Line Boring machine selection

[James Biddle]

Well, I've used a friend's Delta Line Boring machine often enough to justify buying one of my own. These are the ones I found so far that are listed for under $3k, the maximum budget. Anyone have experience with any of these or know of one I should add to the list (while staying on budget)?
Delta #32-325 http://www.deltamachinery.com/index.asp?e=136&p=993
Lobo #BR-21VME http://www.lobomachine.com/products_detail.asp?id=452
Detel #M-13 http://www.adwood.com/machinery/boring.html
Ritter #R-113 http://www.rittermfg.com/r-113.html
Conquest #1-13 http://www.conquestind.com/woodWorking/1-13Drill.asp
Toola #PSL-13 http://toolawoodworking.com/PSL13.html

[Nancy Laird]

James, we have the Delta machine and really like it. We haven't used any of the others, so can't compare. The only thing we don't like is that the bits are very pricey!!!! They don't come in sets--they are individually priced!!

Nancy

[Phil Pritchard]

I think if you restrict yourself to vertical machines you will be restricting your options. If you ara a professional woodworker I'd suggest taking a look at the horizontal/vertical borers we use in Europe, such as the Vitap, Maggi, SCM, Minimax, etc. Here is an example:

http://www.vitap.it/images/foratrici-artigianali/miniature-macchine.jpg

with your budget that may mean buying secondhand, but the dual position machines are considerably more versatile than the machines you have referred to

Scrit

[Jim Becker]

The MiniMax unit that Phil mentions is at:

http://www.minimax-usa.com/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=shop.flypage_norm&product_id=239&category_id=27&manufacturer_id=0&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

It's not inexpensive, but looks like a very nice machine.

http://www.minimax-usa.com/components/com_virtuemart/shop_image/product/82f8ea4585817fb772417159256be705.jpg

[Phil Pritchard]

The big advantage is that these Italian machines will drill vertically (upwards) as well as horizontally so dowelled carcasses are easily produced on them as well as line borings for shelves. Over here they start in at about $3500 new, although secondhand ones do come up quite often. They generally require compressed air and are three phase

Phil