How many of you own/use a drill press?

[rnt80]

In my never ending quest to be more organized and use what space I have more efficiently I'm considering getting rid of my drill press (floor standing Ridgid).  I've had it for years and have rarely used it.  I really can't remember the last time I turned the thing on.  How many of you use a drill press for woodworking enough to justify keeping it around?

 

[tiralie]

Never had one. Probably the last item on my list of machinery purchases. That could change if I bid a project that needs it and the efficiencies (time) I would gain would pay for it.
Was thinking I needed a mortiser until the 700 came out, now it's on my list.
tim 

 

[Theshipstore]

Russell       Justify having it and using it enough for my cabinet making, probably not but when its needed there is nothing that works as well for me. I use mine with a lot of jigs for drilling out some of my cabinet hardware. Yes it take up some space but I am glad I have one. It got a lot of use when I built my UWB drilling the 5" holes for the side panels and ribs.

Sal

 

[Tomfoolery]

Interesting timing - I just purchased a Delta 18-900L - The main reason (besides the quality) was the quill stroke of 6" - I can bore fairly deep holes.

Hope this helps...

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I use mine pretty often for: dead square holes, repetitive holes with a stop block, big forstner bits, small hole inside of a bigger hole, etc.

But, we all have different styles and needs.  My rule is that if I haven't used a tool in a year, it goes on craigslist.

 

[VictorL]

Only you know if you need one or don't. I do have benchtop model. Sometimes I use it often, sometime it collects dust. Do I want to rid it off? No  way.

 

[Mavrik]

I have a small, cheap benchtop drillpress ... and find myself using it all the time.

Last time I used it was to remove most of the material from a cavity with a forstner bit before I cleared the rest with a router.
(was making cavities for pickups and electrics in a solid electric guitar body)

Also use it a lot when making jigs - they often need holes for bolts.

 

[woodguy7]

Use mine all the time.  Even more so now that I've started making pens  ;D

 

[Roseland]

I bought one earlier this year; love it.  I use it with the Forstner bits, and any repetitive work.

Andrew

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Mine takes up a little floor space...

It was made for drilling large holes.  The belt that drives it, is about 14' long and wraps from the bottom over one mule drive pulley, around the spindle, to the other mule drive pulley and then back down to the counter shaft.

 

[woodguy7]

Darcys, trust you to come in with that bench top model  [poke]  [big grin]

 

[John Stevens]

I can't believe you don't use yours regularly.  What do you do when you need to use bits that need to run at specific RPMs?  I'd love to get rid of mine to open some space, but when I need it, nothing else will do.

Regards,

John

 

[Timtool]

It's one of the later tools i got as i always got by without, i don't use mine often at all but when i do i am very happy to have it. Like when drilling a couple hundred plugs out or apparent counter sinked pilot holes that need to be at the exact same position on all the parts etc.
Mine is a german made benchtop model and it cost less than my little CXS, selling it just to have a bit more room for garbage would be plain silly.
But to be honest i wouldn't have bought a standing drill press for the room it takes, sell yours and get a benchtop model instead?

 

[richard.selwyn]

Wouldn't be without mine - I recently hade to make 30 plus thin round oak pieces - you can't really use a hole cutting saw without the pilot drill unless you have a drill press. If space is a problem maybe a drill press attachment for a portable drill (protool make one

 

[Kev]

I can't believe you don't use yours regularly.  What do you do when you need to use bits that need to run at specific RPMs?  I'd love to get rid of mine to open some space, but when I need it, nothing else will do.

Regards,

John

That's what I'd love to see on a drill,  RPM gauge ... that'd be so cool !

 

[Alan m]

i have afloor model. sometimes i never use it for months, then sometimes i use it every day. definetly one of my must have tools. i bought a few sanding drums for it ( so i wouldnt have an osilating spindal sander to store as well, althow it is on the list) one day last week i must of spent 4-5 hours on th edrill press drilling holes and sanding ,. definetly worth the money. i also use it for metal work  so it seves that too.
.
i would be reluctant to get rid of it. i would buy a few sanding drums etc and use it for that. or build it into a bench so that it is out of the way. but if you dont need it then whats the point in having it.

 

[nclemmons]

I have a benchtop Delta drill with a aftermarket light and digital depth gauge, and a table from Woodpeckers that sits on a cabinet I made. 

All the bits are close at hand in the cabinet and it gives me a lot of precision for repetitive drilling, using forstner bits, consistent drilling from the edge of a board, etc.  I'd say i use it just about every time I'm in the workshop.  Particularly useful for drilling metal and holding items safely.

neil

 

[flair woodworks]

I love my drill press and use it a lot - whenever I need to drill holes in smaller pieces, dead square, in a line, or repetitively.  It has a 6" stroke and a quill lock, which is a great feature!

 

[Kev]

When I do get round to getting another drill press, I'll get a Centrotec adaptor for it !

 

[richard.selwyn]

I can't believe you don't use yours regularly.  What do you do when you need to use bits that need to run at specific RPMs?  I'd love to get rid of mine to open some space, but when I need it, nothing else will do.

Regards,

John

That's what I'd love to see on a drill,  RPM gauge ... that'd be so cool !

I have a reasonable quality Jet (swiss company, chinese manuacture also sold as powermatic) drill with a digital readout which is reasonable accurate