Doomwolf Posted February 22, 2017 Report Share Posted February 22, 2017 Hi all. I'm looking to get a drill press for the shop, and there is a used Powerfist model for $80 about an hour away from me. The seller says that 'it might need some tuning, it wobbles a little. Is this something that is probably easy to fix, or am I better off biting the bullet and spending $500+ on something brand new? http://www.kijiji.ca/v-power-tool/ottawa/stand-drill-press-16-speeds/1233970923 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 Is there some feature of the "Powerfist"(?) that you really like, other than the price? A bit of wobble could be anything from a poorly seated taper, to a worn out bearing, to a bent quill. I would be leery of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 Are you a repair man? If he's selling that cheap, it probably needs a repair man. Just go look at Grizzly, your better off with new. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Coop Posted February 23, 2017 Popular Post Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 I have a HF model and use a 1/4" bit if I want a 5/16" hole! Pretty reliable 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomwolf Posted February 23, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 The only attractive feature is the price (especially since I need to pony up for a new gas hotwater tank next month). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 Honestly,just about anything Powerfist is just complete junk. Maybe OK something like an angle grinder that requires no precision & will only be used occasionally. But unless a drill press is spot on, your better with just a hand held drill. I wouldn't take that even if it was free. Just not worth the frustration. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 I'll defer to others on the budget brands in your area. I will second that I use a drill press for accuracy. Otherwise I hand drill. If the machine isn't reliably accurate, it serves me no purpose. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 7 hours ago, drzaius said: Honestly,just about anything Powerfist is just complete junk. Maybe OK something like an angle grinder that requires no precision & will only be used occasionally. But unless a drill press is spot on, your better with just a hand held drill. I wouldn't take that even if it was free. Just not worth the frustration. I have to agree - especially if it's already got issues, a Princess Auto tool in that state is already headed for the scrap heap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marmotjr Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 Now that the "correct" answer is out there.... did anybody else chuckle at "powerfist"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drzaius Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 1 minute ago, Marmotjr said: Now that the "correct" answer is out there.... did anybody else chuckle at "powerfist"? All the time. I've embarrassed for the employees that have to sell that name. Also makes me involuntarily clench up when I see it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 Take a look at the Grizzly drill press G7943, at $350 it's worth every dime... I bought one last year, and it's accurate as hell for a bench top model. They put the same head on a longer pole and sell it as a floor model. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted February 23, 2017 Report Share Posted February 23, 2017 21 minutes ago, RichardA said: Take a look at the Grizzly drill press G7943, at $350 it's worth every dime... I bought one last year, and it's accurate as hell for a bench top model. They put the same head on a longer pole and sell it as a floor model. Since I'm assuming you're in Canada with the PowerFist reference, they've got almost the same one at Busy Bee under the Craftex brand. With the exchange it works out to close to the same price. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomwolf Posted February 24, 2017 Author Report Share Posted February 24, 2017 Thank you all for the advice. It sounds like the overwhelming opinion is to buy new unless you know what you're getting into, which I don't really. I wish my grandfather MacDonald was still alive, he was a master machinist for years and would know what was worth repairing. @RichardA @SawDustB I presume these are the models you're talking about. As always, everything is more expensive this side of 49, but there is a Busy Bee location in Ottawa so I could get the Craftex model without having to pay shipping. Thank you very much for the recommendations. FWIW, the grizzly has really good reviews (4.8/5 stars on nine reviews)http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-Speed-Heavy-Duty-Bench-Top-Drill-Press/G7943?utm_campaign=zPage&utm_source=grizzly.com http://www.busybeetools.com/products/drill-press-14in-3-4hp-bench-w-laser-csa-ct019n.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted February 24, 2017 Report Share Posted February 24, 2017 Thank you all for the advice. It sounds like the overwhelming opinion is to buy new unless you know what you're getting into, which I don't really. I wish my grandfather MacDonald was still alive, he was a master machinist for years and would know what was worth repairing. @RichardA @SawDustB I presume these are the models you're talking about. As always, everything is more expensive this side of 49, but there is a Busy Bee location in Ottawa so I could get the Craftex model without having to pay shipping. Thank you very much for the recommendations. FWIW, the grizzly has really good reviews (4.8/5 stars on nine reviews) http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-Speed-Heavy-Duty-Bench-Top-Drill-Press/G7943?utm_campaign=zPage&utm_source=grizzly.com http://www.busybeetools.com/products/drill-press-14in-3-4hp-bench-w-laser-csa-ct019n.html Yes, that's the one. I've considered the floor model version of that drill press, but I've kept going with my little MasterCraft one for now. I'm in Halifax, so I feel your pain about trying to buy equipment here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomwolf Posted April 8, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2017 Got a new toy today! Looking forward to getting my dinning room table back on track.Thanks to @SawDustB for the recommendation. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted April 8, 2017 Report Share Posted April 8, 2017 Got a new toy today! Looking forward to getting my dinning room table back on track.Thanks to @SawDustB for the recommendation. Looks good! Let us know how it works out. I still might go that route at some point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gee-dub Posted April 8, 2017 Report Share Posted April 8, 2017 Awesome. Wait, what's that little voice I hear . . . ? (read in a small whispering voice) "Build me a table, build me a table". I had to dig onto the archives but, here's a table and fence that I built in an afternoon and used for years. Sold it with the little DP back in 2007. Its just MDF with hardboard laminated to the top. The t-solts are milled into the wood, no t-track. I think it was my take on an old ShopNotes table. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomwolf Posted April 9, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2017 Thanks for the suggestion, I'll have to do something like that. A heck of a lot cheaper than the DP table Lee Valley sells, and it's metal, so drilling into it would be a bad idea. Of course, the first thing I really need to do is run some tests and make sure everything is setup to drill square. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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