Top 5 Budget Drill Presses (October 2020)

Top 5 Budget Drill Presses (October 2020)
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[regibson]

I love that you talk about all these drill presses as if they aren't all made in the same factory.

[IonkoGueorguiev]

My wife just yelled "No! Go to the forest bear!" when she heard "There is a reason you want to have multiple drill presses"

[KR-vrkh]

Wife bought me a Wen for my birthday last year, I love her very much. My wife is pretty great too.... 😉

[secretwoodproject]

Drilling wood I have never had a single issue with the Harbor Freight Drill Press using my Forstner bits. I use a variety of hard woods and soft. Thanks for the review

[xephael]

1:48 I have this and it was a great deal with a 25% off coupon when that was an option... run-out was surprisingly accurate on mine (2:59 Pay attention to Bears advice and take your time with assembly and checking tolerances). Maybe a pulley modification in the future for lower RPM.

[luckyno]

Love my little 8 inch 1/3 hp Craftsman. Very similar to the others. The table was cast not stamped/forged which sold me.

[MaverickFlyBoy]

Just a heads up. I’m in Gunsmithing school and I know a lot of your viewers, including yourself, are fans of tools that go “bang”

If you’re shopping for a drill press to build a 80% lower, these drills don’t have enough travel length. You need at least 3” of travel to make room for the lower and jig, and to then drill deep enough holes in the lower. Just wanted to make my fellow gu- Er I mean tool fans aware that are doing research for a drill press for their...project 😬🇺🇸

[Newell]

I wanted to say thanks for mentioning the quill adjustment on the HF model. I've had one of these for a few months, and I quit using it because of the play in the quill. I hadn't really looked into the adjustment since I have a larger floor model that I also use. I'll take a look at the adjustment mechanism so I can get some use out of this thing.

[scharkalvin]

The HF CM 8" table top goes down to 750 RPM, my 12" floor standing DP (also from China, but bought from HOW when they were going CH11/7) goes down to about 200 RPM. I've only used it that slow to use a large flywheel cutter set to 3.5" dia! The HF CM 8" was fine with a 5/8" bit (turned down shank to 1/2"), and that was into aluminum. Granted the motor was near it's max grunt factor doing this, but it worked. I love this machines built in work light, I replaced the bulb with a screw in LED lamp that gives double the light output. Wish the table was R&P adjustable, but I can live with the clamp lock. ANY small drill press beats a hand drill for accuracy!

[DrThunder]

I remember an old (1960s maybe) Popular Mechanics article about modifying a small drill press to run slower by mounting a set of pulleys in pillow blocks on an outrigger. Unfortunately, modern import drill presses all seem to use different axle, arbor, and belt sizes.

[eastcoastmodz]

I am doing a project with extruded aluminum so the Tacklife 8 inch was a choice I wanted to consider... Thanks now my choice is clear. I appreciate your reviews. Really helpful!

[elfpimp]

One advantage of living in a big city like Seattle, the Craigslist tools section is pretty decent and I dunno if the Skil 3320 10" drill press counts as budget @~$150-$180 new. But getting a never used one off CL for $69 is pretty damn satisfying. And I've used it lots!

[evoTimer]

Your video is featured on the Fortress Compressors eMail from Harbor Freight. 👍

[ronaldharris]

Good and simple advice toolbear, for the occasional user accurate but low cost is important

[dhm]

I see the Ironton has a threaded stop. I want that because I had that on the Craftsman press in my Dad's home shop and used it to get exact depths on holes.

My Northern tool is 6 miles closer than my Harbor Freight. (The Tractor Supply is across the road.)

[danbates]

Hey Bear, I have an older model Rockwell bench top. Great little drill press. I really like it.

[TheSFFV]

I have the HF and I am only a home DIYer. It has worked well for me but I have only done alum, mild steel and wood. Plus no room for anything bigger.

[davidwalle]

good review. I used older industrial drill presses older but about the same price, last foreever. Shine on Bear. Did anyone tell you that you are better looking and smarter than that Jeff guy.

[BradsWorkbench]

I reviewed the 10" wen drill press about a year ago. It has been great for my woodworking and even metal working. The size of bit + material really dictates the speed. Thats being said, theres always ways around that stuff. I've drill quite a bit of stainless, tool steel, and 1/2" mild steel plates on my little wen. Every shop should have at least a small drill press imo

[knyshov]

Picked up a used 12” 12-speed with Wilton vise for $100. Oh, and it has laser system. :)