Drill Press Selection Help

[Cubsfan]

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of space or money for tools right now, but I am going to need a drill press pretty soon. I'm thinking that a bench top model will probably be what I'll need to get, and I've come up with these three models:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38119 For $64
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44836 for $87
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921914000P for $110

(all new in box)

Any thoughts on these, or maybe another model that's around the same prices that would be better?

Thanks for the help!

[Charlie]

Deleted by me.

[toolguy1000]

+1 on the CL or craftsman suggestion.

[pbui3057]

Unfortunately I don't have a lot of space or money for tools right now, but I am going to need a drill press pretty soon. I'm thinking that a bench top model will probably be what I'll need to get, and I've come up with these three models:

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38119 For $64
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=44836 for $87
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921914000P for $110

(all new in box)

Any thoughts on these, or maybe another model that's around the same prices that would be better?

Thanks for the help!

How are you getting those drill presses for so cheap? The crafstman link showed it as $199. I have the 12 speed from HF. If I were to do it over, I would get this one I think

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38142

Longer stroke, more power. There's nothing wrong with the one I bought. It works fine and drills a round hole.

[pacwind3]

I looked at the craftsman display at my local sears and it had some broken parts. That kind of turned me off to it, however I have the 12" Ryobi I bought for around the same price as the craftsman and I have no regrets with it. I've even used the lasers on it and they are a nice feature. They took only minor adjusting and then they stay true. The belt-less speed adjustment is also REALLY nice!

[Cubsfan]

How are you getting those drill presses for so cheap? The crafstman link showed it as $199. I have the 12 speed from HF. If I were to do it over, I would get this one I think

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=38142

Longer stroke, more power. There's nothing wrong with the one I bought. It works fine and drills a round hole.

HF always has 20% off coupons floating around (I think there's one in one of the recent Wood Magazines), and the Sears outlet near me has one of the Craftsman ones for $110.

Right now I'm leaning toward the Craftsman one. I've been watching CL for a little while, but unfortunately all of them I've seen are either junk or way too big/expensive for what I need. And I think I'll need one in the next week or so to not be stalled on my projects.

Anyone have any opinions on the Craftsman@$110 vs. the Ryobi@$170?
http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...5X-_-100497932

Thanks for the help!

[LCHIEN]

maybe i use mine differently but I"m always wishing i had more spindle travel.
Some of these have s.t. listed as small as 2" for the small HF to 3.125 for the Ryobi and C'man doesn't list at all (poor ad).

Even in a benchtop you need at least 12" swing and 3-1/2 to 4" spindle travel - an 12 speeds is nicer than 5 for sure; down to 250 RPM is nice for some larger bits.

[JR]

I have a small shop, too, and have been using a very small benchtop drill press for nearly ten years. I think it was the fourth stationary tool I bought, after TS, router, and MS. You absolutely need a drill press.

Having said that, I really wish I had a floor-standing model. I covet the qull travel, as mentioned by Loring. I also find that I periodically want to drill a hole in the end of a leg or on the edge of a panel which is very difficult to set up with a bench top model.

JR

[Charlie]

Deleted by me.

[LCHIEN]

The distance fro the center of the chuck to the column edge is important. That is related to the measurement they always give, i.e. 12" drill press. The 12" is called the "swing" and its twice the distance from the center of the chuck to the edge of the column. This 2X factor may seem weird but the swing number 12" is the size of an circle or short side of a rectangular object you can drill to the center of. E.g what it really means is that you can drill any place in a 12" object.

As for drilling longer or taller objects on a benchtop DP, if you mount it on the side of a bench or a sturdy base, and fasten or clamp the DP to the base, then you can swing the head to the side (usually one set screw releases this from the column) and you can partially swing the table to the side and arrange a double right angle clamp from the edge of the table with the end of the item being drilled extending down towards the floor.

[Charlie]

Deleted by me.