Hello;
I have done a *lot* of searching, looking for a bench top drill press. An accurate, adjustable depth stop is important to me. Also, I need a DP with a minimum amount of runout. I would like this DP to also go deep into low speed territory.

For those reasons, most of the cheaper drill presses like Delta and Grizzly don't make the grade. I was at Sears today, and their Craftsman 12 in. Drill Press is on sale for $149. It seems like a tight unit with a really decent depth adjustment guage.
Craftsman 12"

The only thing is the lowest speed is 540 rpm. Higher than I'd like, but I might be able to do something creative about that.  ;)

I'd like to invite comments from anyone that has this, or the the previously available Craftsman 10" benchtop unit.

Thank you

Delta makes about one of the best drill presses out there. I have both the 12" and the 16" floor stand models. They work great for me.


[url]www.deltawoodworking.com[/url]
[img]http://media.ptg-online.com/media/dm/Products/Tools/ExtraLarge/20021129200000_DP300_72dpi_400.jpg[/img]

FNBrowning, sounds more like you are expecting and demanding Vertical Mill performance out of a benchtop drillpress. Don't think you'll find it for reasonable $$.

What Rayra said:

A drill press is a quick and dirty way to make a hole.

If you are truly looking for accuracy, you need a mill.

To answer your question, I do have a Craftsman drill press that is about 30 years old and still going strong with ALOT of use.  It is, however, not a mill.

Gee dpmmn, didja notice that Delta there has no depth stop? [;)]

[i]Of course[/i] a mill is the most accurate method of making a hole. There is no disputing this. But you assumed I was going to mill metal. Maybe I just want straight, consistant holes in hardwoods. [;)]

But saying:  >>"A drill press is a quick and dirty way to make a hole."<< Is also a way of saying: [i]We've gotten so used to accepting the innaccuracy of Taiwaneese tools that we forgot to demand what was previously possible with made-in-America products.[/i]

There is no reason that we/I need to [i]accept[/i] poor runout in a drill press, because that's what Harbor Freight/Delta/Ryobi sells. I'll bet that 80FL's 30 year old press has less run out than many new $80 dollar specials.

So the minimum choice is the Craftsman $149 12" DP. Or maybe I should look at a Jet or other model. That's why I asked the question. [:)]

Not sure about this particular model, but some of the Craftsman drill presses are now made in China or Taiwan.

I have the model you are referring to.

It's nice.My kid seems to use it for his mini-bikes and stuff more than me...