Decent but cheap bench drill press?

Okay...substitute "inexpensive," and I agree that an inexpensive new
tool is very unlikely to be close to the quality of a more expensive
new tool. I did say I'd be happy with a used drill press in decent
shape.

Avery

I have the 10" Ryobi, bought on sale at the orange Borg for about $65
a few years ago. I'm very happy with it-- no problem with runout and
it's made holes in everything I've tried it on. Good forstner bits
make a huge difference, which I expect is true of any DP. I use
sanding drums quite a bit too, and since adding this press to my
"shop" I think I've used a hand brace more often than my old corded
drill.

-Derek
Thanks for the Ryobi endorsement. It's one I was considering.

Avery

>Shoot for a refurb'd good one? Since you'll need a quality machine but
want
to limit your expense...

I'd be okay with refurbed, but the ones I've seen aren't that much
cheaper than new.

Avery

>Look out for a Ryobi drill press. I have one and like it a lot. I
found
mine on ebay and it was new-in-the-box (NIB). The only bad thing about
the transaction...the seller charged me $35 to ship it across Ohio.
Another brand to consider...ShopFox.
Hope this helps.
73
Joe KB8QLR

Hey, another tool-using ham! Did you get your Ryobi just last week from
a guy in Takoma Park, Md.? I bid on it and lost.

I think I've settled on a GMC LSR13DPUL from Lowe's. The price is right
at $78, and although GMC isn't exactly a brand name unless you're into
trucks, it got a surprisingly positive reaction by
OnlineToolReviews.com
(www.onlinetoolreviews.com/reviews/gmcls13dp.htm), and the eight
customer ratings on the Lowe website gave it a much higher average
rating than buyers of other bench drill presses in the $75-$150 range.
It's even got a laser line generator.
Anybody else have this model?

Avery W3AVE
Potomac, Md.

Silvan wrote:
> Avery wrote:
>
> > I'd be okay with refurbed, but the ones I've seen aren't that much
> > cheaper than new.
>
> Let me throw out my usual suggestion to look at floor models too. I
bought
> a 10" benchtop, and then within about two years I sold it at a
considerable
> loss and traded up for a 15" floor model. (Both Crapsman.)
Full-sized
> drill presses are a lot more useful. I found both the shallow depth
to the
> column and the short table travel to be confining. Not
insurmountably
> confining, but I'm really glad I made the move up to a big'un, and I
wish I
> had started with a big'un originally.
>
> You'd be surprised how often you need to drill something that's 3/4"
too
> tall to fit on a benchtop's table. There's about 2-3" of dead space
> between the top of the table at its lowest point and the top of the
base.
> I found myself having to come up with all kinds of crude ways to
build the
> bottom up 2.25" to hold the work at the right distance to gain the
3/4" I
> needed for the operation. The numbers are all made up, but the
principle
> is sound. I ran into that limitation with frustrating regularity.
>
> I like the big'un so much better all the way around. Dramatically
better
> chuck, quicker belt changes (because there's a tension lever on the
> intermediate idler pulley, instead of a lame arrangement involving
the use
> of three hands,) and everything is just more solid and sure all the
way
> around. My drill press has been one incredibly useful machine.
>
> --
> Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
> Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
> http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
> http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

Michael, I appreciate a new perspective, especially one that comes from
experience. Thanks. I could wind up making the same ultimate choice you
did, for the same reason, but my budget, floor space, and feeling that
a big'un would be far more drill press than I'd ever need (another name
for guilt if I went that route) will dictate a little'un for now.

fyi, last night at Lowe's I picked up not the GMC LSR13DP I'd intended
on buying--a 10-inch benchtop that I'd seen reviewed favorably and that
Lowe's is selling at $78--but a Delta DP200 for $89. Even though the
GMC had a 1/3 hp motor compared to 1/4 for the Delta, and the GMC came
with laser line indicators, some of the trimmings seemed like junk
(light-gauge table extensions, light plastic table crank), and $89 for
a new DP200 looked like an awfully good price compared to what I'd seen
elsewhere. I've got a slight case of buyer remorse this morning, but
I'm sure I'd have one if I'd gone with the GMC, too. Besides, in this
price range, could there truly be a huge difference?

Thanks to all who weighed in--your comments and advice were very
helpful.

I agree completely CW. That was the deciding factor in why I bought a
floor model. I figured that I'd probably spend $50+ building a nice
plywood stand for a desktop unit anyhow.. Worked out for rationalizing
buying a floor model.

I was able to put my drill press on a mobile base as well. I hardly
ever move it, but it can be done.

Delta recommends that you bolt a large piece of 3/4 plywood to the
bottom of the drill press anyhow for stabitity, so it's easy to put one
of those mobile bases that can adjust to any size on it.

"CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I'll agree with Silvan on the floor model and mention one other additional
> point. Floor drill presses don't take up any more room that bench models.
> If
> you are one of the few that stores his bench drill press and only brings
> it
> out when needed, this is not true but for most, it is. Generally people
> end
> up building a stand for the benchtop. What they end up with is something
> that takes up as much space as but is not as useful as a floor model.

They both have good and bad points. In general, the floor models are larger
making them more versatile and can handle deeper pieces to drill. As you
point out, it should be ready for use at any time.

I have a benchtop (Delta 12") and I did build the cabinet for it. The
benefits of that are:
It is on wheels
It also houses my small compressor
It has drawer to hold accessories for the table, bits, etc.

If I had lots of room I'd have a floor model and an even taller cabinet next
to it. This is a good compromise for me.

Avery wrote:

> I'd be okay with refurbed, but the ones I've seen aren't that much
> cheaper than new.

Let me throw out my usual suggestion to look at floor models too. I bought
a 10" benchtop, and then within about two years I sold it at a considerable
loss and traded up for a 15" floor model. (Both Crapsman.) Full-sized
drill presses are a lot more useful. I found both the shallow depth to the
column and the short table travel to be confining. Not insurmountably
confining, but I'm really glad I made the move up to a big'un, and I wish I
had started with a big'un originally.

You'd be surprised how often you need to drill something that's 3/4" too
tall to fit on a benchtop's table. There's about 2-3" of dead space
between the top of the table at its lowest point and the top of the base.
I found myself having to come up with all kinds of crude ways to build the
bottom up 2.25" to hold the work at the right distance to gain the 3/4" I
needed for the operation. The numbers are all made up, but the principle
is sound. I ran into that limitation with frustrating regularity.

I like the big'un so much better all the way around. Dramatically better
chuck, quicker belt changes (because there's a tension lever on the
intermediate idler pulley, instead of a lame arrangement involving the use
of three hands,) and everything is just more solid and sure all the way
around. My drill press has been one incredibly useful machine.

--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

Avery wrote:
>
> >Shoot for a refurb'd good one? Since you'll need a quality machine but
> want
> to limit your expense...
>
> I'd be okay with refurbed, but the ones I've seen aren't that much
> cheaper than new.
>

And if they were decent to start with, they wouldn't need to be
refrub'ed would they???? :)

12" Ryobi drill press. I have used mine for 2 yrs and its decent

Fud

I've had mine for a couple years.
73
Joe


Avery wrote:
>>Look out for a Ryobi drill press. I have one and like it a lot. I
>
> found
> mine on ebay and it was new-in-the-box (NIB). The only bad thing about
> the transaction...the seller charged me $35 to ship it across Ohio.
> Another brand to consider...ShopFox.
> Hope this helps.
> 73
> Joe KB8QLR
>
> Hey, another tool-using ham! Did you get your Ryobi just last week from
> a guy in Takoma Park, Md.? I bid on it and lost.
>
> I think I've settled on a GMC LSR13DPUL from Lowe's. The price is right
> at $78, and although GMC isn't exactly a brand name unless you're into
> trucks, it got a surprisingly positive reaction by
> OnlineToolReviews.com
> (www.onlinetoolreviews.com/reviews/gmcls13dp.htm), and the eight
> customer ratings on the Lowe website gave it a much higher average
> rating than buyers of other bench drill presses in the $75-$150 range.
> It's even got a laser line generator.
> Anybody else have this model?
>
> Avery W3AVE
> Potomac, Md.
>

"Avery W3AVE" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>
> I don't want to get off-brand stuff, and I'd be happy with used if in
> decent shape. I figure I need 8" or 10".
>
> Comments? Anybody have something suitable they're looking to sell,
> ideally near Washington, D.C., to avoid shipping? (I'm in the Maryland
> suburbs.)

Decent --- Cheap
I don't see any relationship between the two.

Best value can be had with used.

Joe_Stein <[email protected]> wrote in news:z_ZFd.6611$KJ2.782
@newsread3.news.atl.earthlink.net:

> Hi Avery,
> I don't have one for sale, sorry.
> Look out for a Ryobi drill press. I have one and like it a lot. I
found
> mine on ebay and it was new-in-the-box (NIB). The only bad thing
about
> the transaction...the seller charged me $35 to ship it across Ohio.

I have the 10" Ryobi, bought on sale at the orange Borg for about $65
a few years ago. I'm very happy with it-- no problem with runout and
it's made holes in everything I've tried it on. Good forstner bits
make a huge difference, which I expect is true of any DP. I use
sanding drums quite a bit too, and since adding this press to my
"shop" I think I've used a hand brace more often than my old corded
drill.

-Derek

Since it's rare that you drop the drill pres table all the way down on a
floor model (at least for me), I built a box that mounted on the base.
Holds drill press accessories and hand drills. Both can work. The biggest
problem with most bench models is usually not height, it's swing. Used to
be, there were a lot of benchtops made that, the only difference between
them and a floor model was the post height. The market seems to be flooded
now with the Chinese miniatures. Housing the compressor is a great idea.

"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "CW" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I'll agree with Silvan on the floor model and mention one other
additional
> > point. Floor drill presses don't take up any more room that bench
models.
> > If
> > you are one of the few that stores his bench drill press and only brings
> > it
> > out when needed, this is not true but for most, it is. Generally people
> > end
> > up building a stand for the benchtop. What they end up with is something
> > that takes up as much space as but is not as useful as a floor model.
>
> They both have good and bad points. In general, the floor models are
larger
> making them more versatile and can handle deeper pieces to drill. As you
> point out, it should be ready for use at any time.
>
> I have a benchtop (Delta 12") and I did build the cabinet for it. The
> benefits of that are:
> It is on wheels
> It also houses my small compressor
> It has drawer to hold accessories for the table, bits, etc.
>
> If I had lots of room I'd have a floor model and an even taller cabinet
next
> to it. This is a good compromise for me.
>
>

"Duane Bozarth" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
>> I'd be okay with refurbed, but the ones I've seen aren't that much
>> cheaper than new.
>>
>
> And if they were decent to start with, they wouldn't need to be
> refrub'ed would they???? :)

Dunno about that.. :)

My 12" Delta was $125 refurb'd. A significant enough savings for me...

"Avery W3AVE" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> looking for a benchtop drill press that wouldn't be used that often but
> would be just what I need at critical points--truly centered holes in
> dowels, that kind of thing. I also do a fair amount of work on vintage

Shoot for a refurb'd good one? Since you'll need a quality machine but want
to limit your expense...

I'll agree with Silvan on the floor model and mention one other additional
point. Floor drill presses don't take up any more room that bench models. If
you are one of the few that stores his bench drill press and only brings it
out when needed, this is not true but for most, it is. Generally people end
up building a stand for the benchtop. What they end up with is something
that takes up as much space as but is not as useful as a floor model.

"Silvan" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Avery wrote:
>
> > I'd be okay with refurbed, but the ones I've seen aren't that much
> > cheaper than new.
>
> Let me throw out my usual suggestion to look at floor models too. I
bought
> a 10" benchtop, and then within about two years I sold it at a
considerable
> loss and traded up for a 15" floor model. (Both Crapsman.) Full-sized
> drill presses are a lot more useful. I found both the shallow depth to
the
> column and the short table travel to be confining. Not insurmountably
> confining, but I'm really glad I made the move up to a big'un, and I wish
I
> had started with a big'un originally.
>
> You'd be surprised how often you need to drill something that's 3/4" too
> tall to fit on a benchtop's table. There's about 2-3" of dead space
> between the top of the table at its lowest point and the top of the base.
> I found myself having to come up with all kinds of crude ways to build the
> bottom up 2.25" to hold the work at the right distance to gain the 3/4" I
> needed for the operation. The numbers are all made up, but the principle
> is sound. I ran into that limitation with frustrating regularity.
>
> I like the big'un so much better all the way around. Dramatically better
> chuck, quicker belt changes (because there's a tension lever on the
> intermediate idler pulley, instead of a lame arrangement involving the use
> of three hands,) and everything is just more solid and sure all the way
> around. My drill press has been one incredibly useful machine.
>
> --
> Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
> Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
> http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
> http://rosegarden.sourceforge.net/tutorial/

Hi Avery,
I don't have one for sale, sorry.
Look out for a Ryobi drill press. I have one and like it a lot. I found
mine on ebay and it was new-in-the-box (NIB). The only bad thing about
the transaction...the seller charged me $35 to ship it across Ohio.
Another brand to consider...ShopFox.
Hope this helps.
73
Joe KB8QLR




Avery W3AVE wrote:
> My first post to this group--thanks for all the help available. I'm
> looking for a benchtop drill press that wouldn't be used that often but
> would be just what I need at critical points--truly centered holes in
> dowels, that kind of thing. I also do a fair amount of work on vintage
> radios and communications receivers from about 1930 to the end of the
> vacuum tube era, and sometimes need to drill holes in aluminum fittings
> or bar stock.
>
> I don't want to get off-brand stuff, and I'd be happy with used if in
> decent shape. I figure I need 8" or 10".
>
> Comments? Anybody have something suitable they're looking to sell,
> ideally near Washington, D.C., to avoid shipping? (I'm in the Maryland
> suburbs.)
>
> Avery
>