What to look for in a drill press?
- Thread starter aer21
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jmm03
Gold $$ Contributor
If you have room buy a J head Bridgeport mill. If you don't look around for a used Powermatic 1150. An example: https://www.ebay.com/itm/205378072289 A used equipment supplier, if one is in your area, can possibly find you a good deal. I am prejudiced toward old American machine tools so my suggestions may be suspect, but I have had my 1150 for 40 years and I use it a lot. Jim
If you want new, look at the larger more expensive grizzlys. 20" and up, if you really want to go for it then a gear head press with power downfeed, tapping, etc.
If good used, Wilton, Clausing, powermatic, buffalo, walker turner, all good. and dont shy away from 3phase, a simple vfd will give you fingertip speed changes. Make sure you test it out first and everything works, no noise in the head. Runout on a DP, anything under 10-15 thou, its a drill press, is good.
Be prepared to pay though, I paid 800 for my used variable speed wilton, its a beast,
If good used, Wilton, Clausing, powermatic, buffalo, walker turner, all good. and dont shy away from 3phase, a simple vfd will give you fingertip speed changes. Make sure you test it out first and everything works, no noise in the head. Runout on a DP, anything under 10-15 thou, its a drill press, is good.
Be prepared to pay though, I paid 800 for my used variable speed wilton, its a beast,
Medic505
Gold $$ Contributor
I own a Grizzly 17-inch G7947 drill press and a 9" x 42" Bridgeport mill. The Grizzly is a nice press, and I use it if I just need to drill a hole. If I need to drill a hole and want it on the gnat's ass I use the Bridgeport. As others have said a mill is great if you have the room.
Many of the presses mentioned have this feature but it is VERY important to me....easily changed speeds. I hate messing with belts and trying to figure out the hieroglyphs to get the speed I want. I also agree, if you can find a deal on a milling machine, have the room for it and plan to use it a bit, get it.
ELR LVR
Silver $$ Contributor
If I could get a bridgeport I would,
Problem with that has been
Shipping
Weight, getting it into the shop w/o a forklift
3 phase, (none here)
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Yes I need a mill
but, when all else fails a drill press is the next move
---------------------------------
This model has been serving me well
Adjustable cast iron table, tilts, rotates, turns, Locks
Plenty of height adjustability
And I can move it around with a handtruck and doesnt take up much floor space
---------------------------------
Heck I even milled out some slots in this aluminum motor to tranny mount this week with it
Just go slow , plunge cut , and then rotate the whole table assy.
Its not precision by any means as far as milling goes, but better than using a die grinder or dremel.
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I have milled many things with just a drill press, put an indicator against the vise
bump it as needed, then lock it down.
Just for quick stuff ya know.
---------------------------------
Problem with that has been
Shipping
Weight, getting it into the shop w/o a forklift
3 phase, (none here)
---------------------------------
Yes I need a mill
but, when all else fails a drill press is the next move
---------------------------------
This model has been serving me well
Adjustable cast iron table, tilts, rotates, turns, Locks
Plenty of height adjustability
And I can move it around with a handtruck and doesnt take up much floor space
---------------------------------
Heck I even milled out some slots in this aluminum motor to tranny mount this week with it
Just go slow , plunge cut , and then rotate the whole table assy.
Its not precision by any means as far as milling goes, but better than using a die grinder or dremel.
---------------------------------
I have milled many things with just a drill press, put an indicator against the vise
bump it as needed, then lock it down.
Just for quick stuff ya know.
---------------------------------
Attachments
I have a small mill, but restored this Walker Turner drill press from the early 1940's. My Dad got it in the 1960's and I used it frequently in his shop. I replaced all the bearings and gave it a good tune up and it gets a lot of use. Very handy to have when all you need is a perfectly vertical hole. Danny
I restored a really beat and rusty Powermatic drill press like JMM03 posted in post 2. Couldn't find a used belt guard so i made a new one from aluminum. Powermatic tools are gold now back then wood working tools were green and metal working tools were gray. You might find the same drill in green, gray, or gold. Those are variable speed drills that use a speed mechanism, like a snow mobile clutch, they come in many different brands, Delta. Powermatic, Rockwell, ect. For a drill press I don't see how you could make a better choice, with any of the good brands of variable speed drills. That said, Mcgrew I love the little Walker Turner, I have a WT wood lath that needs a bunch of work, and I WT shaper that needs nothing, that i used for years when I was still working. My fiend has his dads little bench model delta and it needs a motor that I have, its coming to my shop to trim 223 brass to length with a forester tool. I am an old tool addict.
majohnson
Gold $$ Contributor
Not much better than an older Bridgeport to use for a drill press. As long as the head bearings are good, and the ways are in reasonable shape you can hold better tolerances than with a drill press. You have a lot of tooling options you can use. With just a basic DRO, X,Y, you can locate hole to sub .001”.
With the newer vises you can they repeat to micron level, you don’t need to retram the vise each time you remove the vise. They are also much lighter than the Kurt vises, which makes them easier on the back. I’ve owned mine since 1989 and other than tooling and oils I have not spent any money one it. You can also get a 4 and 5 axis you can do some some cool machining
With the newer vises you can they repeat to micron level, you don’t need to retram the vise each time you remove the vise. They are also much lighter than the Kurt vises, which makes them easier on the back. I’ve owned mine since 1989 and other than tooling and oils I have not spent any money one it. You can also get a 4 and 5 axis you can do some some cool machining
jmm03
Gold $$ Contributor
One thing to watch out for on the Powermatics is the speed of the variable Reeves drive. There were at least a couple of ranges depending on if the unit was for woodworking or metalworking. Both work the same, the woodworking has a higher range. Checking for wear can be tricky if the press is not under power as speed can only be changed while it is running. The suggestion that you find one that is 3 phase is actually a good one, variable frequency drives have become very economical and can give you infinitely variable speed at the turn of a potentiometer and really are not difficult at all to hook up. Jim
matthias
Gold $$ Contributor
I am a big proponent of finding old cast iron and making them function like new.
The green drill press is a walker turner radial arm drill. All new bearings , full disassembly , de-grease, it runs about 0.002 with a dowel in the chuck. New 1/2 horse 110 motor
The grey drillpress is a buffalo 18 same treatment , it runs just a bit less than 0.003 , new 1 hp 110 motor
They are a joy to use and i would not sell them.
The green drill press is a walker turner radial arm drill. All new bearings , full disassembly , de-grease, it runs about 0.002 with a dowel in the chuck. New 1/2 horse 110 motor
The grey drillpress is a buffalo 18 same treatment , it runs just a bit less than 0.003 , new 1 hp 110 motor
They are a joy to use and i would not sell them.
Attachments
matthias
Gold $$ Contributor
Complete disassembly and 3/4 black pipe made it easier. Took all day but was quite a bit less physical effort.@matthias, I gave a nearly identical Walker Turner radial arm drill to my Brother. Talk about heavy?I am not sure either of us completely recovered from getting it into his small shop without a forklift or cherry picker... Danny
BuffaloBill
Silver $$ Contributor
I got an Ellis a few years ago. It’s VFD along with a three-position variable belt transmission allows tapping and running hole saws. It’s fairly heavy and rigid, and has power feed.
Drill Press 9400 - Ellis Mfg, Inc.
Ellis Drill Presses operate with infinitely variable speed control while maintaining high torque at all speeds.
ellissaw.com
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