Drill Press saga ends PICS

[Randy Gillard]

Returned the Ridgid, and found the original model of Delta I was looking for in stock in Calgary (the model 17-965). As you may recall, I looked at the newer model 17-970, which appears identical, but was not impressed. Lots of play in the quill and vibrated like hell.
I found the 17-965 in stock at Calgary Fasteners. They assembled the machine so that I could look it over. I took it home and set it up. It vibrated a bit, and made this weird clankety clank sound. Turns out the bumpy belts were creating a pulsating torque that excited the backlash in the chuck, making it clank back and forth. The link belts solved that, and the vibration. The plastic cover buzzed a bit, but I jammed a piece of plastic between it and the housing, and it stopped buzzing.
There is no detectable play in the quill throughout it's stroke. Lots of power and heavily built. Great drill press, highly recommended.
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[glenn bradley]

Very cool! I'm jealous. My baby Delta DP is being worked to death. Come-on tax return!!!

[Allen Bookout]

Randy,

Congratulations! I think that you made a good choice. Of course I do as I made the same decision a few months ago and am happy with the machine.

I must have lucked out on the belts as I had no vibration with mine. May be I will later on when the belts have some sitting time. If I do I will just change to link belts like you did.

Allen

[Frank Chaffee]

Randy,
So good to see that you found a drill press with more quill travel.

Your table, plywood base, and folding extension are waay good too!

Good move to install the link belt.

One thing that I caution you about tho, is the flex on that depth stop (same as on mine), which flexes and so precludes accurate repeatable drilling to <1/32”.

Soon as I get a welding mach, I will either gusset that angle or fabricate a new part and replace the cheep screw/sliding nut with a better one.

This until I get a Bridgeport vertical mill.

Frank

[Bruce Page]

Congrats Randy, that looks like a great Drill Press. 4 7/8" quill travel is a bunch, just shy of the 5" on my milling machine!