Bench Top Drill Press

by Gale B on Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:16 pm

Any suggestions on a bench top drill press. Harbor Freight-Lowe's-H Depot, etc.?

by JohnHeiter on Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:23 pm

I've used the Harbor Freight models and they're everything you'd expect to get from a $60 drill press. It spins bits in a roughly circular motion and goes up and down. If you're not too worried about runout or parts breaking they're a bargain.

If you want a step up from there I like Jet or Grizzly. For $250-$350 you step up to a 3/4hp motor, 3" plus of spindle travel, better speed adjustment, better chucks, etc.

by Rw on Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:53 pm

If your buying a import one, most all are nowdays i think. Look for made in taiwan, they are usually a good bit higher quality than the mainland china stuff. Jet may be made there, but im not sure. I know at one time that the harbor freight , jet and grizzly were made in the same factory and may still. They all have virtually identical designs.
Grizzly probably has the best customer service and parts support of all the import re-badgers.

by **Beladran** on Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:01 pm

personally.. if you saved your money up you get get a good used commercial press
dad just got a NICE 220volt Delta for $100 a this little auction.

keep a eye on craigslist, ebay, and local classifids. just my .02

by **bubbat** on Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:13 pm

Craftsman makes a pretty good drill press. I have one that is 60+yrs old and still works great.

by Rw on Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:34 pm

bubbat wrote:Craftsman makes a pretty good drill press. I have one that is 60+yrs old and still works great.

Craftsman from then was a good old black and decker, now they are made by tti... parent company of ryobi, milwaukee and ridgid.

by p moore on Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:14 pm

I bought a Delta a few years ago form Lowes. I think it was around $200 about 60Lbs 3/4" chuck, and variable speed. No swapping pullies. I have been very pleased with this one.

Paul

by **bubbat** on Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:23 pm

Rw wrote:
bubbat wrote:Craftsman makes a pretty good drill press. I have one that is 60+yrs old and still works great.

Craftsman from then was a good old black and decker, now they are made by tti... parent company of ryobi, milwaukee and ridgid.

Milwaukee makes great drills,right angle grinders and Sawz-alls and are made in Mississippi. thumbs up

by Rw on Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:31 pm

Not any more they arent, at least not many are. Every single piece i stocked at home depot that was from tti came from china.

by **bubbat** on Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:38 pm

Rw wrote:Not any more they arent, at least not many are. Every single piece i stocked at home depot that was from tti came from china.

Still are factories in Greenwood (built in 2002) and Jackson (built in 1974) and distribution center in Olive Branch. Headquarters is in Brookfield, WI. Don't think they have closed down lately.

From their website...http://www.milwaukeetool.com/About/Locations/AdditionalUS.aspx

by Rw on Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:42 pm

Ive met several people the last few years who said those plants are just shells of what they once were. I did not ask what they were still making there. My guess would be they just assemble imported componets now. The rep told me they immediately started consolidating lines and moving production. If you look at the mulwaukee and ridgid lithium stuff, they are the same exact tools under the shell.

by PhillipM on Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:53 pm

bubbat wrote:
Rw wrote:Not any more they arent, at least not many are. Every single piece i stocked at home depot that was from tti came from china.

Still are factories in Greenwood (built in 2002) and Jackson (built in 1974) and distribution center in Olive Branch. Headquarters is in Brookfield, WI. Don't think they have closed down lately.

From their website...http://www.milwaukeetool.com/About/Locations/AdditionalUS.aspx

My maid used to work at the Jackson plant, she said everything but warranty work went overseas and that was several years ago. I own a number of Milwaukee tools, all the ones bought in the last five years are made in China.

by **bubbat** on Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:41 pm

Guess it's changed since TTI bought them in 2005 everything use to go to Atlanta for repairs. Last thing I sent in for repairs was probably in '03 or '04.

by Gale B on Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:22 pm

Thanks all for your comments.

by nothing on Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:40 pm

You're going to be hard-pressed to find an American made bench-top drill press at a reasonable price. Shopfox, Jet and Grizzly are the main ones I could recommend (made in China/Taiwan). I haven't used a Delta DP, but I do have some of their other Chinese made tools and they do the job.

You can always go the used route, but if you do be sure to check the spindle for wobble and excessive runout. My other concern would be a bad motor. It would probably cost more to have one rewound than to buy a new drill press.

If space isn't a factor I would recommend getting a 17" Stationary Drill Press. You'll have much more flexibility, features and power for not much more in the grand scheme of things. I think I picked up my 17" Steel City for a little over $350.

I have the gauges to test runout if you decide to go the used route. Just let me know.

by nothing on Wed Sep 28, 2011 9:52 pm

PhillipM wrote:
bubbat wrote:
Rw wrote:Not any more they arent, at least not many are. Every single piece i stocked at home depot that was from tti came from china.

Still are factories in Greenwood (built in 2002) and Jackson (built in 1974) and distribution center in Olive Branch. Headquarters is in Brookfield, WI. Don't think they have closed down lately.

From their website...http://www.milwaukeetool.com/About/Locations/AdditionalUS.aspx

My maid used to work at the Jackson plant, she said everything but warranty work went overseas and that was several years ago. I own a number of Milwaukee tools, all the ones bought in the last five years are made in China.

Milwaukee does not make a benchtop or stationary drill press. The have magnetic drill presses that cost $800 plus and would probably not work very well for gunsmithing.

by **bubbat** on Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:30 pm

nothing wrote:
PhillipM wrote:
bubbat wrote:
Rw wrote:Not any more they arent, at least not many are. Every single piece i stocked at home depot that was from tti came from china.

Still are factories in Greenwood (built in 2002) and Jackson (built in 1974) and distribution center in Olive Branch. Headquarters is in Brookfield, WI. Don't think they have closed down lately.

From their website...http://www.milwaukeetool.com/About/Locations/AdditionalUS.aspx

My maid used to work at the Jackson plant, she said everything but warranty work went overseas and that was several years ago. I own a number of Milwaukee tools, all the ones bought in the last five years are made in China.

Milwaukee does not make a benchtop or stationary drill press. The have magnetic drill presses that cost $800 plus and would probably not work very well for gunsmithing.

You are correct, but we didn't say they did. Razz

What people confuse for Milwaukee Electric drill presses are actually old Delta Milwaukee drill presses made by Delta Machinery that is now owned by Black and Decker along with Porter Cable.

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