Bench Top Drill press

[Ajwilly96]

I was wondering if anyone has a recommendation for a bench top drill press that will not break the bank, preferably under $300.

Will mostly be used for drilling stocks, other types of wood, and the occasional metal.

 

[Trophied]

Inexpensive drill presses will have issues you probably won't like. I don't know what the quality is on a bench top at $300, so I'm not much help on that. Maybe look for a better quality used one in your price range.

 

[55fairlane]

Hit Facebook market place and look for a quality used unit. I have seen walker-turner units and variable speed Rockwell (and some delta rockwell) sell for low prices.

 

[Sleepyhollow]

I looked for a while and settle with a Grizzly. Love it ! I looked at several and always grab the spindle for travel. The Grizzly was the only one that had very little or none. I turn all my brass on it with my pumkins.

 

[Walt Krafft]

I have a 70-80 year old in my loading room. Dont let age scare you.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

I looked for a while and settle with a Grizzly. Love it ! I looked at several and always grab the spindle for travel. The Grizzly was the only one that had very little or none. I turn all my brass on it with my pumkins.

Would you mind posting your model number of the Grizzly benchtop press.

 

[jds holler]

I've got a little Chianee type that I got at a yard sale one time, and actually use it quite a bit for little light duty stuff. Paid about thirty bucks for it. Ya don't always need the big one, but I've got it if I do. jd

 

[Sleepyhollow]

@Kracken McGraw

 

[Kracken McGraw]

@Kracken McGraw
View attachment 1402651

That will be great to know which model actually works good. At 150# pounds it looks to be a sturdy one.

 

[Ajwilly96]

I was looking at the $110 grizzle one. The one posted above looks really nice. Definitely not scared of age, but sadly most of the ones on Facebook in my area are rusted like crazy from sitting in an outside shop

 

[Sleepyhollow]

Guys the grizzly showroom is close to me in Springfield MO. I went looking at the little one myself @Ajwilly96 . The sales guy one the floor show me this one. Spindle had no side travel and is very solid. @Kracken McGraw it doesn't move at all. Very please with it. Like I said I turn all my ppc brass with it. Only really I bought it

 

[Dave Zander]

I bought a Wen . It was about $350. About 1 year old. Run it quite a bit. So far so good. Ive bought older wood working equipment with rust. A lot of times a little oil and fine grit paper does wonders.

 

[AlNyhus]

I have a 20 year old 12" Craftsman 'Commercial Series' bench model that gets used a lot. I did replace the chuck with a better model...made a big difference. Did a lot of pillars, etc. with it prior to doing them on a mill.

 

[jobhopper66]

I fully agree with what member Walt Krafft said about not letting the age of a machine scare you. I recently bought a totally reconditioned 1949 Atlas drill press and I could not be happier. The entire machine exudes quality and when it is turned on you can't even hear it running until the bit touches what you are drilling. I thought I wanted a bench model but when I saw this floor model for $300 it was an easy decision to make.

 

[Dave Zander]

Everything new is China or other foreign made product. I believe a lot of the older equipment USA made will still be running after the new stuff dies. Almost all the new stuff is cheaply built.

 

[JSH]

Used equipment, it all depends on what part of the country your in. Around here after looking at a few lathes a few years back, it’s not worth the headaches. I bought equipment to finish or start a new project, not for another project. I ended up with a well cared for older lathe, it does what I want a d it as some quirks, but I deal with it.
I bought a Grizzly bench top drill press and it works fine for my use. Well built and heavy.

My luck runs like so, shop and price around, make the purchase. Then, within a short time period a great deal will come up with all kinds of extras for what I gave or less than what I purchased. Glad I don’t have a shop, or it would be full of “good deals”.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

look on craigslist. buy an older drill press in clean original condition.

 

[Bottom Fodder]

Would you mind posting your model number of the Grizzly benchtop press.

I’ve bought several things from grizzly, including a floor model drill press never been disappointing

 

[DumpHollow]

Grizzly customer service is good. I bought a floor standing drill press from them a couple years ago. They sent me three Tables before I got one with t-slots that would accept the t-nuts. Poor QA. I still had to grind the casting on one of the slots to get the t-nut to pass.