Looking for a suitable drill press - advice wanted

[powertools]

I didn't put this forward as an industrial quality machine I don't think for one minute that it is but for a home workshop mainly used for woodworking and not pression engineering with a bit of ingenuity it can become one of the most versatile machines in the workshop.
It is not of the build quality of the drill presses that many members seem to have but it can do far more than drill vertical holes and in my humble opinion it can become a sort of multi purpose machine in it own right.
It is one hell of a step up from the Black & Decker that the OP is using now.

 

[Eric The Viking]

I have a Clarke. The first one I had replaced because of the run-out in the quill.
The replacement wasn't much better. I really wasn't expecting how rough the Chinese ones are. Clarke's response was pretty much "they're all like that, Sir."

It serves, but it's not a patch on the old British kit I used to use as a teenager.

Go secondhand if you can, get something old and British, and check it before you buy. Worst case, you can probably fit new bearings, almost certainly fit a new chuck (if it's morse-tapered), and make it sing. The Chinese stuff can't be improved, as the main components (on mine, at least) weren't well enough made to start with.

E.

 

[nicguthrie]

I very nearly bought one of these a few months back - http://www.charnwood.net/shop/category/pillar-drill It has a laser guide, but I don't know how precise it will be, it's not intended for high-end engineering - but then surely only the more expensive end tools really are?

Everything I've been able to find out about the brand seems pretty positive, and the only reason I ended up going for different was that I got a bargain on a floor standing version at Axminster that was being discontinued. Well within your budget for the smaller of the two, and should be by far powerful enough to manage a sanding or microplane attachment for shaping etc.

Hope you find something that suits you - just remember, there are probably heaps of tools that will do the job you want, it's just a case of finding one you'll be happy with, that you can afford.

Nic.

 

[RogerBoyle]

Unfortunatly Like the OP I also now need a new drill press
And I need it no later than Monday LOL
Having spent the last 3 hours looking on the Web I have decided to go with this one http://www.toolbank.com/0/p/EINBTBD501
9 speeds, 500 watts and takes up to a 16mm bit for £120

All it will ever get used used for is drilling hinge holes My last one was a 5 speed nu-tool that was 250watts and managed to last me over 14 years LOL

Unless anybody has anything really bad to say about it LOL

Roger

 

[Tetsuaiga]

Thanks for the help everyone.

In the end I decided to get an axminster one, Axminster ED16SB Pillar Drill.

http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-ax ... rod719342/

It seems to have fairly good reviews on various places round the net, i'm sure it wont be perfect but its a step up from their very lowest price one.

I had a look at a bosch pillar drill which interested me, but in the end thought i'd be safer getting something more traditional.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-PBD-710W- ... llar+dirll