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Buying a new drill press. Have checked numerous reviews but find a lot of conflicting info. I need a bench type press due to limited floor space.
Not sure of the benefits of the radial versus non radial. Also oscillating versus non oscillating.
These are the choices I have narrowed it down to.

http://grizzly.com/products/G7943

http://www.grizzly.com/products/5-Speed ... ress/G7945

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Oscilla ... ress/H0626

http://www.amazon.com/RIKON-30-140-Benc ... 48&sr=1-43

http://www.amazon.com/Rikon-30-200-13-I ... 229&sr=1-5

Anyone using any of these. Any thoughts on them

Tim

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Tim

I've seen most people recommend really big drill presses. I've got one of these, and I've never been dissappointed with it.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_92896-70-DP350_0_?productId=3083877&Ntt=drill+press&Ntk=i_products&pl=1&currentURL=/pl__0__s?newSearch=true$Ntt=drill%20press

I guess it would compare to the 2nd one you've got listed.

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I didn't mean to say it, but I meant what I said.
http://www.brackettinstruments.com/

I have that drill press. It's ok. The table is a little wobbly when you loosen it and loses square, and it struggles to push big forstner bits into mdf, but I have no serious complaints.

I also bought one of these and I love it. It is a beast. Very well made and powerful.
http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-Spee ... ress/G7948

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Yea Brock that is a beast. Unfortunately my budget is $300.00 give or take.

Man it always has to be about money doesn't it?

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Tim

Maybe you should check out the Grizzly tent sale in September if you are able to get to PA. I'll be there looking for one of what Brock has among other things.

Would love to wait till September for the sale, but my 30 yr old drill press just burned up on me and I can't wait that long..

Just found this deal at Sears on a Rikon???

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00921077000P

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Tim

Can't help you there. I've never considered a bench top model. My uncle keeps a decent floor model in the shop, but I will be getting my own Grizz soon. Hopefully come September for a nice price.

I wouldn't buy the radial as no one likes them but me...
But I would guess the real question is what are you going to use it for? A little thought about that will answer your own question.

I wouldn't recommend the Grizzly - too much runout and I can never get the nut that adjust the slope of the table tight.

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

I don't know which one you are referring to but mine is very well made.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I hear you. That is why I am limping my poor drum sander along until I can get a much bigger nicer one.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

We have a G7943 and like it pretty well for the $. FWW gave it a good review, I think. The 140rpm on the slow end is good for large bits in metal (if you need that).

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David Malicky

I have a Rigid I picked up at home depot for like $250. Floor stand model not a bench top. It's a nice machine. Been running great for me. Very accurate and smooth.

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John Mayes
http://www.mayesluthier.com

Brock, mines the 7944. Maybe I got a lemon?

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A higher purpose for wood.
Rich Smith
Issaquah, WA

It took me a long time to take the Grizzly plunge. I had a poor experience with an edge sander, but decided to give them a try on a nice cabinet saw and it has been a dream. Since then I have given them more and more of a shot. So far so good.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

Tim,

I have a small shop too (160 sq ft). Nevertheless I went with a floor standing model. I'll build a cabinet or shelves under the table so that it does not waste all the space underneath since guitar building does not need to run the table donw near the floor anyway. Then it becomes like a super heavy duty (194#) bench type on wheels! As some of the members pointed out here to me, the drill press can have many functions if I put a little more $ into it (drilling, spindle sanding, thicknessing, routing, etc.) Having the long 3 7/8" quill stroke is handy.

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page ... ign=Google

Catching a sale was key for me - caught the Delta above from Lowes on clearance $269.

Good luck on your choice.

Ed

http://www.powermatic.com/Products.aspx ... cat=332168

Mustard Monster. Infinitely variable speed between 600 and 3600 rpm (as I recall)

Digital readout of speed, two led worksurface lights, laser (yes, it is very accurate). Mechanical stops. And I got it for about $150 more than the grizzly. New.

Mike

Well I wasn't happy with my choices for the money I had available to spend so decided to cheap out and went to Home Depot and bought a Ryobi D121L, figuring it might get me by until the next grizzly sale.

Well Home Depot didn't have one on display so I just took my chances even though I had read mixed reviews about the Ryobi. After getting it home and unboxing it, I was kind of stunned and impressed. This thing is a beast. Weights right at 100lbs and everything seems to be very heavily made. Laser, work light, variable speed, nice depth stop. I got to doing some more research and Toolcritic.com rates it as #6 out of all bench top drill presses. It has a better rating than Rikon and Grizzly. My old bench top drill press was a baby compared to this thing, about half the size and very little torque.

Took my time setting everything up. Properly installing all parts and getting the table plumb with the drill, lasers dialed in etc. Drilled a few test holes and everything seems to be perfect. Get ready to drill the tuner holes in the headstock for my almost completed dred and lost my nerve. Drilled about 40 more test holes in wood and aluminum checking and rechecking everything.(remember this thing is a Ryobi, wanted to be sure before ruining my neck) Everything seeems great. This was on Saturday evening. Put everything aside and went to watch TV with the family.

Well, came out to the shop tonight, got out my tuner jig clamped everything in place drilled all 6 holes. Everything is perfect. No runout. No play or flex in the arbor. Just like its supposed to be. All for $170.00

Everyone thought I was crazy when I bought a Ryobi BT3000 Tablesaw but it has turned out to be the best tool purchase I have ever made. 12 years old and still as accurate and reliable as the day I bought it. I think this drill press might turn out to be another one of those little gems.

Sorry for the long post but wanted to pass this info on.

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Tim

You know I may go for the Ryobi as well - it looked pretty nice at the Home Depot when I saw it - and I think my old Harbor Freight drill press has just met it's limits - runs noisy now - so I guess it is developing some run out. The chuck fell off the spindle while I was using it and then once I fixed that - the pulley in the top, loosened. I think had enough -

Your Ryobi review is helpful.

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It's this new idea from recent decades that everyone gets a participation award. - MUX