OK guys I am assembling some tools to drill with my new silver bullet. I need a drill press. Any recommendations on an inexpensive drill press. I was thinking under 150.00. Thanks guys
Drill Press
- Thread starter whitaker717
- Start date
Do you have a Harbor Freight near you? They sell a bench top model for under $100. The 8 inch model is $69.00 and the 12 inch is $134.99.
Here is a link:
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=drill+press
You can almost always find a coupon code for them as well and save 15-20%. I have the 8 inch version and it works just fine for most of my needs. If I had to do it over, I would go with the 12. I don;t have space for a floor mounted drill press but I could use the power. I have run everything on my little press from a Saf-T-Planer to a 1 inch forstner bit and have cut through hardwoods from ebony to ziricote, to rosewoods. Not super fast mind you, but I am able to get the job done. For $69.99 that little drill press should handle all of your PWD needs.
Here is a link:
http://www.harborfreight.com/catalogsearch/result?q=drill+press
You can almost always find a coupon code for them as well and save 15-20%. I have the 8 inch version and it works just fine for most of my needs. If I had to do it over, I would go with the 12. I don;t have space for a floor mounted drill press but I could use the power. I have run everything on my little press from a Saf-T-Planer to a 1 inch forstner bit and have cut through hardwoods from ebony to ziricote, to rosewoods. Not super fast mind you, but I am able to get the job done. For $69.99 that little drill press should handle all of your PWD needs.
- Nov 24, 2011
- 3,903
- 30
- 48
- 13
GravityX said:
This is what I would do. $150 is 2/3 rds of the way there. /images/boards/smilies/thumb.gif
Watch Amazon Warehouse Deals and they have the Proxxon sometimes with damaged boxes, scratches, etc. Right now they have one for $166.05 with a description indicating only a damaged box. If you are not taxed on Amazon purchases you can make a safe purchase from them and return it if the damage is more than the box.
I fought with a cheap drill press and it is not worth the time. If you go cheap go for the cheap harbor freight press with a coupon. I have found they will stack the 20 and 25% coupon on a sale price. I think your budget will get you the Proxxon if your area has sales tax and Amazon does not for you. Better hurry though before someone beats you to it.
Honestly the cheap drill press had me considering Pinewood racing retirement. The tragedy to that is it would have been like retiring from baseball without playing in a game the way some of my cars have ran. I need to at least feel like I have raced before I retire.
I fought with a cheap drill press and it is not worth the time. If you go cheap go for the cheap harbor freight press with a coupon. I have found they will stack the 20 and 25% coupon on a sale price. I think your budget will get you the Proxxon if your area has sales tax and Amazon does not for you. Better hurry though before someone beats you to it.
Honestly the cheap drill press had me considering Pinewood racing retirement. The tragedy to that is it would have been like retiring from baseball without playing in a game the way some of my cars have ran. I need to at least feel like I have raced before I retire.
- Nov 24, 2011
- 3,903
- 30
- 48
- 13
That was a great deal. We all tend to forget that there are at least a couple of hundred guys or more that are really into pinewooderby and they don't post or show any activity on any boards they're just lurking taking in info. /images/boards/smilies/wave.gif
- Nov 24, 2011
- 3,903
- 30
- 48
- 13
OK, in hindsight I wish I had done this different.
I should have known a lurker could see it and snag it. But I was a lurker once and still am certainly not a heavy participant. I have no bone with the lurkers.
If I had a do over I should have PM'ed Whitaker717 the tip and posted after he had a chance to act. The info would be out as shared knowledge for others but Whitaker717 would have had a better shot of the benefit having stepped out and asked a question instead of just lurking.
No offense meant and lesson learned for me. It was meant in the spirit of sharing information and giving a tip.
If someone saw my post and snagged it they certainly did not say thanks but I can see them being hesitant given the situation. But again it was a gift of a tip with no expectation on my part. It was a tip not a trade.
If I had a do over I should have PM'ed Whitaker717 the tip and posted after he had a chance to act. The info would be out as shared knowledge for others but Whitaker717 would have had a better shot of the benefit having stepped out and asked a question instead of just lurking.
No offense meant and lesson learned for me. It was meant in the spirit of sharing information and giving a tip.
If someone saw my post and snagged it they certainly did not say thanks but I can see them being hesitant given the situation. But again it was a gift of a tip with no expectation on my part. It was a tip not a trade.
No worries Kpendle. I will get one the next time. As long as I get one. While we are on the topic surely not everyone has a proxxon press. I could be wrong though. What are some other people using with success
G
Guest
Guest
kpendle said:OK, in hindsight I wish I had done this different.I should have known a lurker could see it and snag it. But I was a lurker once and still am certainly not a heavy participant. I have no bone with the lurkers.
If I had a do over I should have PM'ed Whitaker717 the tip and posted after he had a chance to act. The info would be out as shared knowledge for others but Whitaker717 would have had a better shot of the benefit having stepped out and asked a question instead of just lurking.
No offense meant and lesson learned for me. It was meant in the spirit of sharing information and giving a tip.
If someone saw my post and snagged it they certainly did not say thanks but I can see them being hesitant given the situation. But again it was a gift of a tip with no expectation on my part. It was a tip not a trade.
Ya tried your best!
I have a Jet. It has some juice, but I wish I had a smaller one. It takes up more room than its use warrants.
I have a 1980's craftsman I got off my grandfather when he passed away. Works great, but the table is a little short, only wish that was bigger.
I've got a Harbor Freight drill press. I didn't expect much, but was quite surprised that my drill jobs ended up being such that I could look straight through the car (no cant drilling).
Does anybody use the Skil 3320?
http://www.skiltools.com/Tools/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?model=3320
While I would like to get a Proxxon, its small and the table does not tilt (maybe that's a good thing since it comes square); but, I thought I could use the Skil for other endeavors...maybe.
Its the last thing I need to race competitively (and I loose the term "competitively" loosely).
http://www.skiltools.com/Tools/Pages/ProductDetail.aspx?model=3320
While I would like to get a Proxxon, its small and the table does not tilt (maybe that's a good thing since it comes square); but, I thought I could use the Skil for other endeavors...maybe.
Its the last thing I need to race competitively (and I loose the term "competitively" loosely).
- Nov 24, 2011
- 3,903
- 30
- 48
- 13
DD4H used to use a full size drill press and he dominated with it. If you can get it set up right it'll probably work.
B_Regal Racing said:
The Skil is exactly what I have. Its ended up working out fine, but it took a while to get it set up for my liking ...
Positives:
* Nice low runout at the spindle
* Useful size, Plenty of power for light duty work
* Flat table
* Adjustable table angle (BTW, I' with you on the Proxxon and the non adjustable table)
Negatives
* Cheap chuck (I replaced with a $25 chuck from ebay, which is much better)
* Wonky set screw holding the shaft steady
* Inconvenient speed changing system.
* Table a little out of square front to back and that's not adjustable (I had to shim this).
