Drill Press Review

[DarrylF]

I finally went out a couple of weeks ago and got myself a new drill press. I've been looking for a decent unit at a reasonable price for ages - and putting up with one of those tiny little Ryobi units in the mean time. I've had it for 15 years, so I can't complain.

I wound up finding a really nicely built bench mounted 16mm press. 15 speed, inbuilt light (properly protected & out of the way), magnetic switch, rack & pinion table raise/lower, large very well machined table and nice & heavy.

The thing that really got me interested was the handle on this unit (that winds the spindle down). Instead of the usual setup where 3 thin bars are screwed into a central hub, and have plastic knobs, this machine has a single piece cast iron setup. It's nicely shaped, very solid & easy to grip. Great improvement over the normal setup.

It's a very quiet machine - not a rattle to be heard, and no vibration. The chuck is very nicely made, and I couldn't detect any runout at all.

The price was quite reasonable for this type of machine too - normally $449 and I got it at $429. Picked it up at Toolies in Newcastle, is also available at Tool Specialist stores elsewhere apparently. Model no is DP12000 and you can find it at www.toolies.com.au (http://www.toolies.com.au)

Hasn't has a huge amount of use as yet, but I'm very, very happy with it so far. I plan to make up a table & fence for it this weekend.

[John G]

Geez Darryl!
That's some spending spree you're going on!
A drill press, thicknesser, now you want a jointer too! I'm becoming very jealous of what your workshop must be like...

Unfortunately, mine is in a sorry state of not-enough-room-for-everything-I-want-even-if-I-had-the-cash http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/frown.gif

[DarrylF]

Not really http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif I am in the fortunate position of being able to indulge a hobby I love I guess.

I moved back to Australia 18 months ago with my wife & new daughter. When I left Aus I was single - so I was living in a flat at the time, hadn't replaced a stick of furniture in years and really didn't have much anyway. I took 3 months off after I got back while we set up house here, and I got a reasonable basic workshop set up & decided I was going to make most of the furniture we needed.

I've been putting off buying much for the workshop for most of the last 12 months - learning to use what I've got and working out what I need. I've built most of the basic furniture we wanted - but now I'm getting to the point where I'm having trouble getting the pieces we still need done for lack of the right tools in some areas. My better half still has a very long list of items for me to build http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

Even taking into account all I've spent on tools & materials so far, we're still ahead of what it would have cost to buy what I've already built.

The projects Dee still has on the list for me are some of the most complex so far - including china cabinet, dining table & chairs, bedroom suite, new entertainment units & a bunch of other items. She is also getting more optimistic about my capabilities http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

Buying just those items of furniture in the quality we want would be $7-8,000 at least - so even with picking up the drill press, thicknesser, jointer & replacing my table saw in the not too distant future, we're still ahead. Bonus of course is that I get the workshop I want, I love building what we need, we will wind up with better quality furniture than most of the commercial stuff, and everything matches.

[AlexS]

Daryl, do we have your permission to show that post to our spouses whenever we need to buy some essential piece of machinery or tool?

[DarrylF]

Originally posted by AlexS:
Daryl, do we have your permission to show that post to our spouses whenever we need to buy some essential piece of machinery or tool?

Go for it. Don't blame me if it doesn't work though http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

[Darryn]

It worked for me when I just bought my planer thicknesser

I had been given some $$ for my birthday and my partner suggested I use it to buy some workshop time at a local furniture making school so I could use their machinery

I found the Scheppach in the paper and it went something like this.
"This machine is a really good deal, its got a planer a thicknesser and as a bonus its even got a spindle moulder attachment. With a spindle moulder I will be able to do the really nice profiled edge on the coffee table I am making for you, so it matches the dining table" which we bought <washes mouth out with soap!>

I just left out the bit about the cost of spindle moulder tooling and she bought it hook line and sinker!!
But I was lucky to pick up some tooling with it anyway, except not the profile I was looking for!!

Its worth a try you just have to make the benefits sound reasonable enough!!

Darryn

[Kev Y.]

Darryn, A word of warning, you will have to tell her about the tools at some time or other, best you make sure you pick a moment when there are lots of your friends around, that way the fall out will not be as severe!

Trust me I speak from experience!!.

[Iain]

When I got my Festo Rotex she thought it was my angle grinder, I have never told her differently http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

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[coastie]

What a deceiful bunch of contributors we have.
Shame!Shame!Shame!

[coastie]

What a deceitful bunch of contributors we have.
Shame!Shame!Shame!

[DarrylF]

It's not deceit Coastie - it's simply ensuring that you point out to Her Indoors the obvious benefits she will gain from you owning the right tools - or, on occasions, not going out of your way to point out the latest purchase http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

'WooHoo I just bought a new router' and 'Honey, I picked up what I need to finish that coffee table you wanted' mean exactly the same thing - but would most definitely be received very differently http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif Making sure she sees the coffee table she wants costs $700 to buy, and the router only cost $300 definitely helps too http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

[soundman]

Dont worry mate this initial enthusiasim will soon wear off.
Then she'll start...... You Baught what?!!!
.... It Cost Whatt?!!!!


Rehearse this line.

"Oh that I've had that for ages" "Baught it cheep at auction"

[DarrylF]

I like that one - a lot actually http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif The other variation of course is 'I got it on sale - I saved $xxx' (just don't tell her how much it cost http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif).

[John Saxton]

I've also tried that line a few times but it only worked until the BBBLCC (big bright blue lovely credit card)refused to allow her to share in it's use.
Called the burn-out factor!
Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

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Johnno

[This message has been edited by (edited 09 September 2002).]

[Iain]

John, there is the VISA, Gold VISA and Platinum VISA but I have the ultimate, the Water Cooled VISA http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/biggrin.gif

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: http://community.webshots.com/user/iain49

[Darryn]

Originally posted by Brudda:
Darryn, A word of warning, you will have to tell her about the tools at some time or other,
Trust me I speak from experience!!.

The thing is she knows how much the machine cost, she let me get it.
She is just in for a bit of a suprise when I go an buy the cutter she wants to do the table edge profile

Darryn

[soundman]

I am curious???
What do women woodworkers tell their husbands??? http://www.ubeaut.biz/ohbrother.gif