I will add one other thing...a floor standing DP takes up a tiny amount of room and doesn't use any bench space...something to consider.
I will add one other thing...a floor standing DP takes up a tiny amount of room and doesn't use any bench space...something to consider.
--
The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
I thought about getting a small drill press, but then I realized they take up exactly the same amount of room as floor presses and they're less convenient. Footprint is all that matters when it comes to space, so a short machine with a big footprint is no better than a tall machine, and in order to use the small machine, you have to make a base for it or clutter your bench with it.
All drill bits make holes bigger than their nominal sizes. This is true even if you use them to drill metal in a rigid milling machine. Drill bits are not for making round precision holes. They make triangular holes which are pretty close to nominal. This is why reamers exist.
Depending on your drill press's design, it may be possible to correct runout. I bought an old Rockwell with a split-head design. If it starts to run out, you just tighten it up. You might be able to get a machinist to make a part for your machine to get it running true again.
Cry "Havoc," and let slip the dogs of bench.
I was socially distant before it was cool.
A little authority corrupts a lot.
Thanks guys!
Old drill press seems to be moving easily at that price, and I'll pickup something that better suits my needs
Edit.. SOLD last night at $250, so I guess I wasn't too far off with my guesstimate.
Last edited by Bob Riefer; 02-20-2021 at 10:12 AM.
- Bob R.
Collegeville PA (30 minutes west of Philly)
I was so excited to see people telling Bob he was pricing the drill press too high, I'm not that far from him and had visions of it next to my Walker Turner lathe. Alas, it was gone by the time I got to Craigslist. So, the search for a floor model Walker Turner drill press (with belt guard, am I asking too much?) continues. Congrats on sale.
Agree with Jim, floor model is much better use of space. I have 250 sq ft of floor space but only 25 sq ft of bench top. Floor space is much less valuable. And a floor model lets you drill the end of a spindle or lamp etc.
Speed changes are overrated. I drill everything at about 300 rpm. Think I may have changed it last year....no the year before.
But a good bench top sitting on a stout mobile cabinet adds a good bit of storage and uses no bench space. If the bench top's head can swivel you can swivel the head to the side of the cabinet and drill tall stuff. That arrangement might use more floor space due to the cabinet but you get storage a floor standing machine will not give you.
One thing no one has mentioned is more quill travel. Some presses have 6" of travel which can be useful for woodworking but probably not for $500.