The death of my drill

Chang

Chang

Joined
Oct 9, 1998
Messages
1,767
It's a sad day for Chang. I think my drill is seeing the last of it's days. It's one of those hand drills with the stand, and now the stand is wobbling uncontrollably during drilling. The table keeps sliding around or it twists so I find myself drilling at 45-degrees. I found that my holes were getting more and more crooked too. So I'm thinking maybe it's finally time for me to get a real drill press. I'm considering either one of those 1/3HP Sears models with the vise for around 90 bucks, or the Harbor Freight 1/3 HP for like 60 bucks. Which one do you guys think is a better deal?
 
Chang, you might want to look at some others.

I have been very happy with 2 Ryobi drill presses used for a couple of years. The latest version spotted at Home Depot @$99. even better yet, with a crank elevator for the table and on/off in front.

They are an honest 1/4hp (unlike some ratings) and drill 1/2" holes just fine in steel.
 
I've been using the HF benchtop drill press for about 12 years (40 bucks back then) for various stuff with no real problems, but I can see, or maybe I just imagine, it flexes a little when drilling big holes.

I think I'm gonna check out the Ryobi.

Dave
 
RD,
I saw a Delta 1/4HP at Lowes for about $99 as well. Are those the same type as the Ryobi? I'm thinking if I turn down the speed with the pulleys, I will still get enough power out of the 1/4 HP motor. I'm more concerned about the table and bearings quality than I am about the motor.

Gouge, I'd prefer to buy the drill press from HF if I buy from mail/internet order, because they give free shipping for an order over $50, which is big saving for 45 pound machinery.
 
Got me a cool old Craftsman 1/3 hp cast iron body bench model for$25.00 at a garage sale not too long ago. Needed a $3.00 power switch to get going again. Seems to have very little headstock runout.

just my opinion.

jmx
 
Chang!
What luck! Your old drill burns out so you get a new one! I kind of like that good news/bad news sort of stuff when a that happens to something that I really wasn't too happy with to begin with!

OK, so you have to spend a little moola to get it going again. You can get another hand drill and have the same (mundane) thing or you can upgrade! Seriously, I have a Ryobi that I bought from Home Depot quite a few years ago and it works fine for knifemakeing. Not the most accurate thing in the world but works just fine.

You may find if you look around enough that these are all the same machines with just someone else's nameplate on them. Check it out.


C Wilkins
 
Chang, I have a Delta bench top model and it works just fine. I've used my indicators to dail it in and it holds tolerences. The good thing about the Delta is not waiting and no shipping charges.
 
Chang, can't answer your question about Delta vs Ryobi?

Have not really compared any since my last buy a couple of years ago. I think Delta may have a couple of grades of tools. I did notice the new Ryobi because it was displayed near the entrance.
 
Well folks, I went to the hardware store and got myself a Delta drill press. A cute little machine with 1/4HP motor, variable speeds with the pulley system, and a sturdy looking table. Got to assembling it after dinner. The table refused to tighten, so I kept tightening, and it refused to stay put (still kept trying to fall down or wobble). So, out comes the wrench to tighten the screw, and with a Tarzan yell (it became VERY difficult to tighten at this point), I tighten it a little bit more. Still, the table doesn't lock. :mad: Another Tarzan yell and a wrenching, and this loud POP noise. :eek:


:confused: :confused: Drill press tables don't make popping noises! So I look at the back of it, and the casting is split! :mad: :mad: :( :confused: :eek:

I'm going to return it tommorrow. Something is definately wrong with my drill press. Might just get a Sears one instead of the Delta. :mad:
 
You might find it worth while to look at one of the next size up Harbor Freight drill presses. They aren't much more money than the Delta when bought on sale and seem much more sturdy.

Another option is to do like I did and buy a used Craftsman or the like at a garage sale or perhaps out of the classified ads in your local paper. Just wiggle the chuck after it's tightened all the way down to make sure there is no lateral play which would indicate excessive bearing wear. I got a real nice old Craftsman bench model (big cast iron headstock) with a big 1/3 hp motor (which had been replaced recently with a factory replacement!) that needed a power switch for only $25.00! You might find a good example with no problems for what you'd pay for a new light duty model. A drill press is not a complicated machine: a power switch, a motor, and a solid chassis. As long as the bearings are sound and the rack and pinion gears are ok (what makes it go up and down when you pull the handle) you're good to go.

JMHO.

jmx
 
Hey, I checked the ads, and there is a Sears machine going for $100, 1/3HP, vise, fence included. Plus tommorrow morning is 10% off sale on everything. :D So I'm going to get that one instead. Hopefully it has a better table clamping method that actually works.
 
Tried that ENCO site and what a terrible website it is. It's a shame that they have to have the Adobe acrobat built in. The end result is that you have to sit there and wait for the damn thing to download.
 
Got my new Sears 1/3 drill press with vise and fence. For $90 + tax! :D I'm happy with it. It's real tough on my hands though, tightening the chuck. I had to degrease the inside of the chuck with some acetone in order to get it so it would hold the bit in place. The chuck came off the tapered spindle once too, but a couple taps with a rubber mallet and its on and it doesnt look like its coming off.
 
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