looking for a small drill press that s not rubbish

[tallgrass]

i am looking for a small drill press to mount on an mft, on and off. Everything i have been finding is crud. what if anything is everyone using for this kind of thing. i am open to anything from those drill mounted things to a little drill press. just not interesting in crud. Am i looking for a black dog in the night?

 

[Dane]

I've been on a similar quest.  I have exactly zero room for anything larger than a small 8 inch drill press.  It's amazing that you can't find an accurate, powerful small drill press at any price.  I'd pay quite a bit of money for such a machine.  That said, I have narrowed my field down to 3.  They all have comments in the reviews that have had folks measuring the runout and they all seem to be fairly accurate.  Here are some links:

http://www.amazon.com/WEN-4208-8-Inch-Speed-Drill/dp/B00HQONFVE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419947105&sr=8-1&keywords=wen+drill+press

http://www.amazon.com/Rikon-30-100-RIKON-8-Inch-Drill/dp/B00B4WKSBE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1419947291&sr=8-1&keywords=rikon+drill+press

http://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-DP801-Drill-Press-5-Speed/dp/B004I6980A/ref=pd_sim_sbs_hi_24?ie=UTF8&refRID=09N7SPD9GXVXB00KCSGF

Anyone have any experience with any of these?

 

[Hurricane Whisperer]

Drill presses are essential to doing accurate work and making jigs.

Amazon does carry a very expensive German brand of drill press in both floor and table top models.  Primarily meant for metal working but may suit your needs.  They have a VFD model with 40 to 4000 rpm speed range as well as stepped and variable pulley designs.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_8?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=flott+drill+press&sprefix=flott+dr%2Caps%2C276

I have a Chinese made Delta floor model.  It drills a good hole despite a little vibration probably due to the pulleys and sloppy tightening system.  The motor slides on rails to tighten the v belt and the holes drilled in the iron casting are over sized and do not have bosses or bushings to provide adequate bearing support length.  But it drills a good hole nevertheless.  The table is nice and big but is a little too flimsy and not stiff enough for metal work.  Although I have done metal work and it still drills a good hole despite the annoying table vibration that tells you to back off.

I believe the Spanish and the Swedes still make good drill presses.  Ibarmia is the Spanish press and Solberga is the Swedish press. I believe the Solberga's are available in table top models.  They are big and heavy for metal work, but have long travels and good speed range.  Probably make a really good drill press, but probably way too heavy and expensive.

But I think you should get one anyway and then tell me how you like it.

Clausing sells Ibarmia's and Willis sells Solberga.  I'm pretty sure.

Ellis makes an American made floor model drill press that seems like a great value for the size and money and metalworking capability.

 

[tallgrass]

thanks guys i will look into these.

 

[sae]

Anyone have any experience with any of these?

Wow, those three are priced barely over scrap value. I'm not sure if I'm impressed or scared.

 

[junk731]

Check the review of this one from General.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/tool-guide/product-finder/general-75-100-benchtop-drill-press.aspx

John

 

[charley1968]

Hi!
I can recommend the Bosch PBD 40. For me (hobbyist) absolutely
adequate performance. The laser's a bit gimmicky, but helps with general positioning of the workpiece. I do like the lamp, though. And you got a digital depth readout that comes handy at times.

 

[tallgrass]

i have been looking through old posts, i remember seeing a small drill press mounted on one of the super work bench builds. i cant find it. it was a european build so i expect the drill press wont be available in the usa. but i can hope.

 

[rmwarren]

i have been looking through old posts, i remember seeing a small drill press mounted on one of the super work bench builds. i cant find it. it was a european build so i expect the drill press wont be available in the usa. but i can hope.

This one? Towards the bottom of the photos?

RMW

 

[Sjur]

I believe the Spanish and the Swedes still make good drill presses.  Ibarmia is the Spanish press and Solberga is the Swedish press. I believe the Solberga's are available in table top models.  They are big and heavy for metal work, but have long travels and good speed range.  Probably make a really good drill press, but probably way too heavy and expensive.

Solberga do make some really good drill presses. We have a few of them for sale  in Norway on a place called Finn.no (Norway's response to craigslist). They usually sell out instantly, unless the seller knows how much people are willing to pay, and ask for a rather absurd price.

They do sell table top- models. I haven't used one, but I'm pretty sure all of Solbergas drill presses have a mechanical speed change. It's  a lever you push, and you can have about 6-9 different speeds, or so I think. Makes for really fast adjustment, without the need of VFD.