Drill press questions

What are the basic specs I'd be looking for in a drill press in order to make solid body guitars?

Horsepower?
Throat depth?
Chuck size?
Variable speed?

etc.

Thanks.

Something like this should do fine. I don't think you need anything fancy.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/5-Speed-Floor-Radial-Drill-Press/G7946


http://cdn0.grizzly.com/pics/jpeg1000/g/g7946.jpg

Here's a used one I was looking at. It's 1/2 hp. Made by General Electric. Don't know much else about it. It comes with the stand which would be very useful for me. I'm calling back the old fella that's selling it tomorrow to get more specs.

$125. Good price?

My drill press is similar to that General Electric one but mine is Taiwanese. I've had it for years and gives great service. The one posted by WisconsinStrings is a radial-arm drill press which is what I'd prefer to have. It's more flexible to use with the throat being adjustable. If my old one fails I'll replace it with the radial arm one.

My drill press is similar to that General Electric one but mine is Taiwanese. I've had it for years and gives great service. The one posted by WisconsinStrings is a radial-arm drill press which is what I'd prefer to have. It's more flexible to use with the throat being adjustable. If my old one fails I'll replace it with the radial arm one.

I didn't notice that the Grizzly press was a radial arm type. That would be ideal but my budget is set pretty low. I have to remeber as well that I won't be out in the shop every day churning out guitars. My tools only get sporadic light duty usage so I don't need anything even near top of the line quality. I'd prefer top quality of course but I don't need it.

the spindle end play will be one thing to check.. remember! power off !!!ll

wind the handle down to it's max.. and see how much play is in the shaft/housing at the bottom of it's travel... by holding the chuck and giving it a wiggle to test...... less is best.. or none... too much slop will make inaccuracies on the drill table, orbiting off centre .. etc,,,

electric motors can be replaced easily... it's the accuacy of the drill bit that counts...
also check for cracks in the cast metal around the table clamps and fittings ..

Mine's... O r a n g e .:cool:.. the tone on this baby is insane...:wink:

I paid about 270 new at a local toolguys type store.. Chinese made..3/4 hp, I think..it has a self locking chuck 14mm on a morse taper shaft...
180mm from the post to drill centre..

I got it to do bridge holes/string throughs... nice and square...:wink:

the spindle end play will be one thing to check.. remember! power off !!!ll

wind the handle down to it's max.. and see how much play is in the shaft/housing at the bottom of it's travel... by holding the chuck and giving it a wiggle to test...... less is best.. or none... too much slop will make inaccuracies on the drill table, orbiting off centre .. etc,,,

electric motors can be replaced easily... it's the accuacy of the drill bit that counts...
also check for cracks in the cast metal around the table clamps and fittings ..

Mine's... O r a n g e .:cool:.. the tone on this baby is insane...:wink:

I paid about 270 new at a local toolguys type store.. Chinese made..3/4 hp, I think..it has a self locking chuck 14mm on a morse taper shaft...
180mm from the post to drill centre..

I got it to do bridge holes/string throughs... nice and square...:wink:

Thanks for the info. I knew to check for wobble but thanks for a detailed account of how to do that.

That's a nice looking little press you've got. I'd be very happy to snag something like that. And orange!! Bonus!!!:mrgreen:

I bit the bullet and got a new one when I agonised about doing bridges by hand drilling...

I saw a few on the stores online site and they were all grey.. I went in to check them out and the only grey ones were the full pedestal models .. I wanted a bench top one...

here's an orange one, same brand with a square table.. nice unit... for 30 less..mmmm?
oh, it's the last one of these.....same specs as the grey ones.. he had to grab a morse chuck off one of the good ones to give me.. and I beat a table drill vise out of him too.. sweet... all for cheaper than I figured I'd spend looking at the website...

handy indeed... a good investment.. I use it for lots of other metal drilling jobs too... and spindle sanding drums,etc...
it's part of the decor on the back porch,err bench these days... an orange sentinel at the back door...

I bit the bullet and got a new one when I agonised about doing bridges by hand drilling...

I saw a few on the stores online site and they were all grey.. I went in to check them out and the only grey ones were the full pedestal models .. I wanted a bench top one...

here's an orange one, same brand with a square table.. nice unit... for 30 less..mmmm?
oh, it's the last one of these.....same specs as the grey ones.. he had to grab a morse chuck off one of the good ones to give me.. and I beat a table drill vise out of him too.. sweet... all for cheaper than I figured I'd spend looking at the website...

handy indeed... a good investment.. I use it for lots of other metal drilling jobs too... and spindle sanding drums,etc...
it's part of the decor on the back porch,err bench these days... an orange sentinel at the back door...

Good deal.

I don't even have my workshop fully setup yet. I've got to pull it apart and redesign it. My workshop is a 10' x 10' shack in the backyard. It's a pretty solid decently built little building. We bought the house about a year ago and the shop was built by the previous owner. It badly needs to be redesigned for my purposes. So maybe I should save up my pennies and get a decent press like yours since my shop isn't really fully functional yet anyway.

At least your not building out on your deck anymore.

Here's a used one I was looking at. It's 1/2 hp. Made by General Electric. Don't know much else about it. It comes with the stand which would be very useful for me. I'm calling back the old fella that's selling it tomorrow to get more specs.

$125. Good price?

That's too small IMO. Look for 8" min from the chuck to the column.

I believe you need about 12" if you're going to do the string-through holes.

Here's a used one I was looking at. It's 1/2 hp. Made by General Electric. Don't know much else about it. It comes with the stand which would be very useful for me. I'm calling back the old fella that's selling it tomorrow to get more specs.

$125. Good price?

Ive got one built exactly like that, but mine is green. Works great.

http://i299.photobucket.com/albums/mm308/coltwknight/Ashleys%20Jewelry%20Box/100_2475.jpg


But I like the orange one in the background better.

Canadian Tire currently have a 10" model at half price:
http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/browse/6/Tools/3/StationaryTools/DrillPresses/PRDOVR~0555509P/Mastercraft+10-in.+Drill+Press+With+Laser.jsp?locale=en
Their 15" model is currently at full price but if you wait it will surely be on sale some time this year with at least a 50% discount.

Actually, if you want to use the drill press to drill string through holes, you will need at least a 12" drill press.