Santa didn't just pass my house by................yea!!!

Well since my birthday is on Christmas day, I thought Santa figured I would get another combo gift from the family, and decided to just pass me by, again. Lo and behold I was wrong! Let me introduce to you fellow lumber jocks, my newest addition to the woodworking machines in the shop!

Well let me clear this all up. I wasn’t going to use my yearly Christmas bonus (I have the best boss in the world!) on a new machine this year, or even lumber. I was going to use it on Hardy plank siding on the house. I sat at work for weeks looking at this great Jet JDP-17DX – 17” Drill Press . It had a $25.00 rebate, plus a free mini machine. I figured I would wait another year, and get it. The following week, Jet added an additional $50.00 rebate, giving you a total of $75.00 off! Well I figured my price out at work. With $200.00 from my bonus, and 2 $50.00 gift cards, one from a great customer, and another a rebate from our cell phone carrier, less the rebate from Jet, this drill press was mine for the bargain price of $93.00 (I love a great deal!)

I had a fun putting it together. No matter what the manual tells you, there are ways to put these machines together without help. I laid the motor assembly on it’s side, and leaned the post over. Then I supported the post with some scrap boards, and walked the head on to the post. Tightened one set screw, and lifted it back on the mobile base. Once it was upright, and in the mobile base, I loosened the set screw slightly, and the motor gently slid down into position! I used this same technique on my 200lb table saw also.

I adjusted the lasers, cleaned and waxed the cast iron table, and I was in business! I’m looking forward to using this awesome drill press for a long time! Thanks for looking!

-- Matt Garcia Wannabe Period Furniture Maker, Houston TX