drill press recomendations

TiSurvival

TiSurvival

Joined
Jul 7, 2006
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I'm looking to get a drill press to basically be able to drill a straight hole into wood, deer antler, g-10, and micarta. I really don't know the first thing about drill presses, which brands are good, etc. Can anyone recommend an ok one that wont take up too much space in a small garage? Should I try to buy used? or buy something from like harbor freight?

I will be using them for making fire steel handles where the sizes range from 1/4" to 3/8"
 
Tabletop or floor model?

IMO, Grizzly makes the best table top. Its got a full diameter support post, and a heftier motor than the other table tops.

I had a few harbor freight tabletops before the grizzly. I burnt the motors out of those.
 
I guess a table top would take up less space and would be cheaper no?
I guess looking for a used grizzly would be the way to go.

Any specific models?
 
Man, you guys got lucky. I literally burned out 3 motors in a few months in HF drill presses. I still love to go there. But I don't trust the motors.
 
I guess everyone has there 2 cents.

In all honestly it will be more for hobby type stuff. Does harbor freight offer any extended warranties? that sears one doesn't look too bad.
 
The best thing you can do is check if the table is square to the chuck with a bent wire of better yet a dial indicator. You can adjust side to side but front to back you have to shim if off. I have a large HF that I bought on sale and its a great drill press. I had a couple of smaller ones and they were ok.
 
I purchased the Home Depot floor model not too long ago and love it. $299, lifetime warranty and well built.
 
Yes HF does offer a 2 year extended warranty. I recently purchased one of their 16 speed floor models on sale for $199 and another (I think) $35 for a 2 year free replacement warranty.
 
I have several Craftsman drill presses and a few from Micro Mark for some smaller stuff.
I have added Albrecht manual chucks to each. I don't have any concerns about each being more accurate than I am. I do check the table to chuck angle on each very occasionally.
I use the same setup for addition of Procunier tappers and get alot of 0-80 and 1-72 tapped holes from each tap (plenty of tap ease or fluid) and if /when the tap breaks it is usually because of a flinch by the operator (me), not the machine.
 
I love my Grizzly http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-Speed-Heavy-Duty-14-Floor-Drill-Press/G7944 ....it's a floor model that take's up little more than a square foot of space. Order a catalog for free http://grizzly.com/catalog_requests.aspx and check out the beginning few pages of the book for the "Customer Reviews & Awards" information on their various products. http://www.grizzly.com/products/G7944/reviews/

They have a lot of great stuff, built right for the burgeoning knife maker.

Have Fun,

Bob
 
FYI to anyone looking to get anything in harbor freight. If you register online with your email they will email you a 20% off any single item coupon within minutes. My coupon expires May 31. I printed out 2 and I am going to pick up a drill press and a bandsaw. I will get the 2 year warranty as well, which from my research shows it is no hassle to deal with it.

Also, I registered two different emails and the #code on the bottom is the same, so the coupon can be printed multiple times, but to be on the safe side, I registered my wife's email and mine and will have her pick one up with the print out from her email.

In the end I will save a total of about 80 bucks on the items.
 
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