Mini Drill Press

[jjasilli]

Another branch off this thread:  http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=13137.0  Just rec'd delivery of a mini Shop Craft drill press:  http://www.el34world.com/Forum/index.php?topic=13137.0  It's light weight which I like, since I do woodworking in the basement, and amp work on the 3rd Fl (too dusty in the basement).  3.2A 300-800RPM, continuously variable.  Claims to work on up to 1/2" steel.  Jacobs chuck 1/2"; work light.  Just drilled a good test hole in 3/4" pine.

There's a tad of play in the head, but Much better than the clamp-on hand drill unit I had previously.  Maybe as good as other low price units.  I'll dissassemble the plastic head for lubrication; maybe I can tighten the tiny play.  

[Boots Deville]

Please fix the link to the drill press in the above post, I'd like to learn more.  It looks like you posted the thread link twice.

[jjasilli]

Here's the eBay purchase with some good photo's:  http://www.ebay.com/itm/150777393029?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_687wt_1185

For about the same price, especially on sale, Harbor fright Freight has a mini Drill Press about the same basic size, but much heavier construction.  It seemed pretty solid in the store.  

However, I like the light weight of the Shop Craft drill press, and am into retro tools.  Per my other thread I now have a micro drill press (Dremel 210 --N.B.: the 220 sucks!!!) and this mini.  

Before purchasing I found on-line a favorable review of this Shop Craft drill press in an old magazine, Popular Mechanics I think.  Should have saved the site - can't find it any more.  Though this drill press has a EDIT: short swing, the author says he could put a hole in the middle of a full sheet of plywood, by drilling through the hole in the middle of the base.  Pretty clever.  This machine is light enough that it could be used to drill a hole in the middle of, say, a guitar body in the same way.  

Meanwhile the Dremel arrangement is burning wood due to the high RPM's.  I still need to get a good set of drill bits for it; and either a speed controller or another, variable speed roto tool.  Only certain old, discontinued Dremel models fit the 210 drill stand.  

[kagliostro]

Nice score

$ 46.00 is really a very good price for that drill press

Kagliostro

[jjasilli]

Got it tuned-up as best I could & drilled 2X 1/4" holes in 1/4" steel.  So far so good!