Need suggestions on a benchtop drill press.

NYSpeed Automotive
1

I am getting pretty tired of trying to drill something larger with a hand drill and having it jump all over the place. Wanna pick one of these up for the basement shop.

Harbor Freight?
Used ole Murican iron on craigslist?
Something new/good value online? Saw this guy googling:

I don’t need anything wild and crazy. Adjustable speeds would be nice, don’t plan on going bigger than a 1/2" bit (whichever shank that is). Mostly drill plate steel, stainless, tubing, etc. Rarely wood.

How about mini-vises to hold the workpiece?

2

That looks exactly like the Ryobi Drill press that I have, I use it for woodworking more than metal, but it is great for the price.

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFg5MDA=/z/CXYAAOSwZ8ZW12E5/$_35.JPG?set_id=880000500F

3

You definitely want adjustable speeds if you are planning on drilling metal. Preserving bits and making timely/accurate cuts is very dependent on speed. The more rigid the better as well.

I’d say scour craigslist and buy more/bigger than what you think need. After using a mill for years I can’t imagine only having a drill press, especially for metal.

4

find something old. i have an old 50s/60s craftsman drill press. still works like new, better than many newer drill presses i have used. after thoroughly testing it out over the last year i’ve decided i’m going to give it a restore and use for many years to come. the new junk just doesn’t compare unless you shell out serious $$$.

edit, this is the drill press. i have a newer floor drill press as well but this one seems to work better. i need to make a new stand for this and my darra james band saw, which is also from the 50’s.

http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a342/reconrider25/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160317_240810420_zps1ja4hgkp.jpg
IMG_20160317_240810420_zps1ja4hgkp.jpg450×800

5

i have a RIGID floor drill press. was like $400 i think? http://www.homedepot.com/p/RIDGID-15-in-Drill-Press-with-LED-R1500/205653862

does everything i need it to do. i rarely if ever change the speed. i just leave it on a lower setting because slower saves bits obv. but i would definitely get an adjustable speed for the sake of having it

6

I scored an older Craftsman floor drill press for $95 delivered to my door on Craigslist. I’d check there if you haven’t already.

7

I picked up the Skil on amazon last night kinda impulsively along with a small vise. We’ll see how she runs

8

I love that old one posted above.

I have an old craftsman and I’ll say that the most important part isnt the press but the vises. I have several, most from harbor freight that get whatever im working on into position. Bought it in 2002 so that i could use a hole saw to cut fish mouths into sched 40 ss for the turbo cavalier i used to have.