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Machine Not sure I need a drill press anymore

Machine
skippyelwell

skippyelwell

Super User
As soon as I got a space of my own to work in I have had a floor model drill press, but now that I can drill on the lathe or on the milling machine I'm wondering if I need the DP anymore.
It takes up space that I could use to fit a surface grinder in.;)
In the past 30yrs I can only remember a few times where I used the full adjust ability of the DP on large items.
Really, I think that's the only advantage of a full sized DP has over a mill.
Has anyone else come to this conclusion or I'm I trying to justify a new toy for the shop?
 
I have a Delta 16 1/2 floor standing drill press and even though I have a lathe and mill I'd never get rid of the drill press. I have to many occasions where I need to drill a hole in something that won't fit in the lathe or mill or it's wood and I don't want the mess of sawdust etc on my mill or lathe.
 
I agree completely with DavidR8. I bought my floor model (General 340) drill press, new, about 50 years ago as my first stationary power tool. Yes, I could often drill with my CNC mill. However, the CNC takes minutes to boot, the CNC often has a setup that I don't want to disturb, is in an enclosure so long pieces don't fit, sawdust is a mess in the chip tray, the drill press has far more Z-clearance, etc.

Also, what sort of surface grinder are you considering that fits into the floor space of a drill press?
 
skippyelwell said:
As soon as I got a space of my own to work in I have had a floor model drill press, but now that I can drill on the lathe or on the milling machine I'm wondering if I need the DP anymore.
It takes up space that I could use to fit a surface grinder in.;)
In the past 30yrs I can only remember a few times where I used the full adjust ability of the DP on large items.
Really, I think that's the only advantage of a full sized DP has over a mill.
Has anyone else come to this conclusion or I'm I trying to justify a new toy for the shop?
Click to expand...
NO. NOOOO and double NOOOOO, dont you dare buy that particular surface grinder.

p.s. when evaluating surface grinder footprints, be mindful of the table travel, it takes up far more space than you'd imagine. My brother and I bought a hydraulic surface grinder with an envelope of approximately 8x24... it took up the entire width of a car stall. In hindsight it was just too big to be practical. We ended up giving it to our friend and bought smaller. Expensive mistake.
 
DavidR8 said:
Yes @skippyelwell, inquiring minds want to know!
Click to expand...
It is a big old 18" Canadian Buffalo DP with wasted space on either side of it, I love using it, like the rock of Gibraltar.
IMG_1388.JPG

TorontoBuilder said:
NO. NOOOO and double NOOOOO, dont you dare buy that particular surface grinder.

p.s. when evaluating surface grinder footprints, be mindful of the table travel, it takes up far more space than you'd imagine. My brother and I bought a hydraulic surface grinder with an envelope of approximately 8x24... it took up the entire width of a car stall. In hindsight it was just too big to be practical. We ended up giving it to our friend and bought smaller. Expensive mistake.
Click to expand...
No I'm not thinking about buy the pos we talked about, I've been looking at this one,
Looks like it is in pretty good shape although I haven't seen it in person yet, it is not far from me and I have avoided going to see as I know I will start making plans to get it home.
I don't have a spot to set it up so at the moment I'm just window shopping.
 
skippyelwell said:
It is a big old 18" Canadian Buffalo DP with wasted space on either side of it, I love using it, like the rock of Gibraltar.
View attachment 57362


No I'm not thinking about buy the pos we talked about, I've been looking at this one,
Looks like it is in pretty good shape although I haven't seen it in person yet, it is not far from me and I have avoided going to see as I know I will start making plans to get it home.
I don't have a spot to set it up so at the moment I'm just window shopping.
Click to expand...
keep shopping.
 
skippyelwell said:
It is a big old 18" Canadian Buffalo DP with wasted space on either side of it, I love using it, like the rock of Gibraltar.
View attachment 57362


No I'm not thinking about buy the pos we talked about, I've been looking at this one,
Looks like it is in pretty good shape although I haven't seen it in person yet, it is not far from me and I have avoided going to see as I know I will start making plans to get it home.
I don't have a spot to set it up so at the moment I'm just window shopping.
Click to expand...
As @TorontoBuilder said, you need to allow for the travel of the table. So add the mag chuck length to the table width and you have a good idea of the area required at both extents of the table.
I had a 6x12 grinder and the thing took up a massive amount of space.
 
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Surface grinders while having a small footprint, have deceptively larger operating requirements. You also have to be mindful as they generate a lot of harmful grit and dust towards your other machine tools. They don't really place nice with others.....

I have mine in probably the worst spot in my shop with regards to spewing crap all over my other machine tools, but I don't use it much, and I'm looking at rearranging things come spring time.

That's a nice drill press. I looked for a big old one like that for a long while, but in a way I'm glad I never found one, as I would have had to probably give it up also due to space constraints, or stuff it back in the barn to get rusty. I have two in my shop right now, both benchtops, but really only need 1. I just don't have anywhere else to put the other one it wont turn into a rusty mess until I can get my wood shop back up and sorted. Some day I will own a big old Canadian made floor model.
 
BaitMaster said:
I sold my drill press when I bought my mill.

I now own another drill press. And the mill. And a lathe.
Click to expand...

That makes two of you who did that. Any other confessions out there?

I'm tellin ya @skippyelwell, you will regret it and then you will buy another one down the road. Most guys would kill for a big old drill press like that!

Instead of selling it, add one of these. A little lipstick never hurt anything!

Wixey Drill Press Laser
 
Just got my "real one" going, and love having it. (had one of those Canadian Tire little ones before)

Any time I needed to drill something on my mill it meant a tool change. And drill chucking, and unchecking, and tool change. Usually a bunch of cranking on the knee both before and after.

Now just a quick drill bit change and crank the table. Way easier! Love it.
 
If you are worried about space ... How about using your wood skills to build a storage cabinet "around" the drill press stand to use the space under the table. Something with lots of small drawers on casters?

Oh, and No, don't get rid of that drill press ... you'll be sorry.
 
Jswain said:
Just need to get a mag drill so the drill press has a buddy, then they can take care of each other and it isn't as much of a hassle....
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Doesn't always work that way. My mag drill is a bit of a loner, and just stays locked in his room most of the time, refusing to socialize with the other drills in the shop. Perhaps is just a language barrier as he's German, and my other drills are Taiwanese, and Chinese. Maybe I just need one of them big ol Canadian boys to stand guard and keep the peace in there.
 
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