All Replies on Drill Press Woes

Is your forstner bit sharp?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eflrx90bJio
Had this one for a few years now , with no issues. : ) The table design is also a bonus for woodworkers !
Don’t know what your budget is , but I’m sure you will hear from the Grizzly clan , the Delta clan , and even the Harbor Freight clan.
Only you know what you want and need for features , so in the end , it will still be up to you : )
When was the last time you sharpened your bit ?

-- When did quiet and quite become the same word ? I'm guessing about the same time as your and you're did.

Milwaukee Hole Hog if you don’t have room for a big drill press.

-- "some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence Wake Up America!! Please read; http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/01/26-0

footprint of a floor standing DP is greatly over-estimated. Not much more than a 30 pack of beer.

What teejk said. A floor model takes up no more space than a 5 gallon bucket.
Put it in a corner diagonally and you should have plenty of side clearance for most projects.

The best value in floor presses right now is the 15” porter cable at Lowe’s. It’s a solid press, and you can get a bit off with a mover’s coupon or even more if you can get your store to accept a harbor freight 20% off coupon.

-- He who dies with the most tools... dies with the emptiest wallet.

Thanks for the replies.
Yep, the bit is sharp, I am just under powered.
Thanks for the link Dusty. Looks like a nice one indeed and well thought out.

Seems like it s always something. I really want to upgrade my table saw, but the upgraded drill press would also be a very good choice. Budget…hmmm not sure. I guess I will have to see how the Christmas orders pan out.
Maybe Santa can get one down the chimney. :-)
Mike

-- Handcrafted by Mike Henderson - Channelview, Texas

I just viewed the tool section of your local Craigslist. I saw a few goodies, including the Porter-Cable that was previously mentioned. Asking $225, which really means you could get it for $190-200. Also saw a large craftsman and a powermatic.

“I just viewed the tool section of your local Craigslist. I saw a few goodies, including the Porter-Cable that was previously mentioned. Asking $225, which really means you could get it for $190-200. Also saw a large craftsman and a powermatic.”

Thanks. I have been looking at the tool section for some time. Seems like all of those listed have some sort of quirk like a broken handle, old and rusty, etc.

I did send the guy selling the craftsman 15 inch an email asking a couple of questions. The one for sale in Katy is a fair drive – at least 45 miles one way through Houston. Been there done that ain’t a pretty sight to drive in traffic. :-(

The one with the broken handle can be fixed for about $20 but then a new one with a warranty is only about $75 more.

Still looking.

-- Handcrafted by Mike Henderson - Channelview, Texas

I think this is the best drill press you could find… http://toronto.en.craigslist.ca/tor/tls/3407259780.html

-- My terrible signature...

And it’s a benchtop to boot !
Seriously , a floor model really doesn’t take up that much space when you consider taking up your bench space instead. A mobile base is also a blessing : )

-- When did quiet and quite become the same word ? I'm guessing about the same time as your and you're did.

There is a newish class of drill presses called heavy duty bench top drill presses. They have the same heads as there larger brothers but they sit on a short bench.

Grizzly: http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-Speed-Heavy-Duty-Bench-Top-Drill-Press/G7943

HF: http://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-16-speed-bench-drill-press-38142.html

Thanks for the replies.

So, I guess the question is how much horsepower does it take to drill the holes with forstner bits larger than 2 inches?

-- Handcrafted by Mike Henderson - Channelview, Texas

It’s all about the torque ! Big bits need slow RPM and sharp cutting edges. If you can get the hex drive Forstner bits above 2” , you’ll be ahead of the game.

-- When did quiet and quite become the same word ? I'm guessing about the same time as your and you're did.

Thanks Dusty.
Here is a link to my DP. 1/4 hp motor. UGH. Confirms what I was thinking. Not enough OOMP!
I have been running it at it’s lowest speed but it bogs down with the big bit.

What I am trying to do is bore holes in hardwood – something similar to this.

I may buy a new bit tomorrow and try it. But it looks like the only way I can bore the large holes, is to upgrade the DP.

Those bench top models with 3/4 hp are looking better. I really don’t have the room for something else to sit on the floor. My space is too limited.

-- Handcrafted by Mike Henderson - Channelview, Texas

Problem solved!
On my way to Woodcraft this morning, I stopped off at Northern Tool to check out their drill presses.
I like the look of this one. It has a 3/4hp motor and is the same as the floor model, just shorter. :-)

I liked the handles. Very comfortable to use. And the left side has the adjustable depth stop not the little coller with a thumbscrew.

So, it followed me home.

The reason I went to Woodcraft was to buy a new bit – a Colt Max cut 2 1/8 inch Forstner bit. Before taking my Delta drill press out of service, I tried the new bit, and sure enough, it did bore the hole. It just took a little bit, but it turned out clean and smooth. I guess my old bit wasn’t as sharp as I thought.

So after setting up the new press, and doing some test drilling, I put the big bit on and tried it with the same type of wood (white oad branch about three inches thick). It bored the hole in one easy pass – no bogging or anything. I had the speed set at 920 rpms. This will work for me.

It is taller than the other drill press. I might have to build an 8 inch step stool to get me up a little higher. :-)

-- Handcrafted by Mike Henderson - Channelview, Texas

Glad you found a press that you liked so soon and a good quality bit to go along with it : )

-- When did quiet and quite become the same word ? I'm guessing about the same time as your and you're did.

Does anyone have a user manual for a tradesman 8055S? i want to get part information, cannot find anywhere :(

Is it possible to upgrade what you have to a larger HP motor? Of course the cost of said motor plus modifictaions could be more than investing in a new one. Ahh the choices we face, alas the wallet does not always agree…

-- Live to tell the stories, they sound better that way.

Woodbutcher, I don’t see why that wouldn’t of been a cheaper solution, and probably without modifications.

SawSucker, I agree but didn’t want to go all out and get stomped on. (laughing) I have done it on several tools without issue but I confess I have access to a machine shop at work so mods are simple, mostly, sometimes, okay so we have issues some days… (laughing)

-- Live to tell the stories, they sound better that way.