Opinions on Drill Presses Anyone?

[dafydd]

I'm looking to buy a new drill press. I am seriously thinking about model F16 - 16 (01374) which can be seen here:

http://www.sip-group.com/catalogue/Workshop_P134.pdf

Yes I know it's a f$%&!~g SIP, but it is not a welder. I have owned 3 welders by them & have at last learned my lesson & ordered something else far more sensible.

Clark do a similar one, model CDP451F here:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/cdp351f-drill-press/path/drill-presses-mortisers

I looked at the Clarke a couple of years ago in M/M but was put off by the amount of play in the drill shaft when fully extended. Recently looked at the Sip one & it seems far more solid in this respect.

If any of you use these machines could you please comment or any other suggestions appreciated. (Budget is limited to around £150).

I have an old Elektra Beckum Model TB1500W which has been an excellent machine but it's a bench mounted drill & I could do with a floor standing one.

Also can any of you boffins out there tell me what does 3/4 horsepower (Sip spec.) translate to in watts. (Clarke is 510W)

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[Drains]

.75 hp = .559 Kw

 

[Haze]

i would trawl ebay for something old, heavy and simple.

I dont think i will be buying anything cheapish from clarke etc anymore, I have their bandsaw and cement mixer, while they both do the job fine, it makes me wish i had bought some older technology.

 

[dafydd]

Thanks Si. So how the hell do you work that out then?

 

[Haze]

easiest way is to use an online calculator, or if you know the formula in your head its a doddle.

 

[Drains]

Aye, online calculator on my google home page, along with the weather, wikipedia and babelfish
Although I knew it was .55 Kw anyway, from the old days when I used to order motors for work

 

[rtbcomp]

i would trawl ebay for something old, heavy and simple.

I dont think i will be buying anything cheapish from clarke etc anymore, I have their bandsaw and cement mixer, while they both do the job fine, it makes me wish i had bought some older technology.

My sediments exactly. I've just bent a Clarke punch, that was the last penny I spend on Clarke.

I have a Clarke drill press, apart from the aforementioned play the drive to the quill shaft comes loose, the handle that winds the table up and down has broken and the interlock on the belt cover is very hit & miss.

 

[mini nige]

drill press

try this site www.axminster.co.uk

 

[Wozzaaah]

I have a Clarke CDP351 and when I bought it I was quite impressed with it but after some pretty heavy use lately I'm not happy with it. The chuck is so out of round it wobbles about all over the place, the motor has absolutely no grunt whatsoever, even a 14mm bit can stall it. There's just no quality to it. It makes me laugh when they aim it at the 'professional' market when really it's only any good for DIY use. I'm taking it back as soon as I'm able to and I'm going to replace it with something really decent as it's a tool I use so much I need one I can rely on.
Woz

 

[Davek0974]

Check "pillar drill" on ebay, go for some old iron like Meddings or Startrite, i have a meddings and its as smooth as a sewing machine. Its got a 'real' 3/4hp motor and theres no way i could stall it. I had to get a new chuck but it was well worth a total of £80.

Dave

 

[malcolm]

The Clarke stuff is aimed at occasional use for a low cost. They have a few winners (their hydraulic lifting stuff and the welders are reasonable) and a few loosers (avoid their hand tools at all costs - they'll break in all sorts of crazy ways).

No way would I buy a pillar drill from them. Or from their competitors. They are difficult thing to make down to a price and light enough to post. I'd second the guys that said go secondhand on eBay.

 

[Hitch]

I have a Clarke CDP351 and when I bought it I was quite impressed with it but after some pretty heavy use lately I'm not happy with it. The chuck is so out of round it wobbles about all over the place, the motor has absolutely no grunt whatsoever, even a 14mm bit can stall it. There's just no quality to it. It makes me laugh when they aim it at the 'professional' market when really it's only any good for DIY use. I'm taking it back as soon as I'm able to and I'm going to replace it with something really decent as it's a tool I use so much I need one I can rely on.
Woz

Well, you were using to do 18mm holes wernt you

 

[Wozzaaah]

Ummmmm, do you think 22mm holes in 10mm plate is pushing it a bit beyond it's design capacities then Hitachi? Shhh, don't tell MM.
Now, what I really really need is a cheap single phase Geka cnc punch press

 

[Hitch]

Nah, your much much better off just sending me a PM!

 

[Wozzaaah]

I've got another two of those plates to do but I won't bother you with those, I'll struggle on with my high-quality drill

 

[Wozzaaah]

Ooh, that was post number 300! I talk too much. No wonder I'm so far behind with that job!

 

[Hitch]

Havnt you finished that yet

Id did half of it for you lol

 

[Wozzaaah]

I've not been in a rush to do them, just doing some when I can be bothered and trying to fit them in around my main job.
All good things come to those who wait, including my cheque when the last one's delivered

 

[irondarren]

Wozz are you familar with mag drills?, you can get adapters that are MT3 or MT2 that accept mag cutter bits to use in a pillar drill, thus meaning you can cut a 32mm hole in 10mm plate like you can drill a 12mm hole, great things for large hole drilling.

 

[Wozzaaah]

I've looked down that route before but I still need a better pillar drill anyway. I may even buy a mag drill instead, it's on my wishlist along with a plasma, bigger compressor, ac/dc tig etc etc. My wallet's still in pain after buying my portamig. (oh and 4 new 265/70-16 tyres for my pickup yesterday didn't help)