pre-shopmaster model 19?-990

That's the one I have, too.

Owning a drill press, in general, is something most people don't appreciate until they do--and then wonder why they didn't get one years ago.

Owning the Delta has been a joy. If it doesn't have a keyless chuck and you're not used to them any more, you might want to get or make a leash for the key, which sounds moronic until you misplace it the first time.

[LCHIEN]

That's the one I have, too.

Owning a drill press, in general, is something most people don't appreciate until they do--and then wonder why they didn't get one years ago.

Owning the Delta has been a joy. If it doesn't have a keyless chuck and you're not used to them any more, you might want to get or make a leash for the key, which sounds moronic until you misplace it the first time.

I think now that it was an 11-990.
Anyway, I have my chuck key attachedto one of those badge clips that has a spring loaded line retriever on it. Allows you to clip the badge to your belt or jacket but pulls out to allow you to swipe it thru a badge reader. Anyway I attach the clip to the shop just behind the DP, use the key and drop it, it pulls smoothly back to the clip, out of the way.
If you have one of those annoying spring loaded keys (safety feature, ejects the key to keep you from leaving it in the chuck and flinging it when you start the DP), you can now defeat this spring and allow the retriever to do the safe thing.

[sparkeyjames]

HF 13" drill press.

I have the 16 speed 13 inch HF drill press that has a 3.25 inch stroke. I have found that in the drilling dept it is very accurate. However the motor and pully system makes some vibration. Will be trying link belts to see if this helps. Everything else is very heavy duty save for the motor. Decent and smooth chuck though it is keyed. I got it on sale and had a 15% coupon and only paid $127. Don't forget to also take into account any guarantee that comes with the machine. HF has a one year guarantee but only if you want to ship a 125 pound drill press back to Cali so they can repair/replace it. Major brands such as Delta almost always have a better guarantee than HF.

sparkeyjames

[timb]

Well I decided to act on this deal and am now the pound owner of a DP300L. Went by Lowes on my way home. My wife could not have been more overjoyed at having this set of interesting smelling parts that is my newest prized possession decorating the front room.

Impressions so far:

1) Don't be fooled if the web site now says $179 where it said $152+ this morning but ceased to say that just as you were about to order it. The 15% power tool sale, if it applies in your area, is at the store and the discount is taken at the register. You have to do a store pickup to get the price so don't order it for pickup unless is says $152.
2) The drill looks to be fairly solidly constructed. I did note that the depth gauge scale is a bit minimalist and the pointer is set rather far away from such marks as there are. Not sure why they couldn't have put a more granular scale and made the pointer more effective. Can't think that would have added anything to the cost of manufacture. All riveted on so not a lead pipe cinch to change either but possible I suppose. What is a "lead pipe cinch" anway?.
3) A fair amount of assembly is required to transform this beast from a set of spare parts flying in box formation into the super hot drillin' machine with all the chicks in Harlem it surely is (to misquote the theme from Shaft).
4) All the listed parts were in the box and undamaged which the state of the box (it was the only one in evidence) did give me cause to worry.
5) Need to add your own bulb to the worklight. Says to use a 40X tracklight reflector. Looks like a standard size threaded socket but the bulb should short. An "appliance" bulb would fit - just as a reference.
6) The Dr. Suess style drill tray is kinda cute and even has sized holes in which you can store drill bits.
7) Laser takes a 9v battery - not included.
8) err.... that it! Have to wait to the weekend to see if it actually does something apart from stink up the front room with the glorious aroma of machine oil.

Probably should put it back in the box now and get it out the garage before the ire is invoked as it inevitably will be if this simple task goes overlooked for too long..

Tim

[LCHIEN]

TimB
surely you meant 40W tracklight reflector? These are miniature versions of the big flootlight/spotlights funnel shaped but with a wull size threaded base. The reflector should help put more light on the subject.

Is the depth gauge/stop the kind that's in the hub or has that changed. I prefer the hub mounted (which my older Delta 12" benchtop has) over the
threaded post mounted to the quill with a few nuts and a bracket on the pulley housing.

[timb]

yes tracklight bulb. Mentioned appliance bulb only as a size reference.

The depth guage is a hub which seems good. Just needs a better scale and pointer.

Also various sources including the sign at Lowes state it has a 1/3 hp motor but this is not stated in the manual, on the box or on the Delta website and I don't have a horse handy to compare so who knows.

Tim

[steve-u]

I just picked one up. I believe that it says 1/3 HP right on the motor. Keep in mind that not everyone rates their motors the same. I looked at the amps and it is rated 6.5 amps I believe which will make for some pretty good performance. I have not read or heard of anyone complaining about lack of power for the DP300L. There are some complaints [Amazon reviews]about their smallest BT drill press which I believe has a motor rated at 3.5 amps.

Steve

[timb]

Disapointment!

I now have DPD (Drill Press Disapointment). Got it all together yesterday and it seemed to be fine. Noticed a couple of minor things - poorey manufactured grub screw, slight dent in the front of the belt housing. the lam gooseneck is a bit droopy, but everthing seemed ok. laser works really well btw.

However tried a longer spade bit today and noticed a substantial wobble. Though it might be the bit but even with a small twist bit the is definately a detectable vibration in the chuck. Less so in the jaw housing but quite pronounced in the sleeve. I wondered if I had got some crud on the taper so I made a split wedge with my TS and took the chuck off No crud was evident but there was a detectable vibration in the spindle. The spindle pully seemed smooth enough though.

The wobble is not huge so I don't really know if it affects the accuracy that much but it's bothersome.

So the question

1. Anything I can do that is likely to fix this?
or
2. Anything I can do to evaulate if the wobble really matters?
or
3. Don't bother - Back to Lowes with it.

Thanks,
Tim