Buying a Bench Drill Press

Vote 4 Pedro

Hi All,
I'm wanting to buy a drill press to mount on my workbench,
Mostly for DIY woodworking, Drilling and sanding etc.

I want a reasonable one that wont cost to much if there is such a thing ?
Ive been looking on Amazon for ideas and reading the reviews,
Maybe something like these :-

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00Q6YQS5K/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3D62AYNM362NE&coliid=IBFQFO6DMCYXF

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01FT128E0/ref=wl_it_dp_o_pC_S_ttl?_encoding=UTF8&colid=3D62AYNM362NE&coliid=I38V0PDI85XY5D

These two are very similar but they are just first thoughts, I'm completely open to other makes but if I could stick roughly somewhere around that price.

Anyone got any experience with owning one, any ideas or recommendations on the different makes and models,

Any pointers gratefully received.

Thanks.

Calahonda52

not clear from spec but do these have a drill depth stop?
and what depth can they drill?

also get a drill press vice that moves in two directions if doing any accurate work

https://picclick.com/4-CROSS-SLIDING-DRILL-PRESS-VISE-SLIDE-VICE-230141557220.html

cletus

Those Clarke drill presses look very similar to the aldi drill press. They are usually around the €80 mark, so a little cheaper if you don't mind waiting for one to come around. I picked up the last one in the rack for about €30 on clearance.

I find it perfect for the sort of diy, home gamer feckacting I do. Is it as good as the big industrial pillar drills in the metalwork room at my work? Nope, but I wouldn't expect it for less than €100

Vote 4 Pedro

Calahonda52 wrote: »

not clear from spec but do these have a drill depth stop?
and what depth can they drill?

also get a drill press vice that moves in two directions if doing any accurate work

https://picclick.com/4-CROSS-SLIDING-DRILL-PRESS-VISE-SLIDE-VICE-230141557220.html

yep, they both have a depth stop but i'm not sure on the maximum drill depth though,
I have a good quality heavy duty drill press vice but I was thinking of making a wooden table for it.

Vote 4 Pedro

cletus wrote: »

Those Clarke drill presses look very similar to the aldi drill press. They are usually around the €80 mark, so a little cheaper if you don't mind waiting for one to come around. I picked up the last one in the rack for about €30 on clearance.

I find it perfect for the sort of diy, home gamer feckacting I do. Is it as good as the big industrial pillar drills in the metalwork room at my work? Nope, but I wouldn't expect it for less than €100

All the drill presses around this price seem to look very similar, I bet there all Chinese made then sold as different brands,
You can get them from £54 on Amazon but they do look cheap.
I want something half decent and not all wobbly, some reviews on YouTube say some are very bad with lots of play in them, the Silverline one looks pretty bad.

jack of all

I have an older Clarke drill press, about 20 years old and very similar to the ones linked. As a drill press for DIY use in wood and metal it's fine-tables are cast iron, motor is induction and powerful enough for what I need. Negatives are: limited drilling capacity, about 50mm, no rack and pinion table adjustment, poor quality chuck and significant run out (which was improved dramatically by replacing the chuck). You're not going to get great quality at this price point, you need to triple your budget at least for anything really decent. I looked at one of the Lidl/ Aldi drill presses when they were on offer in the past- in fact I bought one home but returned it on grounds of quality- it had pressed steel tables for a start.