I’m thinking of finally replacing my $99 Ryobi bench top drill press (which has really served me quite well) with a 17” floor drill press. I’ve done my homework and narrowed down the field to two. The models that I am considering are the Delta 17-965 and the Jet JDP-17MF. Both are $400 so cost is not a factor. They are pretty similar but there are some minor differences. The benefits of each that I see are:
Delta
Extra ½” of spindle travel (4 7/8” vs. 4 3/8”)
Higher Amp Motor (13.8 vs. 9) although both list as ¾ hp
Square table (14” square)
Jet
TEFC motor
Higher maximum speed (3600 rpm vs. 2700 rpm)
Round table (14” diameter)
Larger base
Built-in work light
There are other differences but they appear to be minor.
So…, I need your help. What am I missing in this comparison? For those of you who own either of these models, what are your thoughts and what has your experience been?
As usual, you folks are great and I thank you in advance for your input.