Drill press HP

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Looking to buy a heavy duty shop drill press to drill up to 1" plate,.What do you guys use in your shop? as far as HP to get the job done?? thanks
Reply:I have a couple of taiwan built drill presses, 1/2 hp and 1 hp floor model, both Jet, and neither one of em really has the guts to do 1" plate.I would want 1hp, minimum. Plus, you really want a speed below 100 rpm to do 1" with a twist dril- and thats tough to find in a cheap import.I actually punch most of my plate on the ironworker, or use the 3hp milling machine for big holes.The problem with drill presses is that there are a whole bunch of cheapo models that are really for wood, that dont go slow enough to do 1" steel- and are 3/4 hp or below.Then, there are real industrial machines, that start at $2500 or $3000 and go up, fast, from there.And, aside from used american machines, there is nothing in the middle.A decent geared head machine is what you want- but like I said, you are talking 3 grand plus- like one of these- http://www.southern-tool.com/store/g...l_presses.htmlEbay is your friend- look for a Clausing, or a Powermatic, or a Wilton or Arboga or Strand.
Reply:i think you have to tell us what diameter holes you want to drill.
Reply:http://grizzlyindustrial.com/product...ll-Press/G7948The last company I worked for in the states bought this machine. The old one got knocked over by a 6' saw blade. I was in the middle of a hot job so we went to the grizly store and they had this one on sale. It is rated to 1.5" and I have drilled a 1.5" hole in 2" plate it was tough and took a lot of coolent but I did 8 or 10 holes. I used it for tons of .75" and .5" plate for 6 or 8 weeks until I quite to move here and we had no trouble with it at all. I would buy one for me in a heart beat. Its no geared head but it works great and cheap. Steel Thunder Welding LLC. St. Thomas VI USAMM350PBOBCAT 3MAXSTAR 150 STH375 EXTREME PLASMA6.5 HP COMPRESORDEWALT 18, 24, AND 36 VOLTO/A TORCH SETAND SO MUCH MORE I DONT REMEMBERALL IN MY 2005 2500HD EXTENDED CAB L/B
Reply:In general a drill press sucks at drilling large holes accurately in steel.  There is to much play in the head.  Get a Milling machine and you will be much better off.  something like http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mill-Drill/G3358Me!
Reply:1" plate? Wouldn't you want a magnetic drill press with annular cutters?Some choices: Dewalt DW151 andDW159Walter D731 and D742Milwaukee MTL 4000 series. Big drawback to these things is how easily they can tempt even the most honest worker into stealing them.A man who can't weld is as poorly educated as a woman who can't sew
Reply:don't work for AL also Me!
Reply:Originally Posted by starLooking to buy a heavy duty shop drill press...
Reply:Originally Posted by Me!don't work for AL also