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drill presses

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johndeeregreg

11-19-2023 20:44:28




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would like to upgrade the drill press in our shop but don't know where to find a good one or who makes a good one. would be used to drill anything from 1/16 hole in sheet metal up to 1+ holes through thick steel and am limited to single phase. don't want to spend an arm and a leg but willing to spend money on a quality unit that will last my lifetime and then some, the run of the mill units from fleet farm or Menards that use a tiny belt don't interest me, we already have one of those, and though it currently could use new belts it still takes way to long to drill a hole.

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Hdonly

11-23-2023 17:30:51




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
I put a bigger 3 phase motor on my old drill press with a VFD.Link



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wp6529

11-22-2023 13:22:49




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
It's one of those thing where once you have it you realize how much more you can do with it. The "I have to find a replacement for this old part" becomes "I can just make a replacement for this old part". Or take a $25 Harbor Freight pipe wrench and in 30min transform it into a heavy duty pin spanner to wrench open 4" bore hydraulic cylinders.
This post was edited by wp6529 on 11/22/2023 at 01:24 pm.

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Blackhole49

11-22-2023 12:04:05




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
If you have the space, this mill was free and cost me $50 to convert to single phase from 3 phase. It will drill anything you can clamp under it.
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Hemmjo

11-22-2023 13:14:11




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 Re: drill presses in reply to Blackhole49, 11-22-2023 12:04:05  
Well I am certainly envious!!!!



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timcasbolt

11-22-2023 11:29:38




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Quoting Removed, click Modern View to seeI've never heard of a vehicle mill. Does it require license plates and an annual inspection?



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buickanddeere

11-22-2023 10:45:31




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Look around for a vertical ( auto spell ) mill instead . They go for startling low prices if they are three phase.
So much that can be done with just a few tools and some ingenuity .
So low cost, simple and reliable to use a VFD to make real three phase power from single phase .
This post was edited by buickanddeere on 11/23/2023 at 10:48 am.



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wp6529

11-20-2023 18:15:05




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
The R8 to MT adapters are not used with a collet. MT drill into adapter, adapter into R8 mill spindle. The R8 doesnt have a drive tang per se, but the taper and drawbar make for a pretty solid drive if properly cleaned and tightened.

I guess the Bridgeport footprint is closer to 12 sq. Ft., but in a 300 sq. Ft. Shop every bit of space counts including that under and behind the mill. My old shop was 1,200 sq. Ft. :cry:

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wp6529

11-20-2023 13:36:04




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
You seem to have a fairly industrial gear head drill press, rather a "lite" version of a mill-drill. Somewhat unusual and likely more $ than a moderately worn Bridgeport.
You can also get R8 to MT adapters readily if you want to run some big MT drill bit in the mill and get solid drive to it. A Bridgeport or clone in back gear has a whole lot of torque available.
Again a key point is shop space which unless you are lucky is always in short supply. I'd rather fill 8 sq. ft. with a Bridgeport than 6 sq. ft. with a drill press and I don't have room for both.

Back when I had a larger shop I had three mills and still no drill press :)

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Ultradog MN

11-20-2023 14:46:23




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 Re: drill presses in reply to wp6529, 11-20-2023 13:36:04  
You can also get R8 to MT adapters readily if you want to run some big MT drill bit in the mill and get solid drive to it.

An R8 - or any other type of collet in a mill is still subject to the gripping power of the taper. That may be a good fail safe but that adapter can still spin in the collet, the collet spin in the spindle or both. The tang plus taper on a MT drill will keep it from slipping untill you twist the tang off or bust the gears in the head.
That's why I think an MT drill can put more torque to the bit.
PS,
A bridgeport in 8 sq feet?
My vintage knee mill is a bit smaller than Bridgeport but measuring the envelope - handle to handle on the table and rear of machine to front of the handle, it needs about 11.5 squ feet and more yet to fully function.
The envelope of the drill in the photo is 4.3 squ feet.
Shop space is precious to all of us but I don't begrudge this thing's presence here.

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Ultradog MN

11-20-2023 13:25:51




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Some interesting replies here.
And I ain't saying any of you are wrong.
However, a drill press with a morse taper (MT) can put more torque to the bit than any type of collet used in a knee mill. A drill press with a MT tap holder will tap holes like nobodys business.
A 3 phase drill press can instantly reverse while tapping. Changing the tool in a MT drill press is much quicker than than loosening or changing the collet in a mill or in a chuck.. A drill press will drill big holes in steel day in, day out for years and not wear it out.
A drill press with power feed lets you adjust your speed/feed for optimum drilling performance.
A drill press is simpler to learn to use, quicker to set up and drills bigger holes faster.
I have an old knee mill. I like it and I use it for all the many things a drill press won't do.
But there is no way I would ever be without my drill press.

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wp6529

11-20-2023 12:47:03




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
It's a case where you don't realize how much utility you will get until you have the machine, and if you aren't looking for a mill in pristine condition able to hold tight tolerances you can get a very serviceable mill up to any farm fab and repair work quite cheap.



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glennster

11-20-2023 12:46:07




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
i picked up a cincinati bickford radial drill press several years ago. i think i paid 1200 for it. has a #4 morse taper and came with a lot of bits . also has a phase converter to run single phase . its a beast. weighs around 7500 pounds but it will drill holes !!!
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ss55

11-20-2023 11:50:55




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
A used Bridgeport type mill or radial arm drill will last several lifetimes of farm repairs. If necessary replace the industrial motor with a single phase that matches your electrical wiring capacities. Check rotation speed a maximum speed reduction and maybe change the pulley ratios to suit your needs. A radial arm drill with only a half horse power motor might still cut way more that any consumer grade drill press spinning at its 600 minimum rpm.

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504

11-20-2023 10:04:29




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Evaluation (check spelling) brand mag drills and saws are some of the best on the market and the price is right. I would recommend keeping the press and getting a mag drill for the big stuff



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wp6529

11-20-2023 09:48:48




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
An RPC is good for many applications. An RPC is really a static converter with an idler motor added to smooth the output and somewhat generate a third leg.

Don't overlook the advantages of a VFD though:

- Single phase input, less wiring to run and also easier resale later to others without three phase power.

- Soft start, rather nice in a home/homestead environment where you don't have big power feeders and the significant other doesn't care for the lights blinking when you start machines in the shop.

- Dynamic braking, just a nice convenience to have the lathe or mill come to a stop faster without having to manually apply a brake. Slightly faster tool changes and measurements add up to real time savings over time.

- Variable speed, another nicety to be able to adjust the speed without having to stop and change gears. You will find the gear settings that will do the job 95% of the time with just motor speed adjustments. Yes you loose some torque at less than rated motor speed but you also rarely are pushing anything hard enough to need it unless you are a production shop.

- RPCs have idle power consumption and you tend to leave them on while you are in the shop so you have three phase power to start a machine whenever. Over time this can add up to wasted power cost if you don't run the machines that much vs. VFDs that only consume any real power when operating the motor.

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timcasbolt

11-20-2023 09:23:17




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Quoting Removed, click Modern View to seeI agree with this if you are only planning to have one 3 phase tool. I have a Bridgeport, band saw and surface grinder, so I went with a rotary phase convertor. My weapon of choice is a Cedarberg. Highly recommended. The static phase convertors cost you a third of your power and don't last very long. Some people build their own, but I'm not sparky enough for that.

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ihplowboy

11-20-2023 06:07:58




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Look for an Excello 602 mill or a Bridgeport.
It can also mill a slot, or bore a hole larger.
I put a single phase motor on mine 1.5 hp



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Steve in IL

11-20-2023 05:58:48




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
If you take some of the model names, products suggested below, and put them into searchtempest.com, you will find a lot of options.



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wp6529

11-20-2023 05:34:13




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
You want a VFD - Variable Frequency Drive, and one that accepts single phase power input. Also note that lathes have a lot of rotating mass so you will want a VFD that supports an external braking resistor and you'll want the resistor as well. Avoid the cheap China VFDs as support and reliability are questionable. Drives Warehouse has quality drives and a decent site to search for what you need.

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Jim.ME

11-20-2023 05:03:37




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Look at a Mag Drill. I have a Milwaukee Variable speed reversible that has the Morse taper so I can use a chuck or annular cutters with MT adapters as well as MT drill bits. And it can be used to tap holes. I picked it up used.



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Hemmjo

11-20-2023 04:43:52




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
You are not really limited to single phase. I wish I had known about phase converters earlier in life. If you find a nice used drill press with 3-phase don't pass it up if it fits your needs

You can get a VFD (variable frequency drive with a phase converter) to power your drill press. I got a good deal on a lathe with a 3 phase motor. Was looking for a single replacement motor. Someone suggested I look into a VFD. It was less money than a new motor, in addition I get variable speeds, reverse, slow start, quick stop where the motor acts as a brake instead of just coasting to a stop.

It puts a lot of good used industrial equipment into your pool of possibilities.

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Kansas4010

11-20-2023 05:31:15




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 Re: drill presses in reply to Hemmjo, 11-20-2023 04:43:52  
Hemmjo could you tell me what kind you bought. I'm not an electrical type of person and haven't heard of phase converters. I also bought a lathe like you and it sounds like something I would be interested in doing. I typed it in and came up with a vast array of models that frankly I don't know what I would need. Thank you.



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Hemmjo

11-20-2023 10:58:25




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 Re: drill presses in reply to Kansas4010, 11-20-2023 05:31:15  
I had no idea about VFD's either. I discovered them on a forum, I think it was the Practical Machinist, but I do not remember for sure. I got a TECO N3, made in Taiwan. It has been working fine for about 15 years. You need size the VFD to match the motor you are using. I have a 1HP Leeson motor on my 11 Logan lathe.

TECO N3
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Leeson 3ph 1 HP motor
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timcasbolt

11-20-2023 04:27:04




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Quoting Removed, click Modern View to seeCompletely agree.



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Handyman

11-20-2023 04:03:07




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Look for a mill-drill, I have drilled holes up to 1 1/4 inch with mine. the table lets you clamp your material down and then move it to center the drill bit to your hole. with a little learning there are many things you can do that a drill press will not do.



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johndeeregreg

11-20-2023 10:12:50




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 Re: drill presses in reply to Handyman, 11-20-2023 04:03:07  
something like this? https://stcloud.craigslist.org/tls/d/saint-cloud-hp-drill-mill-press-volt/7689555516.html



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wp6529

11-20-2023 03:46:45




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Forget the drill press, unless you happen to have a huge shop they are a waste of space for a very limited function machine. Find yourself a good mill instead, a Bridgeport or one of its clones. Takes only a bit more shop space and is vastly more functional. I have never had a drill press in my shop, only a mill or two, and never missed it.



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caterpillar guy

11-20-2023 03:19:43




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Hate to say it if you are in a hurry to get one then plan to break open that piggy bank for it. If you want to shop around a while you can find one for less. I shopped for 20 years for the air compressor I wanted in the size I wanted. Now I'm very happy with it for my money. Would have cost me close to 5,000 for it new today. I spent 400.00 on it. I get 175PSI for tire work on semis with a larger volume like around 15or so SCFM. It will with a 1 inch impact tighten disc gang nuts with no problem and other large bolts. And you can even see the tire raise when flat on an 18.4-30 without having to wait to see if it is going up. Auctions sometimes have some radial drill presses on them. They would do what you want though tooling for Morse tapered bits is going to get costly for big holes. And for the little holes you will need a chuck small enough to hold those bits and have a quill to fit the Morse taper. All also not cheap.

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Ultradog MN

11-20-2023 02:00:33




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
How much do you want to spend?
Drilling a 1 hole in thick steel isn't going to get done with a belt drive drill press from Menards. They just cant be run slow enough.
You will need a gear head drill. Something that will drill around 150 rpm or preferably even less.
And you wil likely Not find one of those that run on single phase.
However, you can buy a VFD (variable phase drive) that will convert 220 single phase to 220 3 phase. They are pretty much plug and play now days and you should be able to buy a new one capable of powering up to a 2 HP machine for under $300.
Do not make the mistake of buying a drill press that requires 440/480 volts because now you will need to deal with a transformer as well as the phase converter.
A lot of folks can't get over the 3 phase barrier but if you do it will open up a lot of options for used industrial machinery and in your case a Real drill press that will drill fifty 1 holes into heavy steel without breaking a sweat.

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M-MAN

11-20-2023 03:48:23




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 Re: drill presses in reply to Ultradog MN, 11-20-2023 02:00:33  
I agree with UD. You're going to have to hunt used industrial equipment. Preferably with the tooling. I've only seen a couple of the old gear drive drill presses and they were in a cotton mill machine shop. They were furnished by the military during WW2 and left there after the war. They used to make all kinds of stuff for the war effort. I've seen the bigger one drill 4 inch holes in heavy iron blanks like they were nothing. They had bits even bigger.

You aren't going to get speed though. Those things are slow. On the lowest speed you can barely see the drill turn.

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RusselAZ

11-19-2023 21:38:08




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 Re: drill presses in reply to johndeeregreg, 11-19-2023 20:44:28  
Keep your eye on facebook market place or craiglist's tools. They have some good ones that show up. Get one with at least a 58 ths chuck or one that has a taper capability. And, three phase electronic convertors are reasonably priced.



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