Need quality drill press advice
- Thread starter SOHCman
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Are you only looking at new drill presses? My first choice would be to watch Craigslist for some older Craftsman, Delta/Rockwell, Walker Turner, Atlas, Clausing, that era of machine. Then spend some time to clean it up, should last forever for your children.
Originally Posted by EdwardC
Are you only looking at new drill presses? My first choice would be to watch Craigslist for some older Craftsman, Delta/Rockwell, Walker Turner, Atlas, Clausing, that era of machine. Then spend some time to clean it up, should last forever for your children.
+1. Buy something made in America that is old. Just keep looking you will find it.
Are you only looking at new drill presses? My first choice would be to watch Craigslist for some older Craftsman, Delta/Rockwell, Walker Turner, Atlas, Clausing, that era of machine. Then spend some time to clean it up, should last forever for your children.
+1. Buy something made in America that is old. Just keep looking you will find it.
I have a Delta floor drill press my Dad got when I was young maybe 5 or 10. Its over 50 years old. The plug is not grounded thats how old it is. I will bet they are around.
You want to get an old or industrial one. The only problem is that old ones usually spin too fast for metal, and industrial ones have three phase motors and are mostly offshore anyway. Home DPs that could drill metal required rare auxiliary pulleys to reduce the RPM before they could do it with electronics.
Your best bet is to get it from an auction. I used to follow industrial auctions and there are a lot of good deals to be had on stationary power tools like that and not all of them are three phase and clapped out.
I got a mint King Seely Craftsman, but it is set up for wood and took years to find on Kijiji. I got it from a lovely old couple who were selling their entire basement woodshop. My plan was to fabricate the pulleys or get a VFD, but I lost a lot of my interest for big vintage tools.
Your best bet is to get it from an auction. I used to follow industrial auctions and there are a lot of good deals to be had on stationary power tools like that and not all of them are three phase and clapped out.
I got a mint King Seely Craftsman, but it is set up for wood and took years to find on Kijiji. I got it from a lovely old couple who were selling their entire basement woodshop. My plan was to fabricate the pulleys or get a VFD, but I lost a lot of my interest for big vintage tools.
There are no "new" quality drill presses. Auctions and sale ads/ebay is your best bet. Also the spindle speeds are too fast. I've seen all types of redneck ideals to slow down the drill press.
The best way is to use a DC motor from a treadmill.
Here is a video at an Auction, they couldn't give away the drill presses....
The best way is to use a DC motor from a treadmill.
Here is a video at an Auction, they couldn't give away the drill presses....
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Here is what I have. I bought it 15 years ago used I paid $70. I don't know how old it is but it's really heavy, like 75+ lbs. Heavy for a table top model.
It has adjustable speeds via the pulley choices so you can drill slower for metal.
EDIT: after looking at my pics, I see it's a 1985 model.
It's under my shed as I'm remodeling my garage.
It has adjustable speeds via the pulley choices so you can drill slower for metal.
EDIT: after looking at my pics, I see it's a 1985 model.
It's under my shed as I'm remodeling my garage.
Electro Mechano and Buffalo are two, but Electro may be out of business. It will probably be in the thousands if there are any. I have the Electro Mechano precision drill press. They were in business a few years ago, also made the Rusnok small milling machine. Can't find them now. We can't compete with near slave labor. Get a mint used one from other times when they all were made in USA or Europe.
A quality drill press is a machine that looks like a Bridgeport mill. I have always considered them a drill press.
How much are you looking to spend. USA made machinery is not home shop budget friendly.
https://www.clausing-industrial.com/detail.asp?p=D&l=CDP&m=CDP20#
https://www.kalamazoometalmuncher.com/product-category/machines/drill-presses/
http://www.ellissaw.com/drill-press-9400/
https://www.clausing-industrial.com/detail.asp?p=D&l=CDP&m=CDP20#
https://www.kalamazoometalmuncher.com/product-category/machines/drill-presses/
http://www.ellissaw.com/drill-press-9400/
Clausing and Kalamzoo Metal Munchers are the only ones that I know of that still builds some in the USA. All of the casting and machining are done in Cleveland and they get all of the precision work done back in Michigan. They will set you back about 5 to 7 THOUSAND. But those are made to made to last way longer then most other presses. The shop I work at has a few work stations that have a few of those Clausings and they run them hard 24 hours a day and 7 days a week with the only things ever done to them were preventative belt replacements.
That Ellis that Tom posted is about $3500 from ACME. According to a post on a different forum site, someone called up Ellis and discovered that all the parts came from overseas and it was only just assembled in the USA. Also the Chuck is not included as well
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/dake-vs-ellis-vs-jet-drill-presses-330240/
That Ellis that Tom posted is about $3500 from ACME. According to a post on a different forum site, someone called up Ellis and discovered that all the parts came from overseas and it was only just assembled in the USA. Also the Chuck is not included as well
https://www.practicalmachinist.com/vb/general/dake-vs-ellis-vs-jet-drill-presses-330240/
Wow, some great info here folks! And it looks like I need to hit the auctions or delve into research before spending that kind of money for new.
Great points about the need for slow speed when drilling metal also, a very important consideration.
Thanks!!
Great points about the need for slow speed when drilling metal also, a very important consideration.
Thanks!!
I sometimes get tired of hearing all the nonsense about needing to buy old.
No.
If you want to save a buck on a high quality press, okay then buy used.
Otherwise, drill presses are not some strange island where different rules apply. There are tons of decent presses available today new, as long as you don't pretend that you're going to get something just as good for 1/4th the price at Harbor Freight/etc.
Buying used, if you are willing to refurb, is a good way to save money and end up with a quality tool, but this is pretty much true of anything you can buy IN LIFE, that you merely need the skill to refurb whatever it is, be it a drill press, or a home, or a wife (lol).
No.
If you want to save a buck on a high quality press, okay then buy used.
Otherwise, drill presses are not some strange island where different rules apply. There are tons of decent presses available today new, as long as you don't pretend that you're going to get something just as good for 1/4th the price at Harbor Freight/etc.
Buying used, if you are willing to refurb, is a good way to save money and end up with a quality tool, but this is pretty much true of anything you can buy IN LIFE, that you merely need the skill to refurb whatever it is, be it a drill press, or a home, or a wife (lol).
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