Drill press suggestions

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Shopping for a new drill press. I had bought one of harbor freights 20” “production “ models. Garbage, belt slipping excessive run out crap. I’d really like a big radial like we use I use at work but can’t justify the 25k lol. Using the big equipment at work spoils me. Looking at gear head grizzly. Unless someone makes a good belt drive that’ll go slow enough to power tap. 120 or 220v single phase. I don’t need power feed. Any suggestions I won’t be disappointed in?
Reply:I got tired of trying to find a good used drill pressand just went to Home Depot and bought a Rigidbranded Chinese drill press. Had it about 10 years now and it’s been good. I checked it for run-out andspindle to table “squareness”. Both were much betterthan I expected.Miller a/c-d/c Thunderbolt XLMillermatic 180 Purox O/ASmith Littletorch O/AHobart Champion Elite
Reply:Scroll down about 12 posts in this section. There is an entire thread regarding the Grizzly gear head drill press
Reply:I read it for awhile this morning till it changed course to why you should get auto feed.  Unless I missed something I didn’t hear anything bad about the grizzly
Reply:If you have the room I would look for a used radial drill if that what you really want. In my area I have passed up many in the $5K range.  Next it a question about your power taping.  How large of taps are you talking about?
Reply:I don’t have the room or the need to spend the money for a radial. Guess I hadn’t thought about how large of taps I’d use. I’m used to at work just whatever because the machine will do it. At home probably nothing over 1/2”
Reply:Ellis makes a really nice drill pressMiller Trailblazer Pro 350DMiller Suitcase MIGMiller Spectrum 2050Miller Syncrowave 250DXLincoln 210MP
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Originally Posted by rickdavis81

I don’t have the room or the need to spend the money for a radial. Guess I hadn’t thought about how large of taps I’d use. I’m used to at work just whatever because the machine will do it. At home probably nothing over 1/2”
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Originally Posted by thegary

If your going to tap small holes like that you better have an instantly reversing drill press and I do not know of any that are not 3 phase.  I worked in a machine shop for many years and put in a lot of time on several drill presses from radial to gear drive to variable speed belt drives and we always used a taping head in a drill press for taping small holes.  WE did tap bigger holes with the radial drill but like I said it would instant reverse because it was 3 phase.
Reply:Keep your eye on the FB Marketplace and Ebay.  I'm always running across big drills, vintage pieces, including radial arm drills. Love to have one myself and am waiting to find one that's small enough and cheap enough for me.  



Reply:I love the grizzly so far. I don’t really need power down feed. It’s a beast otherwise.www.FirehouseFabricators.comZachLincoln 210mpLincoln SW200Hypertherm Powermax 45xp2x4 CNC Plasma Table.
Reply:I have a knee mill with a riser that is use almost exclusively to drill and tap. For drilling steel you need something that can be geared down pretty slow, especially if your using large drills. Most drill presses you can buy now days are designed for wood and are simply too fast and lightweight. Even my old Powermatic is often too fast... one of these days I'll add the back gear if I can Ebay one cheap. A good radial drill is really the way to go if you have the cash when the deal comes up. I too have passed up on a few because cash and space are often a premium around here.For tapping on the drill press I use Tapmatic tapping heads. I have a variety of sizes. New they are pretty expensive but I've picked up most used for a fraction of new.
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Originally Posted by thegary

If your going to tap small holes like that you better have an instantly reversing drill press and I do not know of any that are not 3 phase.  I worked in a machine shop for many years and put in a lot of time on several drill presses from radial to gear drive to variable speed belt drives and we always used a taping head in a drill press for taping small holes.  WE did tap bigger holes with the radial drill but like I said it would instant reverse because it was 3 phase.
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Originally Posted by BrooklynBravest

As gary said, you CANNOT instant reverse the grizzly or any non 3 phase drill. The manual for the grizzly strictly states in bold you must wait until the drill comes to a full stop to activate the reverse. You could use it to power tap through holes but it isn't a great idea.Ive been using a tapping head on the grizzly with great results.
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Originally Posted by ronsii

Just get a self reversing tapmatic == problem solved  


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Originally Posted by BrooklynBravest

Thats...what...im... using



Reply:My tap machine also has reverse built in when you pull back. Free wheels with no pressure when you ease off and drives forward with forward pressure. I guess they all work that way. The machine itself doesn't have to reverse.A tapping directly in the quill sounds like a good way to break the tap off in the work piece. I guess if you use a chuck and go on the round part so it can slip when the tap stops it could work. I do that in the lathe on really slow speed with large taps that won't fit in my tap machine.Last edited by danielplace; 06-06-2020 at 09:12 PM.
Reply:been using this chinese tapping head...works very well

Charl
Reply:I’ll definitely be checking out tapmatic heads. Had to drill a bunch of holes to day making mounts for my shops swamp cooler. Really need to get on buying a dp. Could of went to our gun shop and used the mill but it’s a 10 mile drive
Reply:I  use  large pulley  but the center pulley I add a very large pulley and remove the very small pulley. The center small pulley is the one that slips.Other drillpress I have add counter on motor end and do not use the small pulley. This drill I used for tapping and large drill bits. Dave

Originally Posted by rickdavis81

Shopping for a new drill press. I had bought one of harbor freights 20” “production “ models. Garbage, belt slipping excessive run out crap. I’d really like a big radial like we use I use at work but can’t justify the 25k lol. Using the big equipment at work spoils me. Looking at gear head grizzly. Unless someone makes a good belt drive that’ll go slow enough to power tap. 120 or 220v single phase. I don’t need power feed. Any suggestions I won’t be disappointed in?
Reply:You anywhere near Cleveland?  Hgr has radials.  Damn near can't give em away.Sent from my LG-TP450 using TapatalkMiller Syncrowave 300(s)Miller 330 A/BPMiller CP-200 Haas / Kamp'd / CP-300 in processMiller Radiator 1Miller 30A /S-52E feedersHobart GR-303
Reply:I have a small jet radial i tap with it all the time its a hydraulic reverse thoug so it coasts down but at 32 rpm its perfect 3/8 on up I use the morse tap collets so its solidDo not argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level and beat you with experience.
Reply:I had an appointment in Springfield couple days ago so I swung by Grizzly. They had a g0779 in the scratch and dent room. Had some discoloring on the base and table. $1500, couldn’t say no
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Originally Posted by rickdavis81

Shopping for a new drill press. I had bought one of harbor freights 20” “production “ models. Garbage, belt slipping excessive run out crap. I’d really like a big radial like we use I use at work but can’t justify the 25k lol. Using the big equipment at work spoils me. Looking at gear head grizzly. Unless someone makes a good belt drive that’ll go slow enough to power tap. 120 or 220v single phase. I don’t need power feed. Any suggestions I won’t be disappointed in?
Reply:

Originally Posted by rickdavis81

I had an appointment in Springfield couple days ago so I swung by Grizzly. They had a g0779 in the scratch and dent room. Had some discoloring on the base and table. $1500, couldn’t say noIt’s not ideal, but it’s temporary relief while I’m building the new house. Works well on non humid days. Plus it was cheap. Used em in a shop in a shop I worked at in Kansas and they helped. It’s what gave me the idea to try one
Reply:I picked up an old camelback belt driven drill press a few years back, very rigid, nice slow spindle speeds & power feed with depth stop. I would recommend one if you do a lot of large holes in steel. It doesn't quite get up to appropriate RPM for smaller drills or AL.
Reply:I don't know how you feel about vintage equipment but I have a 20" camelback drill press from ~1917 made by Silver Mfg. Co. that is a fantastic machine. #3 Morse taper, functional power feed that will drill a 1" hole in a thick steel plate and not even grunt. Weighs 750 lbs. Got it from Craigslist, drive was converted to a 3/4 HP electric motor, has a back gear, came with a big vise and a 3/4" chuck. Turnkey, all for $250. The only thing I did was paint it and get a new v-belt. Wouldn't trade it for anything new.

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Reply:I missed on on this one by a few minutes.

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Originally Posted by WFM

I don't know how you feel about vintage equipment but I have a 20" camelback drill press from ~1917 made by Silver Mfg. Co. that is a fantastic machine. #3 Morse taper, functional power feed that will drill a 1" hole in a thick steel plate and not even grunt. Weighs 750 lbs. Got it from Craigslist, drive was converted to a 3/4 HP electric motor, has a back gear, came with a big vise and a 3/4" chuck. Turnkey, all for $250. The only thing I did was paint it and get a new v-belt. Wouldn't trade it for anything new.
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Originally Posted by Lis2323

I missed on on this one by a few minutes.

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Originally Posted by whtbaron

Prairie Tool and Supply.... probably wouldn't work on the coast anyway...
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Originally Posted by Lis2323

I missed on on this one by a few minutes.
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Originally Posted by WFM

Something you may want to consider is if the press is a 5 speed or a 9 speed. A 9 speed has an additional pulley and a second v-belt.  A 5 speed won't go slow enough and may burn up bits if you try to use a drill larger than 1/2".
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Originally Posted by Lis2323

Good way to go

I fabricated my own double reduction on one drill press many years ago. Lowest speed is 70 RPM iirc.  


Truth be told I rarely use it as I prefer the power of my Bridgeport clone or mag drill.


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Originally Posted by ronsii

Hey!!!, it's not about how much you use your tools.... it's about how many and how big your tools are!!!!


Reply:Here is a pic of a 12 speed press that is for sale locally on Craigslist for $150.  You can see the pulley setup that slows it down to a manageable speed for larger drills.  Has an MT2.

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