drill press

[sabamom (Guest)]

Hi Everyone,
I am really looking for a drill press for my home shop. I found one at Home Depot for $97.00. It seems like a good buy, but it only has an 8" throat capacity. I am still a beginer and I have made mistakes with buying tools before. I want to use it for makeing hole for shelf brackets and use mortise and tenon bits. Please help if you can. Thanks

[Tom Hintz]

My drill press is a 10 inch, 5 inch actual throat capacity. I have been using it for about four years now and haven't run into anything I couldn't use it on, yet. That doesn't mean I won't, I know.
I suppose getting all the tool you can afford is always a good idea, but like most of us, regulation comes in the form of finances.
Think hard about what you want to do with it, what your future needs might be and base your decision on that.

Tom Hintz
www.newwoodworker.com (http://www.newwoodworker.com)

[Mamabear (Betty) (Guest)]

Greetings, I would think twice before buying an 8 inch drill press. Unless there has been some major changes in the last year or so you cannot use a mortise attachment with that size drill press. But I am sure some other people can offer better advice than I can about what to look for. I know there is some junk out there but also there is some ok drill presses out there that will not be too expensive. But please get one a little bigger than 8 inch. Using a mortising machine, without using your drill press with a mortising attachment, you might get by with the 8 inch but again I would say go for a bigger one anyway. Happy Woodworking!! Mamabear (Betty)

[woody]

Luther

Harbor freight & biglots/oddlots has some very nice presses at a very good price.(HF ships FREE)
A 10" is a very good choice & a 12" is better but not needed very often.