Originally Posted by
Michael Schuch
I have a few drill presses. I use a 16.5" Delta variable speed drill press for woodworking. I guess it must just be the projects I make because I have never, in the past 40 years that I can remember, come across a situation where I said to myself "If I just had a radial arm drill press!"
I am probably as much of a machine junky as I am a woodworker and I am not saying that radial drills aren't cool. I just haven't found the situation I needed one. I have passed on a few decent deals because I just couldn't come up for any real need for one (which is VERY uncharacteristic of me!)
I do have a Walker Turner radial arm saw which uses the same base and arm as their impressive radial arm drill. With the arm retracted the base does have to sit a couple feet from the wall which does make it difficult to integrate with other machines.
So what are you guys working on where you really wished you had a radial arm drill press?
Michael
I tended to do projects that were more architectural, than small enough to pick up, before it got to be to much with a full time+ job. The ability to accurately locate and drill a hole in a larger field with repeatability of result, can make a project much easier. There have been times I have flipped my bench top upside down and mounted it to the ceiling over my work bench.It was very weird!!
A "standard" drill press is just inadequate in my opinion for wood working. Having only 3"-5" of capacity between the quill and post is way to limiting, as is the depth of quill throw. The biggest inhibiter though is speed, in rpm. Most drill presses are just too fast for woodworking. A drill press in woodworking needs to go below 100rpm.
If I'm drilling holes in material with a handheld drill, in the shop, it's because either my drill press is too limiting with respect to capacity, or the speed needs to be much slower. However, radial arm drill presses take up quite a bit of room, even the small bench top models.
"The first thing you need to know, will likely be the last thing you learn." (Unknown)