HF drill presses

**Strigoi** · 07-01-2009, 10:28 AM

are they junk or do they do ok for light use?

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

i'm possibly thinking about picking that one up since it's cheap. i checked CL and most on there are more than i want to spend. it'd really just get used for drilling sprockets and the occasional hole in a bracket.

TT · 07-01-2009, 10:47 AM

Stroigi,

Love the picture...

I saw the same ad and thought? Well, if it's $39.00 on sale how bad can it be? If your on a budget and want a drill press. All the features are not used like speeds. The drill stop on a threaded shaft will be the most important feature, imo. Then, you need a stand or a place to put the darn thing. I say YES to the PRESS.

It has to be worth trying and keep the receipt under the press...

TT OUT!

Try to be a good little boy when your BAAD>?

BraveHeart. · 07-01-2009, 02:10 PM

i would say get it and get a warranty, HF has very good warranties imo.

n58591 · 07-01-2009, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Strigoi

are they junk or do they do ok for light use?

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

i'm possibly thinking about picking that one up since it's cheap. i checked CL and most on there are more than i want to spend. it'd really just get used for drilling sprockets and the occasional hole in a bracket.

I have one. It doesn’t have a lot of power but it does great with small bits and does OK with large bits (3/4” – 1”) if you go slowly. I have used it for drilling 1” holes in ¼” plate when I am making an exhaust header for a clone.

BTW, I never pay for a warranty at HF. They have always taken back my broken tools (and there are a lot of them) even when they are a year old. Don’t scream and yell, just let the manager know how much you shop there. Heck, they know they sell a lot of junk.

**Strigoi** · 07-01-2009, 03:12 PM

i think i'm going to try and swing by today and see what they actually have at the store.

**Hent** · 07-01-2009, 04:53 PM

Buffalo Tools 5 Speed Mini Drill Press - DPMINI5UL at The Home Depot

There's one from home depot?

**Strigoi** · 07-01-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hent

Buffalo Tools 5 Speed Mini Drill Press - DPMINI5UL at The Home Depot

There's one from home depot?

that looks nicer than the HF ones. i'll have to check them out as well.

born loser · 07-01-2009, 06:52 PM

Ive used the HF one, the cheapie NT one, and one other cheapie from the travelling tool show thang. I was able to get some pretty good holes from both. Hell, I drilled some 1" holes in 3/4" steel to make some steering arms for my rockcrawler. I drilled alot of BIG holes using the HF Silver and Deming bits in the HF press to make some tubing bender arms (5/8" steel).
Just gotta learn how hard you can push it, and how steady you are...I had a buddy that SUCKED at using it, but I have no problems at all.

littlefan · 07-01-2009, 07:48 PM

I have one of the older HF drill presses it worked ok for light work but the slowest speed was still to fast so I took off the motor and bolted it to a plate that moved it to the side an added a jack shaft to with step pulleys to get more speed options and now it works great

JayQuan · 07-01-2009, 09:54 PM

If your going to get a cheap one I wouldnt drill anything too thick with it or it will most likley break, also I would check the rating on it, some are only rated to handel the stress from drilling wood let alone steel or aluminum