Which Drill Press?

[BasementJunkie]

My wife is getting me a drill press this year, and I'm wondering which to get.

There's a 17" Delta floor model that seems good, has good reviews, and has a 1/2 HP motor.

Alternatively, Fine Woodworking had its 'best value' benchtop -- a Grizzly with a 3/4 HP motor.

Any recommendations? Pros/cons to each?

Thanks.

[dbhost]

1/2 HP for a floor model drill press is a bit low, but I guess not too far off...

The choice between benchtop, and floor model is up to whatever you want. Many owners of floor models mount up cabinets that stand on the foot of a floor model drill press anyway. I was heading out the door to grab a Ryobi 12" Benchtop DP when the deal on my floor model came up...

Honestly, if you are in a small shop, like a shed-shop, or a tight basement, single car garage type arrangement, I would say grab the benchtop unit. You can store stuff under it. A floor model is nice for capacity, but that 1/2 HP like I mentioned is kind of weak...

[LinuxRandal]

1/2 hp weak? Depends on the motor, as all motors aren't built alike. Plus you can find good used motors inexpensively, easier then converting a benchtop model to a floor model (not counting possible differences in quill travel).

Take a look at the benchtop model. Set up something its size and test what size projects you would work on (metal and wood), do the same for the floor model (shop location as well) and don't forget to look at the budget. With the downturn in the economy, CL has been picking up, you might even consider used (more bang for the buck).

[dbhost]

1/2 hp weak? Depends on the motor, as all motors aren't built alike. Plus you can find good used motors inexpensively, easier then converting a benchtop model to a floor model (not counting possible differences in quill travel).

Take a look at the benchtop model. Set up something its size and test what size projects you would work on (metal and wood), do the same for the floor model (shop location as well) and don't forget to look at the budget. With the downturn in the economy, CL has been picking up, you might even consider used (more bang for the buck).

This is quite true... And I am glad you mentioned quill travel. OP didn't give specific model numbers, so at this point we are taking a WAG on features as well... Both Grizzly, and Delta make some mighty fine equipment, as well as some stuff that they should be embarassed to sell...

[LarryG]

I agree (basically) with LR. Motor horsepower would likely be the least important spec to me in choosing a drill press. I don't even know what mine is, but I do know that having enough beans has never been a problem. I should probably qualify that by saying I use my DP almost exclusively for woodworking.

Mine happens to be a floor model, but I cannot recall a time when the vertical capacity of a benchtop would not have been sufficient. What I have found lacking is swing capacity (frequently) and quill travel (less often, but enough to be an annoyance). Those are the two specs I'd look at hardest. Next would be the ease of changing speeds. My DP has the kind of "variable speed" mechanism that involves physically moving the belts -- which means I end up not being as diligent about adjusting the speed to suit the bit type as I should. A true variable-speed control would be nice.

[Knottscott]

I've been really surprised by the quality and power of my 13" Harbor Freight 38142. It's powerful, has very low vibration, has good quill travel, very low runout, and is very stable at ~ 125#. No frills like lasers or lights but a solid basic drill press that I got on sale for $144. I realize that HF products tend to have more variability than some, but I bought it locally and had easy return options if it didn't work out. It ended up working out great, and has been a really nice upgrade from my little Griz 8". I chose the HF over the Delta, Ryobi, Hitachi, Craftsman, and Griz models.

[dbhost]

That HF is effectively the same head and table as my Northern Industrial DP, but my NI has the column assembly of the 43378-9VGA floor model.

Quill travel is pretty important, especially if you are through drilling large timbers such as 4x4s. For example, I have to actually raise the table on mine to go all the way through the 2x4s cross wise when I drill the axle holes for the toy cars I build... Not a big problem, but a little ackward.

[JR]

I have a small benchtop drill press, but would really like a floor-standing model. There have been a number of occasions when there simply was not enough room below the chuck to do the work I needed, such as when drilling in the end of a spindle. In those cases I have had to remove the whole assy from the base and twist it around so the base was not in the way of the material I was drilling.

If you have the space a floor model is preferable. As has been mentioned 1/2hp should not prove limiting for most woodworking tasks.

JR

[SARGE..g-47]

I have had a Rigid 15" for about 5 years and quite happy with it except... I occasinally need a longer quill travel. So.. that relates to a Steel City 17" with 6" quill travel and an industrial grade split head to adjust for slop on that long of quill travel down the road.

My next and probably last tool purchase will be the Steel City 17" to upgrade from the 15".

[BasementJunkie]

Thanks, all.

For reference, I'm looking at the Grizzly G7943 benchtop press or the Delta 17-950L floor model. Any specific experience with these or comparable models (in addition to what has already been posted) would be very helpful.

I'm inclined to get the Grizz, but the $77 shipping charge rubs me the wrong way -- anyone know if Grizzly ever does free shipping or if anyone else carries their stuff? I'm a bit in the sticks here (no HF, Woodcraft, etc nearby) so am pretty much stuck with the web.

[dbhost]

The info on the G7943 is as follows...

Specifications:
# Motor: 3/4 HP, 110V
# Overall height: 38"
# Spindle travel: 3-1/4"
# Number of speeds: 12
# Drill chuck: 1/8" - 5/8"
# Spindle taper: MT #2
# Range of speeds: 140, 260, 320, 380, 480, 540, 980, 1160, 1510, 1650, 2180, 3050 RPM
# Swing: 14"
# Drilling capacity: 3/4" steel
# Table: Precision ground cast iron
# Table tilts: 90° in both directions
# Table swing: 360°
# Approx. shipping weight: 160 lbs.

The details on the 70-950L are as follows.

# Motor: 3/4 HP, 120V, 1 Phase, 60 Hz, 1,720 RPM
# Motor Control: On/Off Toggle
# Speeds: 12 (250; 360; 410; 540; 590; 650; 1,090; 1,280; 1,450; 1,820; 2,180; 3,000 RPM)
# Table Size: 18" x 14 "
# Table Tilt: L & R: 0-90°; Forward: 0-45
# Table Insert: 3-3/4" x 3-3/4"
# Column Diameter: 3.15 "
# Spindle Taper: #2 Morse Taper
# Chuck Taper: Jacobs 3
# Quill Diameter: 2 "
# Quill Stroke: 3-7/8 "
# Key Chuck Capacity: 5/8 "
# Chuck to Table Capacity: 27 "
# Chuck to Base Capacity: 47 "
# Height: 66 "
# Width: 12.75 "
# Depth: 25.25 "
# Weight: 194 lbs
# Shipping Weight: 209 lbs

With the addtional capacity of the 70-950L, the table that simply needs a fence to be useful, and a matching HP motor, not to mention the full 3-7/8" quill travel compared to the 3-1/4" of the Grizz, hands down, if you can afford the Delta, GET IT... Knowing the model makes a BUNCH of difference!

[BasementJunkie]

Are you saying I should get the Delta AND change out the motor? I'd rather avoid that -- if I get the Delta, I don't want to spend much additional $$.

Someone else mentioned used -- any good sources other than Craigslist?

[dbhost]

No, I'm saying the Delta model # you gave me has a 3/4 HP motor, not a 1/2HP. Delta Product Page for the 17-950L

Click on Specifications, and read down. It's a 3/4 HP DP...

You might want to call Delta and find out for sure. Their web site lists teh 17-950L as having a 3/4HP motor, but the online retailers I can find that list power, list it as 3/4HP, but they also all point to the Amazon.com reviews for this DP, I am thinking they are Amazon affiliates using an Amazon typo...

[herb fellows]

I hear you about the $77 shipping. Somebody on bt3 said that grizzly is willing to work with you regarding live.com.
If you could get 30% off the price, would that make it work for you?

I guess you would just contact them and ask them to put it on ebay as a buy it now deal?

[Larryl]

I have the 17" Delta and have not found it wanting for power or quill travel(yet). While I can't tell you the run-out it will drill a hole from both sides of a board and leave a smooth hole. I chose it over several others because of the table, I do wood work almost exclusively and it is rectangular with built-in T-tracks for hold downs, replaceable inserts, and large size compared to the round metal-working tables. Picture in this post.

http://www.bt3central.com/showthread.php?t=42222