Drill press recommendations?

**hdrider_chgo** · 08-21-2011, 02:35 PM

I'm looking for a drill press. Floor model, nothing too elaborate, for drilling mostly light metal and some wood.

Thinking of just ordering something from Grizzley, since I've had good luck in the past, and they can have heavy iron on my dock in 4 days.

Any advice?

**Chuck Kiser** · 08-21-2011, 03:29 PM

Prior to my move back to Chicago I had a Grizzly floor model drill press. It was a good value and worked as advertised. My advantage was I picked it up myself in WA. I know some people have had trouble with damage during shipment, but the Grizzly folks always took care of them.

**David Meiland** · 08-21-2011, 04:39 PM

I have a 20" Grizzly. It's an OK machine for a good price with some annoying minor issues, but the only better move would be to buy an old Delta or similar, for which you have to go shopping in person. Mine needed a new motor right out of the box, which they sent me at no charge after I complained.

**GregBradley** · 08-22-2011, 01:12 PM

For a low end floor model it is hard to beat the Rigid 15" that many of the HD stores keep putting in stock and then when they don't sell, blowing them out at $225-250. Designed mostly for metal work but OK for some wood work particually if you add a drill press table. The Lowes stores have the Porter Cable one for $299, which is complete crap, just horrible.

The Delta 17-950 is a step up and can be found on sale at around $375. I have two in a semi-production shop. They are OK, not any better than OK for that price.

The Delta 17-959L is a BIG step up in every way from all Delta models below it. I have one in my hobby shop and am very happy with it. It has a much better table for woodworking. They can be found on sale lately for around $475 as they are being replaced by the new 18-900L.

After being happy with the Powermatic equip in our shop, I originally bought the PM2800 drill press for my hobby shop. I returned it for the 17-959L. How Powermatic can make great equipment like our wide belt sander and crap like that drill press amazes me.

You asked for advice - The one thing that is most important on a low end drill press is that you look at the ACTUAL MACHINE you are buying and check quill play, runout, and how well the table mechanism works. Check running vibration. All this Chinese crap varies a bunch from unit to unit which would scare me to buy mail order.

Used American made stuff is great if you can find it. I have a Delta 17" Production Drill press that has been in constant use for 25 years and it just works.

**Tom Bainbridge** · 08-22-2011, 02:13 PM

another view

ive had a pillar drill (drill press) for nearly 10 years

and i still cant find ANYTHING i cant do by hand, quicker or just as accurate

to my eyes a drill press is a waste of money

**SteveC** · 08-23-2011, 05:41 AM

I bought a Rigid for the occasional use. In the research I did prior, Steel City was what showed as the model of choice for everyday shop use.
http://www.steelcitytoolworks.com/pr...y=4&tool=20520

**JulianTracy** · 08-23-2011, 07:14 AM

A drill press is like a boat. You'd have to be crazy to buy one new.

Around here at least, they're on Craigslist every day of the week for $100-250 for nice heavy duty models.

As for doing just as good handheld - that's a joke! Try a 5/8 drill in metal plate, or for that matter even large forstner bit holes in hardwood...

I'd not be without one.

JT

**Spike!** · 08-23-2011, 09:56 AM

New...I would get the Canadian made General. Used...I would look for an old Atlas.

**texastutt** · 08-23-2011, 11:28 AM

And the Generals are now offshore FYI... it's General International.
But the used Generals are amazing I've only used one not owned one. Night and day between the "grizzly" and an old General.

**gburnet** · 08-23-2011, 07:00 PM

Originally Posted by texastutt

And the Generals are now offshore FYI... it's General International.

Not all. General International is the line of Chiawanese imports. General also still makes some of their line in Canada. Look for the maple leaf...http://www.general.ca/site_general/g..._drill_en.html

**hdrider_chgo** · 08-23-2011, 09:10 PM

So I checked Craigs list this morning and found a guy 5 minutes from my shop that has a stack of 15" Palmgren drill presses still in the boxes. (Palmgren is an old Chicago machine tool company who now outsources their work to China). http://www.palmgren.com/
They are also rumored to be the guys who supply the Dayton brand for Grainger.

He's selling them out of a back alley warehouse for $275, and claims to be a liquidator who bought the inventory of a distributor that went under. (But this being Chicago, who knows where the stuff came from.)

Anyway, he took $270, since neither of us could break a 10-spot, and I had the thing back to my shop and set up in an hour. Seems fine.

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