Hey Everyone,
I have a Harbor Freight floor drill press (1 HP, 16 speed version) that is about 20 years old. It gets moderate use- mix of DIY projects, woodworking, little bit of crude machining. Has developed significant play in the quill- pretty certain the casting has gotten enlarged through use, bearings still fine.
I always prefer to repair things but this press is pretty old now- hate to fix one problem just to have another pop up shortly. Seems like drilling & tapping for set screws front and side would be the way to do that. Certainly I can handle that.
New one would be ~$320. I'd actually step up to the 1.5 HP unit for $475, which could handle the machining type stuff better.
Advice? Experience?
Can't complain on the unit for what I paid. Sell it on Craigslist with full disclosure I'd still likely get $100+ for it. Just afraid the motor could go before long.