Thread: Drill Press Carbatec vs Hafco vs Timbecon

My advice would be to check out an individual machine for purchase. Do not order one.
Test for quill runout as there is no adjustment possible. Fully extend the quill, back off slightly and then see how much slop there is fore/aft, left/right etc
If there is slop look at another machine.

Cam, before you blame the chuck, pull it out and give the MT a bit of a clean and do the same for the receiver, I have a 3/4 horse Ryobi floor model and the chuck was OK but the bearings were a bit wobbly.
Had them changed and its good as gold.
My other one is a Record bench top, weighs a ton but the huge chuck will grasp a 1mm bit happily.

Thanks Iain.

Maybe I will have to do that, but it was like that out of the box (I just assumed that was the way it was).

The taper seems to run true, but the chuck doesn't. I suppose that might be a problem with the morse taper fit, but if so, I think that it was like that from the start.

Still, worth a go.

Cam

I read the AWR test of presses and bought the recommended Carba-Tec, I liked the look and features.

Unfortunately it had run-out, (bit wobbles) nearly 1mm at the end of a 100mm long bit.

I took it back and they checked the chuck and taper which were OK and changed the head. The new one is not much better, I was told it was within tolerance.

I checked a Jet at Power Tools and Machinery it was perfect!

My next major purchase will be a new DP my Ryobi floor mount is junk(served me well tho...).
Thinking along the lines of a H&F PD26(big bastard), 1.5hp 12speed 120mm travel, price is good too.

thanks for the advice guys!

I got some shopping to do!