jay5 Posted October 15, 2004 Report Share Posted October 15, 2004 I was at my Lowes hardware store the other day and they had a new 12" tabletop drill press there. It was a Tradesman 12" model for $150. Has anyone ever heard of this brand? It had the laser guide like the Craftsman drills. Eopinions.com had a review of a 9" model and the guy said he got it at Sears. It was a 2/3 HP motor and overall appeared pretty solid. Just wondering if anyone knew anything about it or could offer any advice on what to look for to determine if it would be a good purchase. I have already designated a drill press as my next purchase tool wise and have budgeted $150-200 for one. I wanted at least a 12" model and this seems to fit the bill. Anyway, any thoughts? P.S. seemed very similar in appearance to this Craftsman except it had the laser guide. http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?...tab=ser#tablink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bassman Posted October 15, 2004 Report Share Posted October 15, 2004 i cant help you much...... although, today I spotted a 12" delta bandsaw at lowes for $199... this could be great for those that have trouble with 9" but do not want to pay 350+ for a 14". Peace, Ryan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay5 Posted October 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Well, I have decided I am going to pick this thing up mext week sometime, if I can keep my ass off of ebay. I spent about $75 on random parts alone this week that are gonna require new projects and even more $$$. I think I'm sick. I need help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 a buddy of mine bought an old craftsman drill press, lathe, planer, scroll saw and bandsaw for $350.00 for all of it. It's a fine example of what I often say about shop tools : One day the wife is left with it all, and it has to go. I'll see the stuff for the first time tomorrow, when I use the lathe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdguitars Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 tradesman is cheap chinese stuff... its ok, will last for a couple of uses. Think of it this way, buy one good tool you have it for the rest of your life. Or buy a couple of crappy tools and keep replacing them... I have really abused my tools at times so I have learned to buy the nicer equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay5 Posted October 20, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 hmmmmmmmm, so what would you reccomend for a 12" drill press? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdguitars Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 ebay used items in your area. local pawn shops, and garage sales... Spending the cash is hard but I got over that. I was laid off and in the hole when I started my business, I took 600 dollars and invested it in parts and my website, and realized that if you to do something have to have the right tools. See if your local Lowes or Depot has a board to post stuff? Also if you check out your local community colleges they have shop classes where you just pay to have access to the shop. Best bet is ebay and pawn shops. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay5 Posted October 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 The tradesman stuff is aparently built by rexon who also does craftsman drill presses. I have heard good and bad reviews. Problem with ebay is the big shipping costs on heavier items, like drill presses. What brand do you use BigD? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 well if you must go the chinese route, I'd find this tempting, although I don't know what they charge for shipping : http://www.homier.com/default.asp?dpt=&cat...etail&sku=03138 Even though I already have a floor model drill press (not from this place), I find this one tempting, for those times I have something set-up on mine, but need to quickly drill something else, because of the price of the thing: http://www.homier.com/default.asp?dpt=&cat...etail&sku=03013 Then again, at those prices, quality might be a dream that's out of reach. Then again, why do I help out my competition when I usually just get a kick in the a** ? Also, there are tools out there that are just so crappy, I can't believe it. I went to ' big lots' a couple weeks ago and saw for myself. Lets just say you guys that faint at the sight of Harbor Freight tools would have been taken away from that place in a hearse . My buddy's recently acquired drill press is this mean s.o.b sears craftsman from the 50's I guess. Biggest base I ever saw on a drill press. It looks cool as hell. Probably from the pre-ball bearing days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jay5 Posted October 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 What brands do you guys use? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
soapbarstrat Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 (edited) Mine is a Duracraft, which does not have a great reputation, but I have liked it just fine since I bought it around 1991. Made in Taiwan, I think. Floor model and the drill chuck is far enough away from the column, that I think I can drill a hole at any spot on a guitar body (I'm too lazy to go take measurements). I bought it on close-out for $200.00. I might be in trouble if I ever need weird parts for it, because I think the company went out of business. But then I saw that Laguna Guitars in California had the very same drill press, so that made me feel like it was the right one to buy. I really wanted to get a used one, but it just didn't work out that way. One thing about used versus new, is that often if something is wrong, it will be obvious right away, so the original owner of a used one would probably have taken care of those kind of problems, so I wouldn't have have to. With the one I bought (from a place 45 minutes away), I had to go back to the place and get them to give me a new pully, because the one in mine was tilted too much, causing bits of the belt to come off. Stuff exactly like that is what you can often have happen these days with the fast paced, "cost effective" factory procedures that the crank this stuff out so that we can get it so cheap. But if buying new, that's something to consider; How good is the seller about taking care of defects, etc. I've heard of people buying real cheap chinese tools, finding a bad defect, then contacting the company, and some companies get them the new part with minimal hassle. Other places will say " ha ha we gotcha" in some clever round-a-bout way. And if you think that depends on price , forget it. in my own experience, I've had Harbor Freight take care of my problem, and then the Philips electronic company tell me to take a hike (not a drill press in either case, but that doesn't matter). Edited October 21, 2004 by soapbarstrat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdguitars Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 if you can find someone to swing the bill go find a used shopsmith machine... its an all in one tool and the best thing that I have ever gotten. I got mine for a deal... only 300 bucks cause the lady though that the motor was burnt out... Do you have a local menards around... buy your stuff from there and in a year if its not working take it back they have the cheapest stuff out there. I would buy Delta or jet stuff. Jet cheaper than delta. Customer service is key, if you buy a brand name tool that is used and something is wrong you can usually get parts... why delta is good stuff: I got my jig saw from them about 15 years ago and they still have the parts today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PerryL Posted November 3, 2004 Report Share Posted November 3, 2004 At Home Depot today I saw a Ryobi 12" Tabletop Drill Press for $149. I have a few Ryobi tools and have generally been happy with every one of em except the router. They forgot to pack the collet wrench in the box and I had to send for it and it got here in a few weeks but that's small beans. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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