$68.00 US mini drill press

pebbleworm

pebbleworm

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American Science and Surplus has a benchtop mini drill press on sale:
https://www.sciplus.com/p/MINI-COMPACT-BENCHTOP-DRILL-PRESS_47894?trk_msg=F9FASTIH5PI4B9DU86AABNQ9GK&trk_contact=0QMGH048VD7FSMN6VH9AUHJUF0&utm_source=Listrak&utm_medium=Email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.sciplus.com%2fp%2fMINI-COMPACT-BENCHTOP-DRILL-PRESS_47894&utm_campaign=Double+Secret+Probation+Graduation+Shopping+List
This seems to be the same one Rio Grande jewelers supply sells for about the same price, with more detailed information and reviews:
https://www.riogrande.com/Product/VariableSpeedMiniDrillPress/330012?gclid=Cj0KEQjw94-6BRDkk568hcyg3-YBEiQAnmuwknaIxLcpIYtUN2o7RbKb99cYSwUz9criw8_MixKYEuwaAsmz8P8HAQ
I have not used this machine, but could be worthwhile if you wanted a drill press you can put away in closet and did not want to spring for a Proxxon. Just a suggestion, not necessarily a good one...
 
What a great "little" tool, could have done with one of those tonight. Had a look on Ebay and it will cost $165.00 including postage to Australia from the USA, yet the second link says from China, go figure! Interesting sites though.
Regards
Eric
 
I don't have one, and I'm not trying to sell one. I did have some downtime to look into reviews on the web and it seems like typical ChiCom/Harbor Freight/Busy Bee quality tool, meaning it might run fine straight out of the box or it may need some cleaning/de-burring and tightening up. Or loosening up, as happened here:
http://handmadejewelrytips.com/how-to-setup-a-micro-drill-press/

Rio Grande has a bunch of videos on youtube on the care and feeding of these little guys too. I have a Proxxon drill press I picked up a long time ago when ModelExpo was having one of their epic blow-out sales and I use it all the time- a mini drill press is a useful thing to have around and can also be used for cutting, sanding and very light milling.
 
Sorry, I'm keeping the Proxxon! It's just too handy. The only thing I would trade it in for would be a toolroom grade "sensitive drill press". Apologies if it sounded like I had one to sell. As a tool junkie with little space I am always looking at craigslist and very seldom have seen a used one available. I would not be afraid of buying a used one unless it came out of a commercial shop- in hobby hands they get very little use. Worst case the spindle bearings might have to be replaced or some wiring done. While I'm thinking about it, the cheapie probably has adequate, but not precision bearings and a poor lubrication job from the factory- both very common problems in Chinese machinery.
 
I bought the same drill press from eBay Australia a few weeks ago. It is a 240 volt drill press and seems to be a sturdy little machine. Unfortunately it costs a lot more here

Here is the link.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/MINI-DRILL-PRESS-ELECTRONIC-VARIABLE-SPEED-PRECISION-MODELLERS-ETC-/131150878163?hash=item1e893395d3

Cheers
Geoff
 
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