Budget drill press?

Justin Schmidt

Justin Schmidt

Joined
Feb 18, 2016
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Anyone have any recommendations for a budget drill press? I was thinking about the HF one but did a quick search and they don't seem to get the best reviews around here. I've been checking CL and there is a couple of 8in deltas a guardian power and 1 craftsman. What do you upstanding gentleman recommend?

Edit: I will be using this to cut .500 thick steel for my grinder build. So it's gonna need to be able to drill through that as well
 
What is your budget? I would recommend holding out for a nice floor model Delta from Craigslist. Get the biggest most powerful one you can afford. That's kind of my motto with all equipment though :D. I scored a big bastard on there a while back for around $300 and it's been a nice press so far. That being said, I used a little $80 HF 5-speed drill press for a while and got the job done. If you start with smaller bits, make pilot holes, and then step up in bit sizes gradually, you can hog some big holes with it. Let us know what your budget is. It's best to not get HF if you can afford something better in my experience.
 
Well I'm trying to stay below $100 the wife would prefer around $50 lol but I found an 8in for $60 and a 12in for 90 both delta. I'd definitely rather have a big floor model but with not having a drill press at all its going to make making knives all that more difficult.
 
Remember buying used can be as much of a crap shoot as buying new HF when your budget is 50-100$ even a Delta that's been abused can have bad spindle bearings. Run the motor at its highest speed and watch the spindle and listen for bearings whining.

Cheap drill bits + worn out drill press=poor drilling results.
 
I think I'm just gonna go with the HF just for the simple fact that if something goes wrong they have a warranty and HF is right up the road.
 
Good Thinking ^^^^it will get you started and make sure that you level your table and check that the spindle is plumb with a square use a short piece of drill rod 1/4". It can always be a backup when you have the money for a better press...Good Luck

Mike
 
Busto said:
Good Thinking ^^^^it will get you started and make sure that you level your table and check that the spindle is plumb with a square use a short piece of drill rod 1/4". It can always be a backup when you have the money for a better press...Good Luck

Mike
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Thanks Mike I appreciate your input

Justin Schmidt
 
valknut said:
I think I'm just gonna go with the HF just for the simple fact that if something goes wrong they have a warranty and HF is right up the road.
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If there is a chance to try 2 or 3 of their lot I would certainly do that. Chuck in a 3/8" drill bit and at least try to see if there is any wobble. You'd be surprised how one of the three could be noticably real bad or real good compared to the others. Not much of a test but better than nothing. Good luck.
 
I thought about that. I could chuck up a pencil and lower it down on a piece of paper then I'd know exactly what I am dealing with. But with my luck in 2 months it would break and I'd be SOL
 
I use one and it runs straight as an arrow. I set it up on the slowest speed and haven't touched it since. If you get a wobbly one just keep exchanging them till you find a good one.
 
E.Carlson said:
I use one and it runs straight as an arrow. I set it up on the slowest speed and haven't touched it since. If you get a wobbly one just keep exchanging them till you find a good one.
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Perks of that life tI've warranty. That was pretty much my game plan
 
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