[TheForge] Drill Press etc

[Andrew Vida]

Buffalo made a good drill press.  Walker Turner too.  I have a Hamilton 
sensitive drill from 1942 - probably weighs more than most floor models 
and it's only about 14" tall.

My recommendation would be to find a 1940s or 50s vintage machine in 
good condition and pay the money.  Even if you paid nearly as much for 
it as a new one, you will have made a good purchase.  Unless you are 
going to shell out the $$ for a top-line machine of current vintage, 
your money is far better spent in the old hardware.

Phil wrote:
> I'd bought a 16.5" delta, new, about 8 years ago. 
> Talk about a piece of poop.  One of the first big jobs
> I did with it was to build another air hammer.  A lot
> of the holes are at an angle cause the table flexes
> too much.
> 
> About 3 years ago, I bought a mid 50's vintage 22"
> Buffalo drill press.  I only paid about $300 for it. 
> Man, is it sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet!  I think
> it weighs about 1200 pounds.  It's got a #4 MT spindle
> and automatic downfeed.  I've bought used MT drill
> bits from 1/4" to 2" since then, and I have a 3/4"
> Jacobs chuck with a #4 MT spindle as well.
> 
> I'd say look around at the used machinery dealers.  A
> lot of the fab and machine shops get rid of the old
> stuff for the shiny new stuff.  The old stuff works
> great.
> 
> Phil Rosche
> Summerville SC