Drill Press Suggestions, Please!

Archived from the Tools In Action forum (Power Tools). This thread is read-only.

MarkovvMember since Jul 2013Jul 21, 2013 4:30 AM CT

I have come to terms with the fact that I will need to part with a serious amount of cash and get me a drill press. Just wondering whether any of you guys on the forum have any particular favourites or any thoughts on the drill presses I should avoid.

I expect that I will have about $400 to splash out with.

Looking forward to reading your thoughts!

Thanks

Marko

firefighter4187Member since Mar 2013Jul 21, 2013 9:20 AM CT

This porter cable is very popular, and wont break the bank:Amazon

Conductor562Member since Nov 2011Jul 21, 2013 9:03 PM CT

I concur with Chase. The PC linked above is a good buy.

DR99Member since Nov 2012Jul 21, 2013 10:24 PM CT

Harbor Freight has some drill presses that also get really good reviews. Do you need a bench or full size model? Also do you want a made in the USA tool because they still make some of the stationary tools here. Home depot sells a bunch online also http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/catalog/servlet/Search?storeId=10051&langId=-1&catalogId=10053&keyword=drill+press&Ns=None&Ntpr=1&Ntpc=1&selectedCatgry=Search+All

Conductor562Member since Nov 2011Jul 21, 2013 10:42 PM CT

Grizzly Industrial presses are pretty decent. Looking at their offering, I still favor the PC

http://www.grizzly.com/products/category/24

DR99Member since Nov 2012Jul 22, 2013 12:53 AM CT

The last time I used a drill press was high school shop class. If buying new isn’t a priority check out craigslist there are deals out there you just have to be smart on how you deal with people on there. The biggest scams seem to be cars and any sort of electronics computers or cell phones.

MarkovvMember since Jul 2013Jul 22, 2013 1:08 AM CT

Thanks for the input, guys.

I have spent a bit of time reading various reviews of drill presses online (like this one) and scouting around Amazon to see what gets the highest reviews there. I like the look of the Shop Fox W1668. Anyone been using that or heard much about it?

Not previously considered the Porter Cable, but it’s on my shortlist now!

Thanks

DR99Member since Nov 2012Jul 22, 2013 2:52 AM CT

Never heard of the shop fox name and it looks really hit or miss with that drill press. A good number of reviews say its poorly packaged to ship, and if your going to spend that much money I would want a tool that has good options for service and parts. If you look online a lot of the bench tools are made by the same company but they brand it for another company.

Conductor562Member since Nov 2011Jul 22, 2013 8:21 AM CT

Grizzly carries Shop Fox. Like DR99 said, they tend to be hit or miss. I’ve never used one, but they’ve come up in conversation here and there. Some like them, some don’t. I guess that’s true of anything though.

Harold WrayMember since Jun 2013Jul 22, 2013 10:42 AM CT

ChaseRogers wrote:
This porter cable is very popular, and wont break the bank:http://www.lowes.com/pd_78742-46069-PCB660DP_0__’>http://www.lowes.com/pd_78742-46069-PCB660DP_0__

You can’t go wrong with Porter Cable.

toolorbitMember since Jul 2013Jul 29, 2013 3:51 AM CT

Jet products have great reputation. Its industrial standard heavy duty tools. We review one of their drill press and find it to be a great tool for the right price. 17 inch drill press for $609.99 is a great bargin.