Delta 18-900L drill press on sale

[Grev]

Just thought I'd let any members looking for a new drill press that Home Depot has the Delta 18-900L on sale a few more days for only 875 bucks.  That's a great deal for a drill press that has real good reviews.  I was looking to buy a Powermatic or Jet, but then came across this deal, so made the purchase.  And for the record, I'm not associated with Delta in any way .. just a deal searcher like most of us, so thought I'd pass it on.
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Delta-18...rnzUmoJMMEMEw2tSMV4c0aAgMw8P8HAQ&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[RKA]

Acmetools has a slight better deal today/tomorrow only.  $900 less 17% (promo code on their site), plus $50 shipping (no tax for most). Net is about $800.

Home Depot nets about $1k with shipping and tax.

 

[Grev]

Thanks for the info., but already ordered so I'll stick with it.  But what a deal for anyone else considering this DP.  I got free shipping to local HD a couple miles away, but had to pay local tax, so net to me will be about $929. 

 

[Huxleywood]

While I prefer the more expensive PM2800 and the Nova Voyager the 18-900L is a good wood drill press, the only question one must answer is how comfortable they feel with Delta's parts availability issue in the future.

 

[J0hn]

This is a great drill press.  As I recall, Fine Woodworking did a review and this one came out on top.

I bought one from Home Depot in the Fall of 2015 when it went on sale ($230 off so it was $776 plus tax, free shipping).  The "upper pulley cover" was slightly damaged in shipping but a quick phone call and I had a replacement in my hands in less that a week

First thing I did after getting it set up was to check the run out.  Again I called Delta, and spoke to a tech who gave me the spec on how to measure it: "at the spindle, 2" down from the top of the stroke".  With my Betterly unagauge, the needle barely moved - .0002

 

[leakyroof]

Very Nice. Looks very similar to my 20" Delta that they stopped making about 8 yrs or so ago.
Mine has the Variable Speed Reeves drive, so speed changes are a breeze.
I haven't had a single thing go wrong with mine, so I would hope that build quality extends to the one you bought. Enjoy it.. [thumbs up]

 

[Rollin22Petes]

I strongly looked at getting one but in my opinion Delta is just not the company they once were. Which is really a shame at one time they had a huge presence in the woodworking industry.

 

[ben_r_]

Got my 18-900L from AcmeTools about two years ago using one of their 20% off coupons. Awesome deal and has been an equally awesome drill press!

 

[J0hn]

Delta - Delta 18-900L Drill Press
Delta drill press takes Best Overall in 2015 tool test
http://www.finewoodworking.com/2015/07/29/18-900l-drill-press

 

[leakyroof]

I strongly looked at getting one but in my opinion Delta is just not the company they once were. Which is really a shame at one time they had a huge presence in the woodworking industry.

  I agree that they confuse the heck out of me for the way the company is being promoted these days compared to what they once were.  Their line is so tiny as well.  It seems like they are okay with that though...... [blink]

 

[Cheese]

Looks very similar to my 20" Delta that they stopped making about 8 yrs or so ago.
Mine has the Variable Speed Reeves drive, so speed changes are a breeze.

Hey [member=10952]leakyroof[/member] ...just curious what model Delta you have?

 

[leakyroof]

Looks very similar to my 20" Delta that they stopped making about 8 yrs or so ago.
Mine has the Variable Speed Reeves drive, so speed changes are a breeze.

Hey [member=10952]leakyroof[/member] ...just curious what model Delta you have?

. I'm at work, so of course I can't remember exactly.... [embarassed]
I want to say 20-950... [embarassed]
Will confirm that once I get home tonight.
  Update:  I looked up that model number, it DOES look like mine, and IS discontinued, so that's probably my 20" Delta.    [scratch chin]

 

[Bob D.]

I am waiting to see the new Nova DVR Drill Press.

I have the Nova DVR Lathe and its very nice.
Direct drive, no belts, and infinitely variable speed with reverse.

If I don't get the Nova DP I will go for the Powermatic.

 

[ben_r_]

Delta - Delta 18-900L Drill Press
Delta drill press takes Best Overall in 2015 tool test
http://www.finewoodworking.com/2015/07/29/18-900l-drill-press

Best overall again in 2017 too.

 

[Bob D.]

Did they test against the PM2800b or the Nova Voyager DVR DP ?
http://www.finewoodworking.com/2013/10/24/pm2800b-drill-press
http://www.finewoodworking.com/2016/11/02/nova-voyager-dvr-drillpress

The Nova has features you can't get on another DP at any price:
-Max RPM = 5500
-6" quill travel like the Delta and the PM2800b
-Zero to workpiece and controlled stop at fixed depth

 

[leakyroof]

Did they test against the PM2800b or the Nova Voyager DVR DP ?
http://www.finewoodworking.com/2013/10/24/pm2800b-drill-press
http://www.finewoodworking.com/2016/11/02/nova-voyager-dvr-drillpress

The Nova has features you can't get on another DP at any price:
-Max RPM = 5500
-6" quill travel like the Delta and the PM2800b
-Zero to workpiece and controlled stop at fixed depth

  While I don't need the Zero-out depth setting of the Nova, that IS a really cool and useful feature for someone that does need a more exact depth stop method than the traditional side locking depth rod.  Production work alone in a small shop could benefit from that if your tolerance levels run that tight.
Very interesting Drill Press.. [thumbs up]

 

[Bob D.]

It's strange they didn't include the PM2800b in the testing, as they had looked at it two years before that 2015 showdown.
http://www.finewoodworking.com/2013/10/24/pm2800b-drill-press

And they said:

"Drill Press has Every Feature a Woodworker Wants"
"The Powermatic has the best task lighting I’ve seen on any drill press. "
"Another bright point is the laser guides for locating a bit on the workpiece. "
"The 5⁄8-in. chuck is high quality with virtually no runout. "
"Speed changes are a breeze, with no belt changes needed. You just crank
a handwheel to go from 250 to 3,000 rpm. A prominent LED readout on the
front announces the setting."

I guess they were afraid it would outclass the rest of the field. Either that or
they excluded it because it cost more than the others. I don't think it's that
much more that it should be eliminated for that reason alone, and I don't
know that it was, just saying it's a possibility. The author had a couple personal
dislikes and I actually agree with him. I too prefer a keyed chuck and I would like
an easier to adjust table than the method used on the PM Drill Press. I like the
Delta table adjustment and if I could put that on the PM machine and then swap
out the chuck for a quality keyed chuck I don't think there would be a DP that
could touch it, except for the Nova DVR DP, but it has shortcomings in the table
and chuck too.

 

[leakyroof]

It's weird how tools get left out of reviews even though they're current and well thought out... [blink]. I also agree that sometimes a price point gets established that an author fails to mention is a defining factor during the review article... [mad]

 

[antss]

My opinion is these things tend to me more of an advertorial than they are a "testing". 

Reminds me of a vac test they did years ago when the "cough" author/tester/salesman decided it would be best to not use a bag and then took marks off for poor performance after he'd just ruined the $100 HEPA filter in some of them.

 

[Huxleywood]

Reminds me of a vac test they did years ago when the "cough" author/tester/salesman decided it would be best to not use a bag and then took marks off for poor performance after he'd just ruined the $100 HEPA filter in some of them.

To be fair the author did not downrate the vacs on that issue nor did he suggest using the vacs in that manner, he tested them that way since many vacs are used that way despite manufacturer's (and common sense) suggested usage.