Thread: Which drill press to keep?

HI I would keep the old Waldown as it is a much more desirable and versatile machine.

I would keep the one with the least run out and if they are similar I would still tilt to the Waldown. You can always add the VFD later.

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What they said

Waldon for me also.
Regards
John

Im wondering why everyone is going the waldown? Considering Brobo Waldown are one company these days. The Brobo is newer and likely to be in better condition as a result, has 8 speeds rather than 4 and a higher top speed better for wood. It has a table height wind for easier adjustment and keeps alignment better.

The waldown is a radialdrill and can be useful if you need that facility, but can be a pain to tram in or realign with the centre of the table.

I like both drills, but am curious are most people just saying Waldown because they know the name??

I don't think we have enough information to answer your question, but if I was to make some assumptions, I'm wondering if the correct answer is to sell both.

Both drill presses are very different machines. The Waldown is a well made industrial grade machine, but is probably not suited to someone looking to have just one drill press in their workshop.

The Brobo imported machine, from what I can see is Brobo Waldown in name and colour only. There are many other similar drill presses with different brand names, as you say it is an import (I don't say this in a derogatory way, merely that it was imported and many companies slapped their name on it, I'm surprised to find that Brobo did though).

I had a similar drill press, (before I got a Waldown 2M and Brobo Waldown 3M second hand), and to be honest I'm not a fan of the design of this import machine. At the end of the day, it will drill a hole, the problem is how accurate will the hole be, and it's not something necessarily determined by the model, but by the machine (I was disappointed with the slop in the quill on my drill press, but was surprised to find a friends was worse than mine). The biggest problem is if there is slop, or it developes wear, there is no way to adjust it out, like there is with the split cast head design.

I think if you were to sell the Radial arm to the right person, and sold the import machine to someone looking for a basic drill press, and perhaps (if you don't need it), look at selling your Waldown vice I see in your picture (that alone could get you some good money), then you would have a good amount of money to purchase a second hand good quality general purpose drill press.

Again this is all based on me making assumptions about what your looking for in a drill press, but perhaps it's another way to look at your current situation.

Cheers,

Camo

Originally Posted by DSEL74

Im wondering why everyone is going the waldown? Considering Brobo Waldown are one company these days.

Dale that's like asking why everyone is choosing the Honda CB750 over the Honda CBR ?
This is the vintage machinery section after all ..

Melbourne Matty.

This is the drill press I think of when someone says it's a Brobo:



It's the 3M, and to be honest, prior to this thread, I didn't realise Brobo put there name to other import machines.

I currently use the 3M for metal, the 2M for woodworking, and I have an 8SN, and a Waldown radial arm (like the one in this thread), which will eventually become one machine and parts.

The funny thing (based on my prejudice for older machines) is that if I had to have only one drill press, out of what I have, I would choose the Brobo 3M.

I think in this sub forum, It's true that people are more likely going to choose the old one over the new, but I think this is one of those exceptions where Brobo can supply a model that can compete with the older version in quality, I just don't think this Brobo import is one of them.

I try to buy the best I can afford, which is why I tend to end up with older industrial machines over new import machines. There are still high quality machines being built, they just usually are way out of my budget. When my second hand 3M came up for sale, I think people were napping, so the price was very good.

Cheers,

Camo

Originally Posted by L.S.Barker1970

Dale that's like asking why everyone is choosing the Honda CB750 over the Honda CBR ?
This is the vintage machinery section after all ..

Melbourne Matty.

So the answers have no basis on which machine is more suited to his needs and biased purely the age of the machine. Well that answers my question.

If your memory serves you I only have one vehicle a M.bike from 1974 when it is running & i can get parts no longer supported by the manufacturer, and probably have more drills & much much older ones than most people even in this section, so I am not devoid of the attraction to older things. Quite the opposite, but I'm not trying to run a business and can see the benefits of more modern equipment in that regard. The features of both drills (Radial & Intermediate pulleys) can also be found on newer and older models. So if a constructive answer was the larger speed range would be most suited but the op likes older Waldowns, Toughs, or Parkens. Then maybe look out for one of those with these features and sell both of these.

I think Camoz probably gave the most informative response along with BobL on least run out.

Since the OP has a number of items in the market place I suggest, as he stated he is more looking for a recommended sale price anyway.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

So the answers have no basis on which machine is more suited to his needs and biased purely the age of the machine. Well that answers my question.

Dale, well since you put it so eloquently, I am more than happy to elaborate..
As you may recall also I have been a trade school teacher for over 9 years now, and it has been said with in our department that the true measure of a tool's endurance is to hand it over to a group of apprentices, and they will always find a way to destroy it.
In our hand tool room we have had Waldown drill presses since the 1980's, most are much older as they came over from swinbourne tec.
These presses have stood the test of many apprentices, we have never done any major repairs, just the odd return spring every 4 years or so.
Recently, our procurement team in their infinite wisdom decided to purchase 4 imported Hitachi drill presses as a few extra presses for the students to use, they lasted about a year and a half.
Broken handles, switches, rise and fall benches, broken lazar beam (why any one would want one on a press is beyond me) basically every thing that moved or turned fell of.
So in summary, yes, I'm a big fan of the older Waldown Presses they are a better machine.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

If your memory serves you I only have one vehicle a M.bike from 1974 when it is running & i can get parts no longer supported by the manufacturer, and probably have more drills & much much older ones than most people even in this section, so I am not devoid of the attraction to older things.

Yes, I do remember, this is why I drew on this example, I was hoping that it would pull on your heart strings a bit and you would see things more clearly.
The practical can sometimes dampen the spirit somewhat...

Originally Posted by DSEL74

the opposite, but I'm not trying to run a business and can see the benefits of more modern equipment in that regard.

I have been running custom moldings and doing machining work for people for years.
All of my machinery is old, and I have made a living from these machines, they are all restored and in perfect running order.
And yes, I do talk to my woodworking machines every day.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

I think Camoz probably gave the most informative response along with BobL on least run out.

Im in agreement with you here, Camoz appraisal was spot on.
The guys a walking machinery encyclopedia, who else is gonna tell you he owns one of each drill press ?
Amazing body of knowledge there.
And BobL too ...

Melbourne Matty.

See. We can get some decent and useful information based on legitimate questions.

Matty in regards to you running your machines as a business you have stripped down and rebuilt them from the ground up. Not everyone wants to invest that time and effort or may have the expertise to do so, nor your international network to part source. As with backsaw making I was told recently that many don't want to make tools when they want to make furniture it takes time away from them actually doing the thing they want to do. Same can be said in a business sense spending time doing restorations takes time from producing saleable product. Some see it as an investment others an expense. Don't know where the Op stands on this, he had said in a previous thread he was planning a full restoration, but now is considering selling and doesn't want to invest extra money in a VFD to fit to it. So we don't know his position.

Some have this passion and can be commended for keeping the gear alive and in use, others don't have that view. These are all factors that can be explained to the OP and those like yourself with experience can share. Which is why I asked people to elaborate on why they preferred the Waldown as opposed to two or three word responses with no qualification which some had made. As I said I felt it was a legitimate thing to ask.


Recently being in the Waldown factory doing some work. I was informed that they no longer stock parts for the older models and all stock was thrown in the dumpster. So again you either need to strip old drills for spares or have new parts made up. So other than non OEM items like bolts and some bearings maintenance can pose interruptions to work, as can poor quality new machines that continually break down and fail in use.

Brobo Machines are currently made in china and assembled here in Vic, they are still an expensive and Industrial grade machine that is considered of good quality. As Camoz attested his Brobo 3M is his pick of all his drills. He also states he wasn't aware that Brobo made what he believes from the OP's photo is a lower grade import. All this is what can be learned when open dialogue is maintained in these threads. Bob also has maybe four or five fully restored Waldowns of various models lined up in a row in his workshop and thinks the M series is the pick of them if I recall his posts correctly.


I was offered via another forum member a floor standing Waldown version of the radial drill of a similar vintage to this one in good working condition for $20. Unfortunately I couldn't collect it due to lack of suitable transport and missed out. I would have happily added it to my two existing waldowns. Obviously for it to be offered at that price there was not much demand for the drill. Why, maybe because it takes more space and is tedious to tram in? Some will find that a hinderance.

I also missed out on a Radial headed Waldown with a cast Z column and built in X-Y table. Now that was a impressive machine and is a based on a similar design to the drilling/Lapping machine but heavier duty. Best designed drill in my opinion.

The second drill in the OP has some beneficial feature it may also carry some negatives. I would have thought it being Brobo was a good recommendation as to quality. It has been suggested that it is an inferior product to what we are most likely familiar with under that badge. A point also worth exploring.


Lots of information and points that can be tossed about and discussed that may help the OP make a better and informed decision. Maybe posting in the Antique section is the wrong place for it. I don't know.

If people simply like it because it is old and had a good reputation fair enough, and that is what I asked, so not sure why that was an issue?

Originally Posted by DSEL74

If people simply like it because it is old and had a good reputation fair enough, and that is what I asked, so not sure why that was an issue?

It was not so much the question as much for me as the obvious answer.
Sorry Dale, I'm not feeling the best today home with the flue, and certainly don't feel like writing an essay back to you, I apologise.
Some of what I can make out in what you've written is that you really need to get your self a ute or trailer so you don't keep missing out on these machines.
All the best with it !

Melbourne Matty

Hi Guys,

I really appreciate the responses. It has given me a lot to think about. I recently purchased a Wadkin radial arm saw. The spot in my shed I have set it up was where the Waldown drill press was. It was bolted to a stand bolted to the ground. The Brobo, which is a cheap import, just sat in the corner and was used when drilling a long length of steel on the floor. It worked and it drilled the hole, however, it is a cheap imported machine, and that is all I ever saw it as.

When I was a teenager, I had inherited my Grandfathers non-radial Waldown drill press and the vice you see. I'm thinking his poor eye sight was why the vice has some additional holes in it. I do, however, have new jaws to fit, and the additional ones that hold square stock on the 45. The drill also had a beautiful keyless chuck. Anyhow, my original drill developed some run-out in the spindle, and not having the knowledge to fix it, my Father put the drill on the nature strip for hard garbage. Fair to say it lasted 2 seconds.

I managed to pick-up the Waldown radial many years ago from the trading post and felt some sort of satisfaction from the regret of losing my Grandfathers. It was my main drill and although it had things that annoyed me, my love of old machines made me overlook this.

My shed is cluttered and I try to not hang onto anything that I do not need (except the horizontal mortise!!). I am thinking, do I really need 2 drill presses. Since moving the Waldown due to the Wadkin saw, I have used the Brobo a few times as it is easier to drag across the floor during my major cleanup. It has drilled the hole. I have easily raised and lowered the table, managed to drill at required speeds and the depth stop works. It also has guarding. The Waldown motor is 2880 rpm, it really needs a 1440 or even less, or VSD. Due to this, it has started me thinking; maybe the Brobo is the one to keep. I know I could restore the Waldown to be a good machine, but that would take time, and I would have to modify it to enable the table to raise and lower easily. In the 12 years I have had the Waldown I do not remember drilling a hole on an angle.

I know I have posted in the antique machinery posting. This is generally where I post, and where I read the most. I am more familiar with you guys in this, finding you a great source of professional knowledge.

After reading all comments, I’m thinking about keeping both for the time being. I like the idea of looking out for a better press to replace the 2. If this does not happen, maybe 1 day I will restore the Waldown.

Andrew