drill press - who makes a good one?
Renata
The run out is terrible and the service guy spent 3 hours trying to
remedy the situation to no avail. On top of which, he found a lot of
bolts/nuts loose.
Extraordinarily disappointing for what used to be a premier company.
Seems like they want to keep charging top dollar but don't want to
keep the quality up as well - rather save a buck paying a guy a dollar
a day to assemble stuff - who doesn't really care to do a good job for
his buck. I guess the CEO deserves to pocket the difference.
Anyway, seems like everything's made in China these days, but am I
missing one that's perhaps not? And, who has the reputation these
days for a good product?
Powermatic's supposedly worse than Delta. Is that true?
Any insights will be appreciated.
Thanx
Renata
Max
"Renata" <barskir@not_myrealbox.com> wrote in message
news:1khkq21f7cfnkokk9...@4ax.com...
I'll be watching this thread very closely. I asked a similar question a few
weeks ago. My "research" hasn't yielded a lot of good info.
There are well built machines to be had but not at anything like under at
least a thousand bucks minimum.
The latest candidate for me is this one:
http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/itemDetailsRender.shtml?ItemId=1611768128
I checked it out at the local Grainger branch. Looks pretty good. They have
smaller versions you might be interested in.
Max
Don Fearn
>May be replacing my Delta 17-990 drill press.
...
>Any insights will be appreciated.
I checked back issues of FWW when I was looking for a DP recently and
they seemed to think Ridgid had the best bang for the buck, so I went
to HD and bought one. I've been happy with it so far . . . .
-Don
--
I started out with nothing, and I still have most of it
Leon
>
> Powermatic's supposedly worse than Delta. Is that true?
Not that I have heard. If I were in the market I'd be looking at
Powermatic, Steel City or Jet.
Don Dando
work is from Harbor Freight and is a floor model for around $175. They
have a larger one (15") I think for around $225 that looks pretty good to
me. If I need the 7th machine it will be their 15" model. While I have not
measured it, runout is too minimal for my applications.
Don Dando
"Leon" <removespa...@swbell.net> wrote in message
news:lozqh.67497$wP1....@newssvr14.news.prodigy.net...
Max
"Don Dando" <speed...@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:4Kzqh.16001$Gw4....@newssvr23.news.prodigy.net...
>I have 6 drill presses. The one I use most for woodworking and light metal
> work is from Harbor Freight and is a floor model for around $175. They
> have a larger one (15") I think for around $225 that looks pretty good to
> me. If I need the 7th machine it will be their 15" model. While I have
> not
> measured it, runout is too minimal for my applications.
>
> Don Dando
>
I wish I knew where that particular Harbor Freight store was.
The one I've been in has junk when it comes to drill presses.
No comparison to any other DPs I've looked at.
Max
J T
doth queryeth:
<snip> Anyway, seems like everything's made in China these days, but am
I missing one that's perhaps not? And, who has the reputation these
Yep, seems to b the case. Mine was anyway, but has been very
dependble, no discernable runout. Ask for Yong Foo, he has an excellent
reputation for putting together a good drillpress. You pays your money
and takes your chances. I'd buy from somewhere you can trade it back in
if you're not happy, until you get a good one.
JOAT
I do not have the huge amout of faith needed to be an Atheist.
Len
I've been looking for a while, and decided to go with the Steel
City 20520 17" DP. I drove out to the "local" (about an hours
drive) Woodworker's Supply today and picked it up, and was
surprised to find out there's a $75.00 rebate through the end of
this month.
At any rate, SWMBO has this thing about 2x4 "casual" furniture,
so the 6" quill stroke was a plus in my decision making. I set it
up this afternoon, bolted it to a 2' x 4' x 3/4" piece of plywood
for stability, and found it was very easy to drill completely
through two stacked 2x4's in one pass. It also handled punching
holes in garden border logs for rebar 'spikes' with no problem.
With a crude file card test, hold a 3x5 file card by one end and
touch the opposite edge to the side of the spinning quill, runout
appears to be very minimul. More than I can say for my old bench
top Delta. One of these days I suppose I should pick up a dial
indicator.
I really like the speed range, 215 - 2,2720 RPM in 16 steps, and
there's almost no backlash in the rack and pinion table height
adjusting mechanism. YMMV, but I'm impressed with this machine.
Now I've got the "casual" furniture situation under control,
maybe I can get back to deciding on a new table saw.
Len
Edwin Pawlowski
"Max" <thesam...@nota.net> wrote in message
> The latest candidate for me is this one:
> http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/wwg/itemDetailsRender.shtml?ItemId=1611768128
>
> I checked it out at the local Grainger branch. Looks pretty good. They
> have smaller versions you might be interested in.
Any idea who makes it? If so, you can probably get it for 10 - 20% less
under the brand name.
bf
J T wrote:
> . I'd buy from somewhere you can trade it back in
> if you're not happy, until you get a good one.
>
That seems to be good advice for any tool that you may be ultra picky
about. Not that you don't have
the right to be ultrapicky. With such a huge empaphsis on cost
reduction, there's bound to be some lemons in every product line.
I'm at the point where I would never buy a big tool online again (one
that would have considerable freight charges to return or get
serviced). Quality is too hit and miss nowdays, even if you buy the
main brands.
Seeker
then look no further than a General made in Canada. I say reasonable at
$800.00 US that is a fair price considering anything from Jet or Delta
from Asia is $400-450.00 + tax/shipping. BTW Delta,Powermatic and I
would guess soon to follow the other mfg. will soon be offering DP's
will all the bells and whistles i.e. laser positioning, variable speed,
table extensions, digital readouts etc for around 800-900.00 and
made in China but I would still question the tolerances/quality. If
Asian made is pressuring you into the cost category the Grizzly that
sells for $225.00 I think the 15" model has received high marks and best
bang for the buck in a recent review of DP's. If I were to do it again I
would not have bought a Jet 17" instead would have bought an older USA
made DP and restored it.
R. Pierce Butler
> May be replacing my Delta 17-990 drill press.
>
> The run out is terrible and the service guy spent 3 hours trying to
> remedy the situation to no avail. On top of which, he found a lot of
> bolts/nuts loose.
>
Many times excessive runout is caused by the drill chuck and it's lack
of quality. Before you go spending money for a drill chuck, verify
runout with a dial or test indicator, pop off the chuck and rotate it
on the spindle and remeasure. I'll bet your runout issue is caused
by the chuck.
SO you might ask why doesn't Delta put good chucks on their
drillpresses? Simple economics. Good chucks are not cheap.
Joe AutoDrill
>> have smaller versions you might be interested in.
>
> Any idea who makes it? If so, you can probably get it for 10 - 20% less
> under the brand name.
The Grainger 3Z9xx and 5Z146 or maybe 5Z1xx machines are the same as many
other machines... The attached list shows the machines that are all
identical:
GRAINGER 3Z917E, 3Z918, 3Z918F, 5Z146
DAYTON 3Z917E, 3Z918, 3Z918F, 5Z146
DELTA DP400
DELTA 17-900
DELTA 17-950L
GRIZZLY G7943 & G7944
JET JDP-17MF
All of these are made by the same company in Tiawan. I had their name, but
lost it...
Here are some lists of machines that my customers have used with no
compalints that I'm aware of:
1/3 - 3/4 HP, 14-16" Swing Units
Delta DP400 or 17-900 (3/4 HP $400)
Jet JDP-17MF (3/4 HP $475)
Grizzly #G7944 (3/4 HP $350)
Grainger #3Z917 (1/2 HP $450)
1 to 1-1/2 HP 17" Swing Units
Jet JDP-20MF (1-1/2 HP $750)
Grizzly #G7948 (1-1/2 HP, $600)
Grainger #3Z919 (1 HP, $800)
Ellis #9400 (2 HP, $2200)
2HP Units for Drilling or Tapping
Grizzly #G0521 (2 HP, 3 Phase, $1250)
IMHO, the G0521 is an amazing machine for the $$$, but made in China...
Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022
01.908.542.0244
Automatic / Pneumatic Drills: http://www.AutoDrill.com
Multiple Spindle Drills: http://www.Multi-Drill.com
V8013-R
Joe AutoDrill
news:7627-45A...@storefull-3337.bay.webtv.net...
Sun, Jan 14, 2007, 3:12pm (EST+5) barskir@not_myrealbox.com (Renata)
doth queryeth:
<snip> Anyway, seems like everything's made in China these days, but am
I missing one that's perhaps not? And, who has the reputation these
days for a good product? <snip>
Ellis. But it means big $ too.
--
Joe AutoDrill
> drillpresses? Simple economics. Good chucks are not cheap.
Not to try and sell anything per say... But... If you have a J33 mount, I
stock high quality Japanese chucks, 1/2" capacity. Their quality is as good
as any Jacobs I've ever run across and approaches Albrecht quality without
the pricing... $80 ea. Yakiwa brand I beleive.
But... You have to look around. I have the advantage of using a dozen
chucks a week at times so if I see a bunch of different brands, I get a good
idea of what is quality and what is not. Plus, these are production use
machines so after a year, they have been abused quite well to know whether
they hold up. Short of a salt atmosphere, torch, runaway forklift or some
nasty crud that was allowed into the chuck, I've never had one come back.
Max
"Joe AutoDrill" <b...@youthelate.com> wrote in message
news:KWNrh.5791$9B6.4391@trnddc07...
I looked at the spec for the Grizzly G7948 and the Grainger 3Z919. Similar.
The Grizzly spindle travel is 4 3/4 while the Grainger unit is 6"
I wouldn't pay the difference in price just for longer spindle travel but
I'm yet to be persuaded that the Grizzly quality is just as good.
What do you think?
Max (still shopping)
Joe AutoDrill
> Similar. The Grizzly spindle travel is 4 3/4 while the Grainger unit is 6"
> I wouldn't pay the difference in price just for longer spindle travel but
> I'm yet to be persuaded that the Grizzly quality is just as good.
> What do you think?
>
> Max (still shopping)
First of all, longer spindle travel may mean that more of the spline that
drives it is supported in the drive mechanism. I'd try to get a hold of the
manual / parts diagram and see which had a longer drive spline... Just my
opinion of course, but the longer that spline drive is (presuming they are
both the same cast material), the longer the life on a critical part.
The Grainger has a 2.949" quill diameter whereas the Grizzly has a 3.612"
quill diameter. Beefier everywhere else also? Not sure...
Second, I don't know which would be more reliable long term as the Grainger
could be made by anyone and rebranded... It's probably a et / WHM Tool
Group machine or a Delta... Which means it could be foreign made too...
Probably is in any case.
I'm slave to the $ many times by necessity and don't really use my drill
presses all that "hard" so I'd go with Grizzly personally... Neither
company will be going out of business anytime soon so the parts department
would at least be available to tell you that they don't have parts. :)
Buy bigger than you will ever use and the extra capacity turns into free
durability insurance. However, power useage may be an issue if you drill a
lot of holes, etc.
Finally, I would ask the same exact question in rec.crafts.metalworking as
those folks use their machines in heavier applications and may have true
life stories... Just be prepared to muddle through the opinion-based posts
as they are common there just as often as here.
...Hope I didn't simply add more confusion to the mix.
Regards,
Joe Agro, Jr.
(800) 871-5022
01.908.542.0244
Automatic / Pneumatic Drills: http://www.AutoDrill.com
Multiple Spindle Drills: http://www.Multi-Drill.com
V8013-R
Max
"Joe AutoDrill" wrote
> ...Hope I didn't simply add more confusion to the mix.
>
> Regards,
> Joe Agro, Jr.
> (800) 871-5022
> 01.908.542.0244
> Automatic / Pneumatic Drills: http://www.AutoDrill.com
> Multiple Spindle Drills: http://www.Multi-Drill.com
Well, sort of. But I do appreciate your taking the time to offer what you
did.
I have only one tool from Grizzly; a metal cutting band saw. I thought I
would try out something I don't use enough for it to be critical as to
quality.
I'm disappointed. The same saw I paid $298.25 for is available at Harbor
freight for $179.99. The quality is nothing to brag about.
Most recently, I have been considering the 22" drill press from General. I
just wish I could find someone who has one.
Thanks for your input,
Max