AD

Adam Diehl

26/11/2004 7:45 PM

Harbor Frieght 8" drill press (central machinery 44506-1VGA)

I'm thinking of picking one of these up for limited use in my shop for
cutting plugs, spindle sanding and maybe even to drill a hole once in a
while. As I mentioned, it would probably see very little use. I don't
have a drill press now, and if I got this, it would be in addition to a
dedicated mortiser (a Delta, not the crappy one they have at HF). What
do you guys think? Is this worth the $40 or would I do better to buy $40
worth of clamps? Thanks!

Regards,
Adam Diehl


This topic has 5 replies

Jn

"Joe"

in reply to Adam Diehl on 26/11/2004 7:45 PM

26/11/2004 10:45 PM

> Get the Pittsburgh bar clamps instead. I have one of the little
> 8-inchers and it's so powerful, you can stall the motor with a
> 3/4" bit and about ten pounds of down pressure. The spindle is
> a taper fit which rules out any side pressure whatsoever, so
> it isn't usable for sanding, period.
>
> But, if you don't mind an eighth of an inch runout, they're not
> bad. ;) (Between a cheap chuck and the spindle bearings/loose
> fit, it can either wobble or just move all over the place.)
>
> It was worth the $40, but I need a real drill press, too. The
> throat depth is too small to drill out the saw blade holes for
> my old table saw's larger arbor.

I'd suggest spending a bit more and getting the Grizzly floor model (I
forget what it is exactly) for around $200. The chuck is on with a Jacobs
taper but if it comes off, you can clean the inside of the chuck and the
taper with acetone or rubbing alcohol and wack it back on with an aluminum
or rubber mallet and it'll never come off again IMHO.

We have one for real light duty use at the shop and subject it to all kinds
of tests. Side load, overloaded hole sizes, etc. When customers send us
samples to drill, we clamp the most obnoxious heads onto the unit with an
adapter and stall it often, but it just keeps going and going. The belts
are cheap to replace via McMaster (write down their sizes when the unit
comes in and order a spare set if you think you'll abuse it like we do) and
the built in light bulb is nice for a small machine.

I can shoot you a digital picture of the quill and chuck it comes with from
my shop if you (or anyone else) wants. It'll be Monday, but I promise to
send it.

Joe - V#8013 - '86 VN750 - joe @ yunx .com
Northern, NJ
Ride a Motorcycle? Ask me about "The Ride"
http://www.youthelate.com/the_ride.htm

Born once - Die twice. Born twice - Die only once. Your choice...

Have unwanted music CDs or DVDs of any type? I can use them for our
charity. eMail me privately for details. Donation receipts available.


LJ

Larry Jaques

in reply to Adam Diehl on 26/11/2004 7:45 PM

27/11/2004 1:21 PM

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 20:46:09 -0700, Doug Winterburn
<[email protected]> calmly ranted:

>On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 19:40:39 -0800, Larry Jaques wrote:
>
>
>> Get the Pittsburgh bar clamps instead. I have one of the little 8-inchers
>> and it's so powerful, you can stall the motor with a 3/4" bit and about
>> ten pounds of down pressure. The spindle is a taper fit which rules out
>> any side pressure whatsoever, so it isn't usable for sanding, period.
>>
>> But, if you don't mind an eighth of an inch runout, they're not bad. ;)
>> (Between a cheap chuck and the spindle bearings/loose fit, it can either
>> wobble or just move all over the place.)
>
>Sorry Lar, I musta got the good one...

I just KNEW they had sent at least 1 good one to somewhere in the
Southwest... Congrats.


--------------------------------------
PESSIMIST: An optimist with experience
--------------------------------------------
www.diversify.com - Web Database Development

LJ

Larry Jaques

in reply to Adam Diehl on 26/11/2004 7:45 PM

26/11/2004 7:40 PM

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 19:45:46 -0500, Adam Diehl
<[email protected]> calmly ranted:

>I'm thinking of picking one of these up for limited use in my shop for
>cutting plugs, spindle sanding and maybe even to drill a hole once in a
>while. As I mentioned, it would probably see very little use. I don't
>have a drill press now, and if I got this, it would be in addition to a
>dedicated mortiser (a Delta, not the crappy one they have at HF). What
>do you guys think? Is this worth the $40 or would I do better to buy $40
>worth of clamps? Thanks!

Get the Pittsburgh bar clamps instead. I have one of the little
8-inchers and it's so powerful, you can stall the motor with a
3/4" bit and about ten pounds of down pressure. The spindle is
a taper fit which rules out any side pressure whatsoever, so
it isn't usable for sanding, period.

But, if you don't mind an eighth of an inch runout, they're not
bad. ;) (Between a cheap chuck and the spindle bearings/loose
fit, it can either wobble or just move all over the place.)

It was worth the $40, but I need a real drill press, too. The
throat depth is too small to drill out the saw blade holes for
my old table saw's larger arbor.


--------------------------------------
PESSIMIST: An optimist with experience
--------------------------------------------
www.diversify.com - Web Database Development

DW

Doug Winterburn

in reply to Adam Diehl on 26/11/2004 7:45 PM

26/11/2004 8:16 PM

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 19:45:46 -0500, Adam Diehl wrote:

> I'm thinking of picking one of these up for limited use in my shop for
> cutting plugs, spindle sanding and maybe even to drill a hole once in a
> while. As I mentioned, it would probably see very little use. I don't have
> a drill press now, and if I got this, it would be in addition to a
> dedicated mortiser (a Delta, not the crappy one they have at HF). What do
> you guys think? Is this worth the $40 or would I do better to buy $40
> worth of clamps? Thanks!

Works like a champ. I just got through rough drilling 96 mortices using
forstner bits and a simple table extension/fence/stop. It sees constant
duty with the Woodcraft strop kit for keeping an edge on those chisels
I've been using to clean up the mortices.

For $40, can't go wrong - in fact I might get another for dedicated strop
duty.

-Doug

DW

Doug Winterburn

in reply to Adam Diehl on 26/11/2004 7:45 PM

26/11/2004 8:46 PM

On Fri, 26 Nov 2004 19:40:39 -0800, Larry Jaques wrote:


> Get the Pittsburgh bar clamps instead. I have one of the little 8-inchers
> and it's so powerful, you can stall the motor with a 3/4" bit and about
> ten pounds of down pressure. The spindle is a taper fit which rules out
> any side pressure whatsoever, so it isn't usable for sanding, period.
>
> But, if you don't mind an eighth of an inch runout, they're not bad. ;)
> (Between a cheap chuck and the spindle bearings/loose fit, it can either
> wobble or just move all over the place.)

Sorry Lar, I musta got the good one...

-Doug


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