What type/ size drill press?

If you stand by, I will measure the distance on my Tele from body edge to string holes.

The measurement of the drill press is the diameter swing, and is twice the distance from
column to drill chuck center. So a 10" press can reach 5" in from the edge of a body.

 

15" is recommended but some guys can get 12" to work IIRC

 

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/search.php?searchid=4758697

 

A 12 in. drill press will do any drilling you need to do in building a Telecaster. Home Depot has a Ryobi 12 in. for $179. Not a bad deal. Nothing smaller will reach the string through hole locations.

 

The string holes on mine measure about 5-1/4" from body edge. It would not make it
on a 10" press.

A larger press has some advantages over a smaller press. Less vibration, which can be
important if you are drilling holes freehand without clamps. Vibration causes the work
to wander off center. They are also stronger than a smaller drill press with an extension.
Probably not a problem when drilling wood, though.
And the throat size or swing of course, and I notice that you already are aware of that.

 

LOL, we need a sticky for tools.

 

You can also use a small drill press to make a drilling template. Use a hardwood block,
about 1/2" or more, and drill the string holes in that. Then line the block up over the
body and drill one hole on one end. Place a pin of the same size as hole through the
the template and body to hold it in place and drill the other end hole. Place another pin
in that hole to fix that end of the template in place. Then drill the inner holes. You can
use similar size drill bits as pins.

Don't drill all the way through the body, only about half way. Just drill the two outer
end holes through. You may actually be able to reach these two holes with a 10" drill
press. But make sure they go through perfectly straight. Then move the template to
the back of the body and pin it in place with the two outer holes. Drill the inner holes
through to meet the holes already drilled from the top.

 

I have a 12' DELTA HOMECRAFT, its over 5 decades old and it is my baby. Works fine for my luthierie endeavours

 

Put a good set of FORSTNER and BRAD POINT bits on your shopping list as well, if you dont own them already. They are the key to drill press/user happiness.