Best bench top drill press

[Long1MD]

I was looking to get a little further into working on my own stuff. I was hoping some present, professional gunsmiths might chime in with recommendations for a quality bench top drill press. The inter web often gives you the "best sellers" but we all know that the "best seller " normally is not the best. I would like to buy a press that will last me..."buy once, cry once" type of deal.

 

[SRD]

Not a bench top but I have the older model of this.Bought in 1990 and haven't changed anything but the light bulb.
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-15inch-drill-press/p-00934984000P?prdNo=3&blockNo=3&blockType=G3

 

[Long1MD]

The more I look at presses, the more I'm leaning toward the stand alones. Dremel makes a bench top work station that gives many different angles but I'm not sure it will take a 1/2 shank bit on a Dremel

 

[DaemonAssassin]

If you can find a Rockwell, get it. Otherwise, I swear by Delta.

 

[BadLuckAintNoCrime]

I dont know if you can justify it the cost, but I saved up a little bit more and got a benchtop mill/drill. I bought the little machine shop one, and they have them on sale quite often. Just a thought...

 

[iH8DemLibz]

Ryobi makes a great press.

 

[JoeRinMD]

I have a Jet floor-mounted drill press. Here's the bench-top version of the same machine:

http://www.jettools.com/us/en/p/15-bench-mount-drill-press/354165

Their equipment seems to be well made. I've used mine for tons of jobs, primarily wood-working but also light metal-working as well.

JoeR

 

[Long1MD]

If you can find a Rockwell, get it. Otherwise, I swear by Delta.

Daemon, is that older Rockwell and deltas only?

 

[DaemonAssassin]

Daemon, is that older Rockwell and deltas only?

Those are the ones I used in high school. I've also used the Deltas that were made within the past 10 years and they were good to me.

 

[smdub]

If you can find an older one that has a morse taper (MT) spindle it is likely much better than anything made today. We found a used benchtop Rockwell(?) at Cabin Fever this year for ~$80. Better built than my old floor standing $400 Delta. FWIW, the annual cams-club.org yardsale is later this month (Lorton, VA). Almost guaranteed to be a couple drill presses there. I'll be there in the silver F350 dually (prob buying more/chatting than selling) so if anyone stops by, introduce yourself.

 

[alucard0822]

My little Delta has been good to me, probably made in the same Chinese factory as a dozen other makes. Benchtop presses are good for small stuff, but a little larger press that can fit a milling fixture or a mill/drill would be much more versatile.

 

[friendlyhippo]

If you can find an older one that has a morse taper (MT) spindle it is likely much better than anything made today. We found a used benchtop Rockwell(?) at Cabin Fever this year for ~$80. Better built than my old floor standing $400 Delta. FWIW, the annual cams-club.org yardsale is later this month (Lorton, VA). Almost guaranteed to be a couple drill presses there. I'll be there in the silver F350 dually (prob buying more/chatting than selling) so if anyone stops by, introduce yourself.

Where in the world are you going to put it?

 

[atblis]

Check out Grizzly. Still Asian, but noticeably better than the average china mart dp. Jet too.

I'm not sure what your plans are, but a crappy mill is generally better than the best drill press.

 

[jt2100r]

I have a Skil 10" press. It works OK.

 

[Jmorrismetal]

I picked up a Burgmaster bench top off ebay awhile back.

Best $46 I have spent on a drilling device.

Video of how it works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fAVaOMdBkc

 

[MigraineMan]

I bought a Ridgid floor-stander about six years ago. It has performed well. (It's the predecessor to this one.) I've also got a 1/2 benchtop drill press which is a beast ... and is also on-loan so I can't look at the tag. Looks a lot like this one from Grizzly. Finally, I have a Grizzly 0619 benchtop mill, which can be a drill press, or can be a PiTA for simple stuff. I've had good luck with Grizzly tools.

All of the machines have their place. I would be tempted to shoot for a benchtop drill press that has a 1/2" chuck capacity, as it'll be built beefier than units with a 3/8 or 1/4 chuck. If you're really pinched for space ... well, get the 1/2" unit and move something else out of the way.

 

[smdub]

Where in the world are you going to put it?

Hey now! If its important enough, I MAKE room Witness the pic of the 'new' MT4 drill press. Its a bench model (it comes w/ its own bench!)

 

[Long1MD]

I picked up a Burgmaster bench top off ebay awhile back.

Best $46 I have spent on a drilling device.

Video of how it works.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fAVaOMdBkc

Dam!...$46 seems like quite a steal!

 

[Long1MD]

I bought a Ridgid floor-stander about six years ago. It has performed well. (It's the predecessor to this one.) I've also got a 1/2 benchtop drill press which is a beast ... and is also on-loan so I can't look at the tag. Looks a lot like this one from Grizzly. Finally, I have a Grizzly 0619 benchtop mill, which can be a drill press, or can be a PiTA for simple stuff. I've had good luck with Grizzly tools.

All of the machines have their place. I would be tempted to shoot for a benchtop drill press that has a 1/2" chuck capacity, as it'll be built beefier than units with a 3/8 or 1/4 chuck. If you're really pinched for space ... well, get the 1/2" unit and move something else out of the way.

That Rigid might be a possibility. Rigid is suppose to make quality stuff. The Grizzly looks like serious quality, but I don't think I can swing the price right now.

 

[friendlyhippo]

Hey now! If its important enough, I MAKE room Witness the pic of the 'new' MT4 drill press. Its a bench model (it comes w/ its own bench!)

oh that's pretty.

I think I'm going to miss your garage most of all.