Drill press RPM

[Gregg Feldstone]

I have located a Wilton Model 2035 used DP with a single phase 1.5 hp Baldor motor. The entire unit was made in the USA. This model is a 20" variable speed unit which looks very similar to the current Jet model.
They are asking $1250 compared to the $2500 for a new Jet model ( made in Taiwan). I feel like it's a good deal except for one possible drawback; the variable speed range is 80-1200 rpm. I am concerned about the low top end speed. As woodworkers, what is your opinion about this? What type of operations does one need speeds >1200 rpm for? Thanks!!

[Tom Esh]

If it's in decent shape I'd jump on it. Personally I would find the ability to have choices below 500 rpm much more useful than 1200+. Those lower speeds are great for things like large forstners, circle cutters, or hole saws. My DP stays at 500rpm about 99% of the time. About the only time I ever use higher speeds is drilling a large number of small holes. Otherwise the benefit is rarely worth the trouble to change speeds. I think you'll find 1200 is plenty fast.

[Bruce Page]

I can't imagine why you would have to have >1200 rpm.

The old Wilton's were stout machines, and expensive.

[Van Huskey]

Tom hit the nail on the head, LOTS of small holes would be the only reason to go above 1200. I would much rather have a low range.

[glenn bradley]

+1, I'd take lower speeds over higher for my DP use any day.

[Jeff Duncan]

My first though is that's a heck of a lot of money for a used drill press, especially a slow one...but I'm not familiar with that model so maybe it has some special features you need?
Anyway my PM 1150 goes up to about 4000 rpm's though I rarely go above 1500 or so. My Craftsman goes up to about 8500 which seems a bit extreme, don't think I've ever taken it to over 2000 or so.
So I guess I could live without the higher speeds, though as a woodworker I don't need that much of a drill press. Both of my presses combined bought used were about half of the one your looking at.
good luck,
JeffD

[Marty Paulus]

Here is a drill speed chart. The top end of it is only 3000 RPM for small holes in hard materials. I would have to agree that I would rather have the low range over the high RPM.

http://www.raygirling.com/dpspeed.htm

[Mike OMelia]

I have a PowerMatic 2800 with variable speed control and seriously cannot remember going above 1200 rpm ever... even when I attach buffers to it! However, I can't go as low as that wilton which would be quite good for some metal applications.

Mike

[Howard Acheson]

Here is a downloadable Drill Press Speed Chart. You can look at it to see the recommendations for speeds.

http://images.meredith.com/wood/pdf/drill-press-speed-chart.pdf