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Thread: Is this a good drill press?
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14th Jan 2020, 06:34 PM #1
Is this a good drill press?
I’m looking at buying a drill press for home/hobby workshop use. Just wondering if this is a good deal/machine? Or if there is a better option in a similar price range?
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14th Jan 2020, 07:38 PM #2Most Valued Member
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It should be good seeing that it is new.
Depending on the type/ amount of use you have for it, it may be good.
All of these types of drills will have some type of short coming but used wisely should perform okay.
Looking at other similar drills the machine specs are very similar, it appears that the biggest differences are in table shape and cost, from what I have seen the one you linked to comes in around $100 cheaper compared to the similar drills.
As you use it you will notice some of its short comings, you will just have adjust your style of use.
All said and done they are a suitable drill for general home use.
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14th Jan 2020, 07:51 PM #3Diamond Member
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Looks fine for general use. Just be prepared to spend a bit of time squaring up the table.
And make sure you get one of these:
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/C103
And a vice.
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14th Jan 2020, 07:57 PM #4Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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Its a basic budget level drill press. There's not a lot of alternatives , either spend a lot more or look around for a higher end used one.
What's the intended use?
They're fairly light weight and top heavy so recommend locking in to a wider base or the floor.
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14th Jan 2020, 08:04 PM #5Mechanical Butcher
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Some years ago a friend bought a 16mm chucked drill press for what seemed a knock-down price.
It looked at first sight to be just like other Asian DPs.
Shortcomings revealed themselves soon after, like the lack of a keyway for the quill.
The only thing stopping it from turning with the chuck was the rack & pinion.
Fit and finish were also sub-normal.
That would have saved a few bucks.
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14th Jan 2020, 10:36 PM #6Senior Member
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At this price I think you will find they are all pretty much the some. I did notice that the H&F site I looked at they are $20 more than what you showed. Your saving already.
If you have never had a drill press before you will think its great.
Its a big step up from a hand drill.
As time goes on and you push it harder it will show up its limitations.
If you are prepared to spend a lot of time searching the net, spend a lot more money, or just be in the right place at the right time a geared head drill is the way to go.
Tony
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15th Jan 2020, 01:53 AM #7Golden Member
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There is a big gap in the speed range between 660 RPM and 1150 RPM.
Frank.
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15th Jan 2020, 10:42 AM #8Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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This is typical of the budget 12 speeds but is usually not that big of a deal
280, 420, 440, 550, 620, 660, 1150, 1180, 1400, 1550, 1830, 2380
As franco says the biggest RPM gap (74%) between 660 and 1150 is on the large side
And given the relatively small differences (~5 or less%) between the 420 and 440, the 620 and 660 and 1150 and 1180 it's really is only a 9 speed drill.
It depends on the drill but going to 16 speeds usually improves things and usually you get a wider speed ranges as well
Mine has 160, 240, 290 350 410 480 530, 590 660 720 1190 1350 1510 1970 2100 3000
The biggest RPM gap difference is ~40% between the 720 and 1190 speeds, and the smallest (6%) difference between the 1970 and 2100 makes it a 15 speed drill
I know I sound like a broken record, but using a 3Phase motor and VFD removes these gaps and for most cases eliminates the need to change belts.
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15th Jan 2020, 02:33 PM #9Member
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A few years ago I bought, from H&F, a PD 22 which looks like the same make but a bit bigger. Out of curiosity, I compared every accuracy measurement I could think of with my two Waldown drill presses. To my great surprise, the chinese machine was better in every case; sometimes by a large margin. I'm happy with mine. Its now my go to drill press. Quill travel is low, which mainly means you have to adjust the table height more often. The column is very thin wall and it feels like it flexes. Certainly an enormous improvement over the Taiwanese drill press I bought 45 years ago.
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15th Jan 2020, 04:28 PM #10
Thanks everyone for your comments I understand the limitations you’ve mentioned some helpful hints. Given me some food for thought. I might give it a go seeing as it’s cheap, I’ll no doubt find out further limitations as I use it but hopefully it does most of what I’d like to do at this stage in time.
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15th Jan 2020, 08:53 PM #11
Hi Doily,
A solid column makes a massif difference to its drilling behaviour, as does a rigid table ! I used to have three Fobco Star 1/2" ones that were floor standing. One of my gripes with them was the lack of a lifter for the table.
I kept the one that I have now which is a table model and the last one that I bought.Best Regards:
Baron J.
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17th Jan 2020, 01:35 AM #12
Im sure that one will be just fine, its a medium quality brand still probably have a few niggles to sort out to get the best performance from it
I learnt the hard way and thought Id buy a better brand(JET)MF20" HD model was a good quadruple that price in hindsight I could have had a Hafco gearhead drill for a thousand more.
The JET is not a bad drill press its pretty solid doesnt flex with me hanging off it and the quill has a 120mm plunge depth(good for woodworking)and a 2hp motor and 90mm column, but the belts were utter crap had plastic knobs everywhere which wont last and the depth stop is of prehistoric design(and made of flexible plastic), not to mention had to be "fettled" with a lot to run smoother and drill precisely I still cant stop the belt cover from rattling... I think the motor isn't balanced well enough (doesn't effect its performance just annoying).
I think probably most brands will need some work to some degree unless you lash out and buy either a new gen wizz bang electronic drilling machine(look up NOVA DVR)or if metalworking predominately a gearhead.....................................................................
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17th Jan 2020, 10:36 AM #13Member
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I can't speak for this particular model, however I've recently been at someone else's workshop where they had one of these Hafco drill presses and it was terrible
The table visibly flexed while drilling a 10mm hole, and the cast base had also cracked
Nothing about it felt good to me
But as I say it might be a cheaper model
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17th Jan 2020, 10:36 AM #14Member: Blue and white apron brigade
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You can check this by removing the belts and running the motor.
I had the same problem and after a lot of mucking about tracked it down to the belts.
When the DP is left unused even for a short time the belts develop a "set" where they are in contact with the pulleys.
The longer its left unused the worse the set gets.
Then when the drill is run the "set" generates a vibe.
I was going to shell out big $$ for a set of linked belts but then I heard about belt restorer.
I used the WD40 spray can from Supercheap
I removed the belts, spray them liberally with belt restorer and left them in a plastic bag in the hot sun for a day which restores the belts suppleness and improves the grip.
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23rd Jan 2020, 02:59 AM #15
Thanks Bob, yes I removed the belts and replaced them as it was dancing all over the shop and it still rattled after replacing them, it possibly could be the drive pulley too, I'll remove it one day and see if that's the problem.(its a slight vibration that you can just feel it doesn't cause any problems with performance)
If you got some flexing of the table like TommyGMachining is mentioning and need a quick fix put a car jack and a support bar/2x4 and put a tad of preload under the table, this will help keep your drilling true and square.....................................................................
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