Thread: Drill Press - Swartz Anyone used one?

Originally Posted by Dibbers

I don't really have much information i'm afraid. The guy from Swarts merely said that their product probably wasn't suitable but didn't provide any that would be...

I know that you can get a universal Mortising Jig (Carbatec sells one) but apparently there are some DP's that have a jog specific for their machine... I've never used one, or indeed seen one in the flesh, i've only seen them on youtube.

If i do come across anything though i'm happy to share what i find.

we gave my (now deceased) father a mid-range floor standing drill press around 30 years ago.
he subsequently purchased a morticing attachment which was, in his words, "completely useless". So useless that he purchased a Jet bench top morticer -- back when Jet was considered upper range home level equipment. The Jet was good for mortices up to about 1/2"

on the principal of once bitten twice shy I would stay away from morticing attachments unless your mortices are around 1/4 in wide.

Originally Posted by ian

we gave my (now deceased) father a mid-range floor standing drill press around 30 years ago.
he subsequently purchased a morticing attachment which was, in his words, "completely useless". So useless that he purchased a Jet bench top morticer -- back when Jet was considered upper range home level equipment. The Jet was good for mortices up to about 1/2"

on the principal of once bitten twice shy I would stay away from morticing attachments unless your mortices are around 1/4 in wide.

Yes I'm starting to get that vibe from my google searches. I'm thinking i might go down the path of a Carbatec 3/4 HP drill press, and use it to drill out the majority of my mortises and clean it up with a good old chisel...

I'm hoping a 3/4 HP 16 speed machince will cater to the vast majority of my needs... i don't envisage having to use a lot of hardwood, so it should suffice... unless others have alternative views...

Or would this 12 speed H&F be suitable... its only 12 speed compared to the Carbatec but is a little cheaper and has a belt drive (don't know if thats better, just a point of difference)... https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/D592

I've got one like that (same design different brand) and I think that it is more a metal drill than woodworking.
It will do both but the top speed is a bit slow.

The depth stop is a real PITA to use and can't be relied on. If you put a bit too much pressure on the handle it can slip and go too deep.

Changing the speed with the two belts is also annoying and I tend to just leave it on one speed.

Quill travel is too short and if e.g. I drill some holes and want to countersink them I have to adjust the table height as well as change cutters.

But ultimately you get what you pay for!

Originally Posted by Bohdan

I've got one like that (same design different brand) and I think that it is more a metal drill than woodworking.
It will do both but the top speed is a bit slow.

The depth stop is a real PITA to use and can't be relied on. If you put a bit too much pressure on the handle it can slip and go too deep.

Changing the speed with the two belts is also annoying and I tend to just leave it on one speed.

Quill travel is too short and if e.g. I drill some holes and want to countersink them I have to adjust the table height as well as change cutters.

But ultimately you get what you pay for!

Thanks for the feedback. I have a tendency to lean towards cheaper much to my detriment at times... from what i can gather from good old google, in terms of RPMs, i should be looking at on or above 3000 is that right?

Originally Posted by Bohdan

Quill travel is too short and if e.g. I drill some holes and want to countersink them I have to adjust the table height as well as change cutters.

Yep, 80mm is rubbish

Originally Posted by Dibbers

I have a tendency to lean towards cheaper much to my detriment at times... from what i can gather from good old google, in terms of RPMs, i should be looking at on or above 3000 is that right?

120mm travel minimum, 3600rpm.

As has been said on the forum countless times......pay the money once and you'll soon forget the pain whilst enjoying the quality. Buy cheap and it will actually cost you more because you have to add the cheap purchase to what you end up paying when you then buy what you should have in the first place.

Furthermore you will be unable to sell the first purchase because most people have heeded the above widespread advice. Quality purchases are easy to resell for good money.

It's like the NBN - do it once, do it right.
Pay less.
Enjoy it!

I’ve only just caught up with this thread and can only support those who recommend not using a mortise attachment on a drill press. I am fortunate in owning a JET bench top Morticer that I modified with an X-Y movement vise and have used that heavily for about 10 years but even that has now been replaced by a Festool Domino. I know it’s a lot of $s but, ever since buying it, I haven’t even used the JET. If you want to borrow the Morticer for a while to check one out, you are most welcome?
fletty

Many thanks - re-reading your original post and the information above makes me realise I'd originally misread. I had thought the chap at Swarts had given you a recommendation of a unit from another manufacturer - now I realise you were simply saying he had recommended looking elsewhere

All good, if I find something sensational, I will also let you know

Originally Posted by FenceFurniture

120mm travel minimum, 3600rpm.

As has been said on the forum countless times......pay the money once and you'll soon forget the pain whilst enjoying the quality. Buy cheap and it will actually cost you more because you have to add the cheap purchase to what you end up paying when you then buy what you should have in the first place.
...
It's like the NBN - do it once, do it right.
Pay less.
Enjoy it!

While i agree with all of this, for me there are limits to what i can spend... otherwise, like the NBN, It'll be 2027 and i'll still be waiting...

Originally Posted by Dibbers

While i agree with all of this, for me there are limits to what i can spend... otherwise, like the NBN, It'll be 2027 and i'll still be waiting...

And after the NBN arrives you will still be waiting...

So are there any drill presses at a reasonable price that fit the criteria ? The Parken drill press does but I believe they are north of $4000

Originally Posted by safari

So are there any drill presses at a reasonable price that fit the criteria ? The Parken drill press does but I believe they are north of $4000

The only one i've come across in my search that has an RPM higher than 3000 is this one https://www.carbatec.com.au/nova-dvr-drill-press but it's $2400...

I might have to stick with my plan and go with the Carbatec DP-550P and just make it work.... I did plant some money a while ago, but the tree hasn't grown yet unfortunately...

I’d be looking at the second hand market, long quill travel isn’t something that comes cheap on new presses.