HF Drill press

[Ian57]

What are peoples opinion of these two drill prersses fron HF
http://www.harborfreight.com/12-spee...ess-44836.html and http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-d...ess-38144.html
cheers
Ian

[LCHIEN]

i have no first hand knowledge of fit finish, quality, etc. either of those models. However I do have three drill presses in my history and since these are two very different sizes, i can offer comparative views of specs for woodworking.

A 10" benchtop drill press will be too limiting. You can drill 5" from the edge of your work due to the 10" swing and the stroke is only 2-3/8 (not much). Lowest speed is 250 RPM

The 13-1/2" DP is standing, allowing you to drill the end of longer pieces. You can drill only 6-3/4" from the edge of your workpiece. THe spindle stroke is a bare 3-1/8" and the lowest speed is 220 RPM. It costs almost twice what the benchtop unit costs.

From my experience with woodworking, I have a 15" DP. Its stroke is 3.5" and I often wish it were more (drilling concentric holes through large stackups). It will drill to 7.5" from the edge of the workpiece and I guess that's adequate for 95% of the work I do. (have to use a hand-drill for the rest). Low speed is around 250 RPM, check to see if the low speed of your DP will allow use of larger forstner bits (150-300 RPM ranges for forstner bits to 2 or 3")

Don't forget, you will probably want to build or buy a woodworking table top to mount on these drill presses.

good luck

[greenacres2]

If you've got time to be patient, this is a tool where Craigslist could be your friend. It took a few months, but i ended up with a 13" benchtop for $60 or so. Heavy duty, induction motor, more torque than i'll ever need. Built a small but beefy stand and a table (from a plan/hardware kit that Peachtree had a deal on). Total invested about $110 with the table. Machine was used for sure, and she's not pretty, but i get zero run-out. Pics are on here somewhere...i'll try to find the thread.

In shopping the used market, take a 1/4" and 3/8" bit that you know to be straight, and a scrap of hardwood 1 1/2" to 2" thick along with your HF digital calipers. Two holes will make you decision to walk easily away from some worn machines.

earl

[greenacres2]

Drill press stands/tables thread:
http://www.bt3central.com/showthread...ll+press+table

[Knottscott]

I've got the 38142, which is the benchtop version of the floor standing 38144 you linked. I've been surprisingly happy with it....it's smooth, quiet, powerful, has reasonable quill travel, very low vibration or runout, is heavy, stable, and was $144 on sale.

[Lonnie in Orlando]

Ian -

My advice is to go for a floor standing drill press.

My floor standing drill press takes up less room than a bench model. It's on a mobile base, so it can me rolled out of the way - althought I never move it. The bench model will take up a lot of valuable space on your bench - or you will need to build a mobile cart for it which will probably take up more floor space than my floor model.

I have the #43389 17" HF 16-spd 1HP DP. I bought it over ten years ago for $179 on sale. The same DP is now $399 everyday, and currently $369 on sale. The quill stroke is about 3-1/2" although the website incorrectly states that it is only 2-3/4". A longer stroke would be good, but the 3-1/2" stroke hasn't hindered me. The 17" swing has come in handy. I use it on just about every project and am pleased with it.

FYI - I attached a 17" X 23" table of two laminated pieces of 3/4" plywood to the round DP table. Replacable center. My fence is a jointed 2X4 with two toggle clamps on top. It is held to the table by two bar clamps. Easy and works for me.

EDIT: Forgot to mention ... buy it from a Harbor Freight store, not on-line. HF QC is not the best. If you need to take it back, packing it up for shipment will be a bear. Tossing into the trunk and driving to the store is easy. Exchange and replacement policy is good at HF.

- Lonnie