Harbor Freight Drill Press
Tim Parker
are starting a crafting business and I am looking for a basic scroll saw for
some clock hole drilling. I was looking through Harbor Freight and found:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=44506
The cheapest I have found so far locally to me is a ryobi at HD for $99.
With everything this would be $74 delivered to my door. Any better deals to
be found. Would this good for a part time weekend warrior?
TIA.
Tim
Rob Stokes
Good luck
Rob
http://www.robswoodworking.com
"Tim Parker" <tpa...@kennett.net> wrote in message
news:3e5c0810_3@newsfeed...
Bill Thomas
Longer answer: For doing light work, non precision, not continuous,
the under a 100 dollar US drill probably will work find.
Long answer: Harbor Freight imports stuff from China. The quality varies
from model to model and from item to item of the same
model. For drilling clock holes, you will have to use
very little pressure and take your time. If you find this
model does not work, you might have to spend more than
200 dollars US to get one that will work. You really have
to decide between spending 100 or less or 200 or more
dollars.
My opinion: You get what you pay for. Also, sometimes you pay for
more than you need. Get the $74 model. If it does not
work, then get the $200 model. You probably can get
$50 for the $74 if you sell it. You probably can get
only $50 for the $99 model if you sell it. If the
If the $74 does not work for reasons other than
manufacturing defects, then neither will the $99.
Sincerely,
Bill Thoams
Scratch Ankle Wood
Obviously you meant drill press.
If going cheap, you might be better served with a good hand held drill. Of
course, if you are looking at drilling several clock faces at once, the need
to be able to do square drilling (straight up and down) would require the
drill press. I do scroll saw work and I do a lot of stack cutting. Since
some of my stuff is real intricate, the drill press was very helpful in that
regard although chucking a 1/16 bit is sometimes difficult. Since that is
about all I did (and due to very limited shop space), I went with a Sears
low end bench top. Works fine for that purpose. However, if you're not
stack cutting so that a slight deviation from square isn't critical, I think
you would find a hand drill would fit the bill for that use plus be a lot
more useful for other things. Little hard to use a drill press to drill a
hole in a wall mount a picture. This assumes you don't have a drill already
and to be honest I don't know why I made that assumption.
While good at the time, I'd like to have a better drill press now that I've
upgraded my interests where a bigger drill press would be nice. However,
I'm still dealing with extremely limited space so it isn't an option. And I
would be more interested in a jointer and planer before a drill press. I
can continue to make do in regard to the drill press.
"Tim Parker" <tpa...@kennett.net> wrote in message
news:3e5c0810_3@newsfeed...
DB
you have mentioned.... Why?
Basically, once you add in a bigger drill bit or spade bit, that drill press
leaves very little room for the stock, so you can almost forget drilling
into end grain on longer pieces and any larger pieces might just not fit,
partiuclarly if you want to utilise the table on the drill press as well.
If you haven't got the money for a cheaper floor stand model, then look for
one that allows a greater depth/length on the shaft.
Just speaking from experience :)
Dean
"Tim Parker" <tpa...@kennett.net> wrote in message
news:3e5c0810_3@newsfeed...
Jonny Durango
DUnno abou their smaller models but i'm pretty sure the quality is about the
same for all their DP's
--
J. Durango
"Guitar is only guitar, not other instrument, and we like it." - How to
Arrange Ragtime for Guitar (translated from Japanese to English)
"Tim Parker" <tpa...@kennett.net> wrote in message
news:3e5c0810_3@newsfeed...
Jack-of-all-trades - JOAT
<snip> Would this good for a part time weekend warrior?
So many doomsayers responding. Wonder how many of them have used
one?
I have had the same, or very similar, for around 6 years, except
mine was about $59. No discernable runout, and does everything I need
it to, I'm happy.
JOAT
I thoroughly disapprove of duels. I consider them unwise and I know they
are dangerous. Also, sinful. If a man should challenge me now I would go
to that man and take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him
to a quiet retired spot and kill him. MARK TWAIN
Life just ain't life without good music. - JOAT
Web Page Update 13 Jan 2003. Some tunes I like.
http://community-2.webtv.net/Jakofalltrades/JOATorJackOfAll/page4.html
Steve Wolfe
I, and several of my friends have bought these drill presses from Harbor
Freight on sale for about $50, and every one of us has been very happy with
them. I've looked at the $100 units at Home Depot from a couple of
manufacturers, and can't see any advantage to them. The only time the idea
of getting another drill press crosses my mind is when I need to work on
something taller than I can fit under this unit. If you're using a long
spade bit, you have to swing the table out of the way and set the piece on
the base, which can be a bit limitting.
Of course, since you'll have to pay to have it shipped, you might want to
think about getting one at Home Depot anyway, just for the peace of mind of
being able to take it back if something's wrong with it.
steve
Neutrodyne
>From: "Steve Wolfe" s...@codon.com
>Date: 2/25/2003 9:09 PM Central Standard Time
>Message-id: <4mY6a.12006$Xa4....@fe01.atl2.webusenet.com>
Pay what shipping? It's over $50, it will probably come Parcel Post & take
7-10 days, but it's free. That's why these little DP's on Ebay are so comical,
they start the bidding at $30 but then they want $40 to ship it....
They ARE pretty short (IE the handy dandy Orbiting Spindle Sander
attachment won't fit), but they do small work well enough.
Neutrodyne
AL
the HF model, you loosen a clamp and the table slides up and down. The
crank is much more convenient and well worth the extra money in my opinion.
I own an HF 42289 bench radial drill press and have been happy with it. As
far as small drill presses go, there isn't much difference in quality
between the various brands.
"Tim Parker" <tpa...@kennett.net> wrote in message
news:3e5c0810_3@newsfeed...
2manytoyz
few owners. "I" happen to own a cheapie HF drill press. Had it almost 10
years. Mine was $49, and came with free shipping. I do a lot of precision
drilling in faceplates of electronic panels. It works fine for lightweight
work. The motor is small and won't operate a large bit, such as a hole saw,
without bogging down the motor. Then again, this was intended for
lightweight work. If you look at it closely, then go look at the Delta and
Sears versions in the $100 range, you won't find much other than trim
difference. Looks to be the same casting and same size motor. I do a fair
amount of WW working with mine too. I've certainly got my moneys worth over
the years and if it dies tomorrow, I'll order another one. Big drill
presses are nice, but a small bench top model sure is handy.
I'm with JOAT on this one.
Robert
"Jack-of-all-trades - JOAT" <Jakofal...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:4432-3E5...@storefull-2138.public.lawson.webtv.net...
2manytoyz
I own the HF model. I have to disagree with you on the crank handle to
raise/lower the table. On a big drill press, where the table has some
significant weight, it's a real plus to have the mechanical advantage to
lift it. We have an old drill press at work that takes both hands to lift
the damned deck. Real pain to adjust. God forbid you let it slide to the
bottom...
This bench top model has such a light deck, it can be lifted with two
fingers. No need for a fancy lifting system here. I also often swing the
deck completely to the side to give me more room on my workbench.
JMHO,
Robert
"AL" <REMOVETH...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:31_6a.267464$be.252291@rwcrnsc53...
Tim Parker
saw! I really meant DP.
I got a lot of good info and suggestions.
Tim Parker
"2manytoyz" <Hate...@NoThanks.com> wrote in message
news:Wj_6a.36438$163.1...@twister.tampabay.rr.com...
Doug Winterburn
My HF benchtop was $39 in the local HF store. Use it often. May get
another when on sale and dedicate it to the sharpening center.
-Doug
Bud Woods
Seriously, some drill presses don't even do the basics decently; check the
reviews.
Tim
news:1fqzexo.2p3sg214yb0b4N%p...@postmark.net:
> Tim <not...@fornow.com> wrote:
>
>> Well I am looking at the same model or one of the floor presses but
>> I'm waiting till the Milwaukee store opens to check it out before I
>> bring it home.
>
> Is a store going to open soon in Milwaukee?
>
MILWAUKEE 4698 S. WHITNALL RD Opening Soon!
Harbor Freight USA
4698 S. WHITNALL RD
ST. FRANCIS, WI 53235
Phone: 414-744-0955
Manager: KARL LARSON
fROM THEIR SITE
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/retail_stores.taf#WI
Doug Turner
works fine. The belt slips on 2" fostner bits and hole saws. I also have a
floor model DP from Big Lots (also chinese) for $120 that has more power and
would be ideal for 3" clock holes. Both have very little run out.
George E. Cawthon
$40 a little over a month ago (HD is less than 3 miles from
me). I read with interest all of the stuff here about
chucks falling off and cleaned it really well then put it
together and smacked it (wood block cushion) with a hammer.
I haven't tested runout but the few holes I have drilled
seem ok and the drill spin doesn't exhibit any wobble
(within the detection ability of my eyes). I'm glad to hear
other's say the drill is ok.
BTW, I asked the clerk if many people returned this DP. She
said, "Not this model." The clerks at my store are pretty
forthcoming when you ask and are not afraid to say it's
good, pretty light weight, or hint that another model
(sometimes cheaper) would be better. I bought mine on sale
but a sale about 2 weeks later listed it a $50.
Tim
news:20030226124044...@mb-fz.aol.com:
I was just looking at Big Lots today and wondering how good that drill
press was? So far all i need are holes in oak up to 2"adn 3" deep does the
table lock and tilt? is it worth 125$
Tim