Delta 17-959L Drill Press

That’s a really pro drill Rob.
What are you going to do with it?

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

just the normal stuff. I dabble in a little metal working also. I love tools and really really love to build tools. I am just learning but that’s the dream.

-- Sharp tools and thin whispy shavings make woodworking a joy.

That machine should keep you very happy in your shop for some time to come Rob.

Bob

-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner

I own this drill press and am impressed with it so far… But I have really not used the tilting table. But great machine…. I would say at least a couple of people to help you put it together…..................

-- Hrolfr

It looks to me like a tilting table could be a big + if your a chair maker (good for driling out angled mortises) and for angled holes in windser chair seats!
Does it have a fence?
You could add one with a channel on top for hold downs, stop blocks, and the like!
Chaim

Rob, I was looking at getting this Drill Press but decided to go with the Powermatic instead. I don’t think you can go wrong with either one. However, the Delta definitely has a much better table tilt design and function, the Powermatic table tilt is not very easy to use, but I don’t change that setting very often so no big deal for me. Also, the task lights on the Powermatic are LEDs, I would have preferred a real light, sometimes the LEDs just don’t seem bright enough for my needs. One of the main reasons I didn’t chose this unit was that the footprint and head was to large for my small shop, the Powermatic just fit better for my needs.
As I said earlier, I don’t think you will be dissappointed with this Drill Press.

-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"

you know what the lasers dont work as good as you think once you pull the bit down father then the 2 lines becomce closer which isnt lined up from where you had it before.

-- kosta brownsville brooklyn my home

The good thing about the lasers on the Delta is that they are mounted to the column not the spindle so the laser does not move. The laser is also really easy to a line.

-- Hrolfr

Thank you guys. Good advice, very cool. Now where is that ship???

-- Sharp tools and thin whispy shavings make woodworking a joy.

Hi Rob, The bearings in my old Atlas DP needed replacement so instead replaced the my 35 year old beast. I choose the 17-959L and enjoy it for wood working. The laser for me is dead on once set up however any accidental bump will throw it off. It is all plastic so it will not stand any kind of impact. The thin table that has no skirt and is bigger surface, is great for clamping over my old Atlas which had an enormous lip. The biggest delight is the table tilting allowing compound axis drilling as mentioned for chair leg flairs.

I use it primarily for wood working and light metal working. I don’t find it quite beefy enough though when drilling 1/4” or heavier steel with large bits. For that I roll out the old Atlas as I found a little deflection in the table on the Delta. I would recommend it if you plan on using it as lightly for metal working and give it 5 stars for wood working. I hope this helps with you decision.