Benchtop Drill Press Recommendations

[Jason Rodgers]

Hi, folks. I'm doing some tool upgrades and I need some recommendations for a good benchtop drill press. I have a 17" pedestal Jet, and it's great, but I can do with a smaller unit.

As for requirements, I do most of the usual electric guitar builder things on the drill press: accurate holes, hogging pickup and neck pockets with forstners, etc. All of my spindle sanding is done on the OSS, but I do use a Safe-T-Planer and a disc sander, so rpms up to or over 3000 is necessary. No need for the variable speed fanciness. I like a spindle lock/depth stop, but lasers aren't necessary.

I'm thinking a 12" model with a .5hp motor will work fine. Who makes a solid unit with tight tolerances and few bells and whistles?

Thanks!

[David King]

Jason,
you'll probably get what you pay for on the new end of the spectrum but if you have time and patience you might look for a used Walker Turner or equivalent. The other cool drill press of a more recent vintage would be the Ryobi WDP1850.