Bench Drill Press

[CarlosEcheverria]

I’m thinking about adding a bench drill press to my modeling tools but not sure which one’s a good, budget-friendly option. I also do some DIY woodworking at home, so it needs to handle both. A friend recommended Porter-Cable, but it looks like they’re not being made anymore. Anyone got experience with other brands or suggestions for gear available locally in the US?

 

[Jimsky]

I’m thinking about adding a bench drill press to my modeling tools but not sure which one’s a good, budget-friendly option. I also do some DIY woodworking at home, so it needs to handle both. A friend recommended Porter-Cable, but it looks like they’re not being made anymore. Anyone got experience with other brands or suggestions for gear available locally in the US?

There are several reputable brands to consider, but what about the budget and specs? Do you need a basic drill press or are you willing to have advanced features?

 

[CarlosEcheverria]

Hi Jim,
Thanks for asking! Right now, I’m focused on getting a drill press that’s well-suited for detailed, precise work on ship models like the Santísima Trinidad, which is on my project list. So precision and reliability for fine craftsmanship are key at this stage.

For now, a solid basic model that offers good control and accuracy will do the job perfectly. That said, I’m definitely open to upgrading to more advanced models with extra features down the line as my project grows and requires more versatility.

Basically, I want to get one that will last for years and avoid having to replace it again in just a few.

 

[rtwpsom2]

I have two versions, but I can't recommend them under the budget friendly clause. However, because of their nature as doing more than just drilling, they may still be viable to you in the long run. The first is a mini mill. These are a workhorse in building wooden ship models from scratch. Drilling is the easiest thing they do and they easily knock that job out of the park. They are a must have for advanced modeling.

The second is a Foredom rotary tool with a desktop drill press adapter. I think it goes without saying how indispensable a rotary tool is and Foredom are amongst the best. The drill press attachment clamps or bolts to your desk and your handpiece clamps into it. The handpiece itself has a very high precision built into it and the press uses that to make very accurate and repeatable holes.

So, yeah, I know these aren't the answer you are looking for right now, but maybe something to think about long term.

 

[Jimsky]

Immediately, I come up with Proxxon TBM‑115 Precision Bench Drill Press



A specialty micro drill press for highly precise work. Belt-driven, three-speed (1800/4700/8500 RPM) with precision collets down to 0.5 mm—perfect for drilling mast holes, tiny fittings, etc., at a higher price point (~$230 Amazon).

If you own one of the Proxxon rotary tools already, you may look for a stand drill: Proxxon 28600 Micromot Drill Stand MB 200. Then, you can attach a rotary tool and use it as a drill press.

 

[CarlosEcheverria]

Jim, Thanks for taking the time to read my help request and provide a suggestion.

 

[CarlosEcheverria]

I have two versions, but I can't recommend them under the budget friendly clause. However, because of their nature as doing more than just drilling, they may still be viable to you in the long run. The first is a mini mill. These are a workhorse in building wooden ship models from scratch. Drilling is the easiest thing they do and they easily knock that job out of the park. They are a must have for advanced modeling.

The second is a Foredom rotary tool with a desktop drill press adapter. I think it goes without saying how indispensable a rotary tool is and Foredom are amongst the best. The drill press attachment clamps or bolts to your desk and your handpiece clamps into it. The handpiece itself has a very high precision built into it and the press uses that to make very accurate and repeatable holes.

So, yeah, I know these aren't the answer you are looking for right now, but maybe something to think about long term.

Thanks again! Actually, I was originally looking for a mini drill—something compact and precise for ship modeling—but I wasn’t sure how useful it’d be for other small woodworking projects around the house. Nothing too heavy-duty, just shelves, closets, and the occasional DIY fix.

As for the Foredom idea, funny enough—I’ve got a mini table setup from SakerPlus (a birthday gift from my daughters, still sitting in the box until next week). It includes a rotary tool, so I’m curious to see how it stacks up once I put it to use. It might not be Foredom-level, but for where I’m at right now, it could be a good place to start.

Appreciate your insight—it’s definitely helping me think longer term as I build up my workshop!

 

[rtwpsom2]

Thanks again! Actually, I was originally looking for a mini drill—something compact and precise for ship modeling—but I wasn’t sure how useful it’d be for other small woodworking projects around the house. Nothing too heavy-duty, just shelves, closets, and the occasional DIY fix.

As for the Foredom idea, funny enough—I’ve got a mini table setup from SakerPlus (a birthday gift from my daughters, still sitting in the box until next week). It includes a rotary tool, so I’m curious to see how it stacks up once I put it to use. It might not be Foredom-level, but for where I’m at right now, it could be a good place to start.

Appreciate your insight—it’s definitely helping me think longer term as I build up my workshop!

Carlos, I googled the SakerPlus and while I am not usually a fan of these types of multi tool, I think the flexi-shaft might be a viable option for you. It might even work with the Proxxon drill press attachment Jim mentions above or the Foredom one I mentioned. You'll have to check the specs and see if either of them are compatible, or could be made compatible with a little reworking. The one piece of advice I might offer, though, would be to please take the saw blade off when you are using the rotary tool, leaving it on is just begging to hurt yourself or destroy whatever you're working on.

 

[CarlosEcheverria]

Carlos, I googled the SakerPlus and while I am not usually a fan of these types of multi tool, I think the flexi-shaft might be a viable option for you. It might even work with the Proxxon drill press attachment Jim mentions above or the Foredom one I mentioned. You'll have to check the specs and see if either of them are compatible, or could be made compatible with a little reworking. The one piece of advice I might offer, though, would be to please take the saw blade off when you are using the rotary tool, leaving it on is just begging to hurt yourself or destroy whatever you're working on.

Thanks for the heads-up — that’s solid advice. I wasn’t sure how compatible the SakerPlus flexi-shaft might be with the Foredom or Proxxon attachments, but I’ll definitely check the specs more closely now.

And yes — message received loud and clear about the saw blade! After years in the chemical industry with a strong focus on safety leadership, I know how easy it is for small oversights to lead to real problems. I’ll make sure to remove the blade when switching to rotary use — and I’ll probably add a small warning label as a backup to make sure it’s never forgotten. Really appreciate the reminder!

 

[Roger Pellett]

My drill press was bought by me in about 1972. It has given me reliable service ever since and it gets by far the most usage of any power tool in my shop. It it is all cast and machined steel. The only plastic is on the knobs. It’s all that I need.

I don’t understand “advanced” features. A drill press only needs to do two things; rotate the drill and move it up and down. My drill press uses belts on stepped pulleys to change speeds, but I haven’t found the need to do this for many years. I would avoid electronic speed control. An auxiliary Chuck that fits into my drill press cuck allows me to drill with tiny wire sized drill bits.

If I needed to replace my drill press my choices would be in order of preference:
1. A well cared for but used Delta unit.
2. A new Delta, Grizzly, Jet, or Rikon unit.
3. A drill press sold by one of the woodworking supply houses; Woodcraft, Rockler, etc.
4. One of the store brands sold by major home improvement stores.

Larger is better. The key dimension is the distance between the center of the spindle and the column. My 6” unit is marginal. If I needed to replace it I would buy an 12” unit. I would NOT buy any drill press marketed to hobbyists like the Proxxon unit posted above.

Roger

 

[CarlosEcheverria]

My drill press was bought by me in about 1972. It has given me reliable service ever since and it gets by far the most usage of any power tool in my shop. It it is all cast and machined steel. The only plastic is on the knobs. It’s all that I need.

I don’t understand “advanced” features. A drill press only needs to do two things; rotate the drill and move it up and down. My drill press uses belts on stepped pulleys to change speeds, but I haven’t found the need to do this for many years. I would avoid electronic speed control. An auxiliary Chuck that fits into my drill press cuck allows me to drill with tiny wire sized drill bits.

If I needed to replace my drill press my choices would be in order of preference:
1. A well cared for but used Delta unit.
2. A new Delta, Grizzly, Jet, or Rikon unit.
3. A drill press sold by one of the woodworking supply houses; Woodcraft, Rockler, etc.
4. One of the store brands sold by major home improvement stores.

Larger is better. The key dimension is the distance between the center of the spindle and the column. My 6” unit is marginal. If I needed to replace it I would buy an 12” unit. I would NOT buy any drill press marketed to hobbyists like the Proxxon unit posted above.

Roger

Roger,
Thanks for the detailed feedback — much appreciated. I’ll be doing some window shopping at Home Depot and Lowe’s to see what’s available within budget (always a budget concern!). For now, I’ll wait and see how things go with my new mini table rotary tool before making any big drill press decisions.

Appreciate you taking the time to share your experience — definitely helpful as I weigh my options.

 

[Namabiiru]

The Proxxon drill press looks nice. I have a Proxxon mill and with my limited shop space I can't justify having both that and a drill press; however, I will say that having a dedicated drill press is nice because some jobs call for a lower RPM than the mill can provide.

Harbor Freight has a small, affordable drill press that works pretty well, although like most other drill presses above hobbyist class, it needs a collet or other chuck adapter to use really small bits. Taking the top off a pin vice works well enough for that.

 

[Roger Pellett]

Yes, budget is always a concern. In 1972 I believe that my drill press cost $300. I was two years into a job where my starting salary was $12,000 per year and my wife was teaching school making half that. 50 years later it was a good investment.

Roger

 

[CarlosEcheverria]

The Proxxon drill press looks nice. I have a Proxxon mill and with my limited shop space I can't justify having both that and a drill press; however, I will say that having a dedicated drill press is nice because some jobs call for a lower RPM than the mill can provide.

Harbor Freight has a small, affordable drill press that works pretty well, although like most other drill presses above hobbyist class, it needs a collet or other chuck adapter to use really small bits. Taking the top off a pin vice works well enough for that.

Thanks for the data, including harbor Freights in my window shopping list !!