From: mastors@rmtc.Central.Sun.COM (Bob Mastors)
Subject: drill press (summary)
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Date: Tue, 18 Aug 92 19:44:15 GMT

This is a summary of responses I got to my questions
about drill presses.  The original message was:

> I am looking for some suggestions about drill presses.
> First the choices:
> 
> Delta 12" $189 bench mount
> Delta 14" $298 bench mount
> Delta 16 1/2" $389 floor
> 
> Delta 32" $279 bench mount - "radial drill press"
> 
> Woodtek 16 1/2" $369 floor
> Woodtek 21" $699 floor
> 	Woodtek is a Woodworkers Supply label, made in Taiwan.
> 	Both come with a free mortising attachment.
> 
> All of these are in the Woodworkers Supply (800 645-9292) catalog.
> 
> I am looking for suggestions as to why one drill press is
> better than another.

The following are the replys I received via email with names removed.
Thanks to all that replied.
I will probably get a 16 1/2" floor model drill press.
It is difficult to rationalize the extra money for the 21" floor model.
However I am going to watch the want-ads for a while in
the hopes of finding something bigger and heavier for the same price.

Bob

--------------------------------------------------------------
You wrote:
> I am looking for some suggestions about drill presses.
> First the choices:...

You should also check out:
	Powermatic Artisan 14" Bench mount
	Powermatic Artisan 14" Floor mount

	The Reliant drill presses
	The Grizzly drill presses
	
	The General drill press (a nice unit, 14" I think, made
	in Canada, but costs a tad more than the Woodtek 21").


> Delta 16 1/2" $389 floor

This is the one I have (Norm Abram has the same one also). It's at  
Home Depot for $318 (and has been for a while).

> I am looking for suggestions as to why one drill press is
> better than another for general woodworking stuff.

The big thing's, IMHO, are:
1) Accuracy & Quality
	How much runout is there in the quill/spindle? How concentric
	is the chuck? Can you adjust the table to be perpendicular to
	the bit easily?
	
2) Speeds
	Low speeds are important if you expect to drill big holes (or
	use a fly cutter). High speeds give you faster speed rates
	for the smaller bits.
	
3) Horsepower
	If you're drilling big holes in hard woods, HP is an issue.
	
4) Spindle Travel
	The longer it is the deeper the holes you can drill in one
	pass.
	
5) Parts & Service availability

6) Floor vs. bench mount. If you want to drill into the end of a long
rail you'll probably want a floor mount. If you're tight on space,  
get a bench mount (you can even adapt it to run horizontally and  
remove the base for longer things). 


The 16.5" Delta is not a great machine. For most woodworking  
purposes, a few thousandths out of round is not a big deal, or  
perhaps even noticeable. The 3/4 HP motor has been powerful enough so  
far. Parts won't be a problem since Delta will be around, but this  
isn't a machine of "Old Delta" quality. But, how intense do you  
require a drill press to be. I took the money I saved by not buying  
the General (about the cheapest non-Taiwanese drill press around) and  
bought a biscuit joiner and some hand planes.

I'm not convinced that drill press mortising is a good way to go,  
especially if you work with hard woods. It's nice having the square  
holes, but the chisels heat up quickly. A think a plunge router does  
better in most circumstances.

Now that I've got mine, I think that perhaps I should have saved some  
more money and gotten a no-name clone instead. Probably would have  
been close to the same quality, and saved me $100 or so. Parts may  
have been tougher to find, tho, and you can't really judge the  
quality without going to the stores with some wrenches and a dial  
indicator and base.

--------------------------------------------------------------
I had the Delta 14" bench drill press, then sold it to buy the
16" floor model.  They are both good tools, although my floor model
is larger, somewhat more stable (important at high speeds),
more powerful, and has more speeds.   (I wanted to buy the floor
model from the start, but I got sidetracked when I got one heck
of a good deal on the 14" model.)

Perhaps if I had bolted my 14" to a bench, and loosened the belt
tension some, it would have been more stable, but it's too late now
for me to test the theory since I sold it.

The speed range is wider on the floor model, and you have a
lower speed setting than the lowest setting on the 14" model.

BTW, the Deltas were much better buys than the similar Sears models.
Local stores had good deals on the Deltas.
Good luck.
--------------------------------------------------------------
Bob, I too was 'looking' for a new/larger drill press (I have a 12" bench
top type).  I looked at the Delta 14" $298 bench mount and the 32" $279
bench mount - "radial drill press".  My biggest complaint about the 'radial'
is that is does not have geared height adjustment, while the 14" (which is
essentially the same machine w/o radial capabilities) does.
 
Its a pain in the neck to not have this height adjustment at the turn of a
'handle', you need three hands at times :-(
 
I haven't bought a new DP as yet, but when I do it'll be the 14" (unless
Delta sees fit to add the geared height adjustment to the radial at a later
date).
I'm not familiar with Woodtek other than they appear to be for the 'pro'
woodworker, and don't offer 'low_end' models for hobbists like myself.
--------------------------------------------------------------
   My advice is: Don't even consider a bench top drill
press!  I have an AMT bench top and have found it to be a 
pain.  I incorrectly thought that I would rarely drill anything
taller/thicker then it's ~20" chuck to table height.  Wrong!
When you use a mortising jig, or many other accessoried, they
eat a lot of chuck height.  You also can't end-bore in any large
pieces with a bench top.

   I deeply regret the false economy of the $100 or so I saved
by buying a bench top.

PS: My Dad has a Delta floor mount, (16.5" ?) and it seems like
a real nice machine.  However, if I were starting from scratch
(which I may be if I can find a buyer for my AMT) I would look
their new radial DP over.
--------------------------------------------------------------
   Check out the Delta.  I think you'll find that Delta drill presses are
made in Taiwan too....
--------------------------------------------------------------

The main difference in presses is the motor size and the "swing" --
the distance from the chuck to the pillar support at the back of the
press.  Larger swings mean you can drill holes in the middle of 
wider or longer boards.  Bigger motors mean you can really hog out the wood
faster if desired (but you could just go slower if need be too).  Another
nice thing to have is many speeds -- the best industrial presses have 
continuously variable speed from 0 to about 3 or 4K rpm.

My philosophy on presses is that if you're doing typical homeshop work
(off projects on weekends/evenings) you can get by with a 16-17" press
90% of the time.  Delta makes a nice press in that range (floor model),
but so do alot of other Taiwanese makers (the Delta is made in Taiwan also).
Whatever you do, don't buy large machines from WWS unless you like
throwing money away.  Buy from International Tool or Tools on Sale for
a much better price, usually. They both advertise in FWW.
--------------------------------------------------------------


The comment I would make is to make sure that the travel is at least 3.5" so
that you are able to drill through a 4 X 4. I almost bought the 16.5" Delta
drill press but opted not to because of this.
--------------------------------------------------------------
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           Bob Mastors                               Voice: 719-528-4664
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