Made in USA drill press

ullur

Member
Callsign: KI6CSI
I'd recommend picking up a vintage delta or rockwell. That's what I did for a fraction of your budget. In fact, by buying vintage I picked up a thickness planer, drill press, and 14" bandsaw for under your proposed budget for the press alone.
 

chris snell

Administrator
Callsign: NW5W
Staff member
I see a lot of vintage units for sale but then I see mentions occasionally of "bearings replaced". I wonder how much of a task that short of job is on these old machines.
 

chris snell

Administrator
Callsign: NW5W
Staff member
Knuth drill presses such as this one are made in Germany and are within your budget.


Wow. That's exactly what I was looking for. I ended up buying a Hougen magnetic drill and my plan is to build a stand for it. I like the mag drill because I can keep it in a box when I'm not using it. I got the HMD2MT, which takes #2 Morse taper bits. I also bought a 1/2" twist drill chuck for it (since Morse taper bits are crazy expensive), along with a set of tapping arbors. This particular model is a new one for Hougen and I believe it is their first mag drill with reverse capability. Made in USA.
 

chris snell

Administrator
Callsign: NW5W
Staff member
A friend at work made some suggestions to me for some made-in-the-U.S.A. mills. These are not quite what I was looking for but man, I'm super tempted because they would give me additional capabilities that the mag drill won't. @jymmiejamz you may like these because of their small size.

Sherline desktop "micro" lathes and Mills, made in USA: https://www.sherline.com/

Taig Tools makes them, too: https://taigtools.com/

What's particularly cool about both of these companies is that they make CNC units, as well. The ability to do CNC milling or lathing on my workbench at home sounds amazing.
 

FLY CUBS

Well-known member
A friend at work made some suggestions to me for some made-in-the-U.S.A. mills. These are not quite what I was looking for but man, I'm super tempted because they would give me additional capabilities that the mag drill won't. @jymmiejamz you may like these because of their small size.

Sherline desktop "micro" lathes and Mills, made in USA: https://www.sherline.com/

Taig Tools makes them, too: https://taigtools.com/

What's particularly cool about both of these companies is that they make CNC units, as well. The ability to do CNC milling or lathing on my workbench at home sounds amazing.

I have a Taig micro mill that I inherited from my Uncle - he used it to make a large telescope. It's a well built little machine - if I decide to keep it long term, I'll definitely put a CNC kit on it.
 

FLY CUBS

Well-known member
Not to stray too far off topic, but I do have a drill press rec for one that is not american made- Wen 4212. It's a 10 inch bench top model that's variable speed - without having to change the pulley set up. They also make it in a 12 inch model. I had a Delta floor model, but found I never needed the size and often was changing the pulley set up as I tend to work both with wood, steel and aluminum about the same amounts. I have been pleasantly surprised with the quality of the Wen - and at $185 shipped to my door the price is hard to beat. Most reviews out there are positive as well.
 

javelinadave

Administrator
Staff member
I picked this up today at an estate sale. 110/220v, zero rust for $340. I think I did good but time will tell.
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