Drill press - Clarke?

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I'm in the market for a bigger drill press. Stopped into TSC last night and they have a Clarke on sale for $169.99. It is 1/2 hp, 5/8" chuck, floor standing, 15" swing, has a work light and even has lasers!  Does anyone have experience with this unit or any other Clarke equipment?I've also looked at Sears, Lowes, HD and HF. The Clarke unit is a little smaller but I'm not doing any heaey drilling anyway and it's darn near 1/2 the price.Thanks - Jdawg
Reply:I picked up a Clarke  drill press 2 years ago that sounds like the same one .When trying to drill 1/2" holes the shaft spun in the pulley. After fixing that problem the  1/2 hp motor did not have the power to handle the 1/2" drill bits it would stop. Once the 1/2" bits got through the piece being drilled I found the bit would not clear the hole in the table. Returned it to the dealer.All the retail models I looked at used what looked like the same basic China castings in each size category with different plastic trim.An older used American made drill press would be a better value then the new China equipment in the retail stores.
Reply:I bought a Clarke from TSC.  Wish I hadn't.  Lotsa lateral shaft play.TeddCoHTP Microcut 400 & Invertig 160DC  Smith Dual Guard MD-510 OA Rig  Lincoln SP135+  Hobart Stickmate LX 235/160
Reply:Originally Posted by triptesterOnce the 1/2" bits got through the piece being drilled I found the bit would not clear the hole in the table. .
Reply:Thanks for the responses guys. I think I'm going to wait and try and find an older used Delta/Rockwell/Craftsman...  Seams like the older stuff had better quality. Or I may just break-down and buy the $330 Craftsman.Later - Jdawg
Reply:Jdawg,Watch the industrial auctions.  A Good Rockwell Variable speed 15inch floor standing model (15-665) is the ticket .  You can get the 3-phase motor units cheap and then swap out the 3-phase for a single phase motor.  Most of home shop guys drive the price of the single phase units up but they usually shy away from 3-phase.  Nearly all of the Rockwells use a standard 56 frame mount.  I bought mine from a local auction for $150.00 put a $50 2hp motor on it I got of e-bay and now I have one hell of a drill.  You can barely measure any runout on the quill and variable speeds are nice when drilling aluminum.Patience will land you a decent deal.Here's one that is a little overpriced that is not a variable speed (but multi-speed via pulleys) on flea bay  http://cgi.ebay.com/15-Delta-Rockwel...ayphotohostingor better yet with a buy it now optionhttp://cgi.ebay.com/Delta-Rockwell-d...QQcmdZViewItemMichaelLast edited by 383bigblock; 09-05-2007 at 10:06 PM.Millermatic 25115" Rockwell Drill Press10" Logan Lathe5hp - 2-stage 80 Gallon CompressorHome Made Sand / Soda Blaster