Good-cheap drill press: (Nicad, Rogue, Tuna, CoolH, Brad AGD)

[GT]

Hey guys,
looking for some suggestions on a good cheap drill press. I am not doing anything exotic, just wood and some Al. I am looking at the 2 5spd 1/4hp table top presses at home depot and Lowes. 100 bucks isnt bad or spend alittle more?

http://www.homedepot.com/prel80/HDUS...gnj.0&MID=9876

http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productList&function=search&categoryId=DRILL_PRESSES.CATEGORY&pad=true

I am free to suggestions as long as they are below 500.oo

[tony3]

If you are just doing some basic, I don't think a cheapo 100 dollar one from Home Depot would be bad. I use my cousins, they just got a cheap one from home depot, it works fine for small modifications and drilling, but if you might find out you need something more powerful for whatever you are going to do in the long run. Its either get a cheap one now, or get a nicer one that will be with you in the long run, its up to you.

[shartley]

[RRfireblade]

Mine....

http://www.toolpeddler.com/17-965.htm

[vf-xx]

I've heard good things about the one at Harbor Freight.

[ShooterJM]

You might call some pawn shops man, I've seen some nice tools for cheap there! Gotta know what to look for though.

[nerobro]

I have the 5 speed $60 one from menards. Tool Shop brand. It's worked great for what I use it for. (drilling eye holes...) I've even run a 3/8" bit through aluminum and the only suprise was when it yanked the V/A out of my hand.

[ScatterPlot]

Hey, if you're going for up to $500 I got my mini-mill for $400. It lacks the height that a drill press would have, but for the light milling and drilling that I would be doing it was a great price. However, if you go with a drill press, get a floor model with an adjustable bottom part thingy. That way, nothing is too tall to drill into (as it could be on mini-mills and table top drill presses).

[shartley]

Originally posted by bertmcmahan
Hey, if you're going for up to $500 I got my mini-mill for $400. It lacks the height that a drill press would have, but for the light milling and drilling that I would be doing it was a great price. However, if you go with a drill press, get a floor model with an adjustable bottom part thingy. That way, nothing is too tall to drill into (as it could be on mini-mills and table top drill presses).

[ScatterPlot]

Originally posted by shartley

My floor model has the laser guide as well…. VERY nice feature.

[peter griffin]"They have those!?!?"[/peter griffin]


Wow that's cool! What kind do you have? I have seen the laser guides on the miter (or is it mitre?) saws and really like that. I might just get me a drill press cause it has one of those on it!

[hobbesTZ]

I got mine from the town dump

It needed a little TLC, but it was still very free. It's worked great for all the aluminum I've drilled through.

[shartley]

Originally posted by bertmcmahan
[peter griffin]"They have those!?!?"[/peter griffin]


Wow that's cool! What kind do you have? I have seen the laser guides on the miter (or is it mitre?) saws and really like that. I might just get me a drill press cause it has one of those on it!

[GT]

Thanks for the advice guys:

Last question,
are you bolting these to the floor?

[shartley]

Originally posted by gtrsi
Thanks for the advice guys:

Last question,
are you bolting these to the floor?

[GT]

Originally posted by shartley

No problem.

My bench top press however is not so stable. And I advise if you get one (bench top), to indeed bolt it down if you find your work causes it to move. You will thank yourself later.

Time to go to sears and look around. Looks like the craftsman runs about 320.

I like the laser guided feature. Is this it:

http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/produ...id=00922925000