Belt/disc grinder and drill press?

[bluesman2a]

OK guys, slowly building up my shop equipment. My next purchases are going to be a combo disc/belt grinder, and after that, a drill press.

What do you think about this grinder?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40643

I've looked at Grizzly, Enco, and MSC, these seem to offer the most bang for the buck. Any other suggestions?

I also need a good drill-press. Preferably a floor standing unit in the less than $500 range. I do a lot of work with bi-metal holesaws, so a slow spindle speed and tilting table are pretty critical. Don't even know where to start on this one.

Thoughts comments and experiences are appreciated!

[morpheus]

that looks like a pretty nice grinder Herb. In a thread a while back Dan talked about the one he had and how with a disc grinder you want alot of rpm's. the specs on that one say
that it does:

Belt: 2700 rpm
Disc: 3450 rpm

both of which are quite fast. I'd buy it.

drill press: this is just my opinion but if you're willing to spend $500 for a drill press. I'd just save up a little more and get a small mill.

though I figure you're wanting the tilting table to run the hole saw on tube ... which wouldn't really be easy on a mill/drill press. though it would be mighty steady.

that said I have a $200 HF 14-speed drill press w/tilting table that has done everything and more that I've ever asked from it.


- jack

[cope]

Re: Belt/disc grinder and drill press?

Originally posted by bluesman2a
OK guys, slowly building up my shop equipment. My next purchases are going to be a combo disc/belt grinder, and after that, a drill press.

What do you think about this grinder?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=40643

I've looked at Grizzly, Enco, and MSC, these seem to offer the most bang for the buck. Any other suggestions?

I also need a good drill-press. Preferably a floor standing unit in the less than $500 range. I do a lot of work with bi-metal holesaws, so a slow spindle speed and tilting table are pretty critical. Don't even know where to start on this one.

Thoughts comments and experiences are appreciated!

Grizzly would be my first choice in the lower price tools. They have a good reputation for customer service and they stock parts for their machines(others too).

[Shrock]

I bought one of these. I like it. It is a massive beast. You dont get an idea of the scale from the pic It weighs 155lbs w/o a stand.

The Belt speed is 5,000 F.P.M.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/item.cfm?ItemNumber=G1183

[atucker]

As far as the drill press goes - if you have a Tractor Supply Co. store around, checkout the Clarke stuff that they sell. I went to the local TSC looking for a new motor for my ancient, bench mount, drill press that I "inherited" from my Dad. The 1/2 HP motor was going to be about $100 - the Clarke, floor standing, 16 speed, drill press (with tilting table) was $159. Why buy a motor when you can get the whole thing for $59 more? . It, of course, is of far east gender, but appears to be well made - it appears to share many of the parts with the similar units sold at Sears. The comparable models at Sears were $300 and up. I've had it two or three months and it has done everything I have wanted to do with it. Might be worth a look anyway.

Allen T.

[BMB]

Yep,
I looked at all the "store brand" drill presses and if you look at the castings and other parts they all appear to be pretty much the same.

I vote for the Clark too. I was going to get one of them, until I happen to get a Rigid for free.

Your more than welcome to come and try mine to see if you like it.

I still need a bench grinder too, but haven't put much time into looking for one so far.

Oh, what's this about SLOWLY building up shop equipment. I know a weekend doen't go by that your not at Northern or Harbor Frieght looking for goodies.


BMB

[cope]

Originally posted by BMB
Yep,
I looked at all the "store brand" drill presses and if you look at the castings and other parts they all appear to be pretty much the same.

I vote for the Clark too. I was going to get one of them, until I happen to get a Rigid for free.

Your more than welcome to come and try mine to see if you like it.

I still need a bench grinder too, but haven't put much time into looking for one so far.

Oh, what's this about SLOWLY building up shop equipment. I know a weekend doen't go by that your not at Northern or Harbor Frieght looking for goodies.


BMB

Bench grinder-I wish I had a 1800 rpm instead of 3600. They cost nearly twice as much, but are nice for special work.

[ryanevans]

My vote for a drill press would be Jet, I have a Jet JDP-17MF and love it http://www.jettools.com/JETMetal/Tools/JDP14JF.html

As far as Clark, their parts washers seem OK but I wouldn't trust much more than that. I have a Clark welder that I got for free from a shop I used to work at. I put a new circuit board in it ($80). It's not hateful for an $80 welder but the duty cycle at high current is about 5%.

[atucker]

ryanevans, (et all)

I think drill presses (and maybe band saws) are probably one of the most common "private label" power tools. If you look at the Jet (in your link), Clarke, Sears, Rigid, etc. they are almost identical - especially the Jet and Clarke. Not trying to defend Clarke, or anyone else, but mechanical things are usually castings, bearings, things that are pretty standard. Electrical/electronics are a different story.

Allen T.

[ryanevans]

atucker-

I used to work at a Woodcraft (I know, wrong hobby for this crowd) and have seen many different manufacturers parts. We ran across all kinds of strange probelms but Jet/Performax came out on top. A motor is a motor in function but quality is a big part. The Jet drill press is a TEFC motor while it looks like the Clark isn't. While the casting appear the same, they can be miles apart. Where castings can get you is in alignment & fit. You might tighten the bolt to lock the table in place, but it may not fit good enought to truely lock it.

I used to do mechanical design, and if I saw something I could copy legally, I would. That's why so many machines look similar, patents expire or not applied for so everyone copies everyone.

There has to be a reason that the Clark is $200 while the Jet is $450.

just my $.02

[cope]

Aaron and Ryan

You are both correct to a point. Jet and the others are made in the same factories, same way Chevy and Cadillac are. Same scenario, same result. I think you can get away with a cheaper drill press or horizontal metal cutting band saw easier than any other tool. I have a shop full of Jet tools, but I still have my 27 year old Craftsman drill press. Jet's shortcoming is their sorry v-belts. Best to replace them immediately with either an American one or a Fenner Powertwist.

[Danco]

my 2 cents

if youre going to do any type of heavy drilling, just make sure youre going to run on 220v, not on 110v. also look for low speeds, like 150 or lower. that'll allow you to use larger bits and holesaws.

[pontiac]

I just picked up a Jet Shopline JSL-14DP Drill Press at Costco and I'm really happy with it.. $179

12 speeds from 250-3100, 5/8" chuck, 3 1/4" spindle travel, 1/3 hp and it can be re-wired for 220v.

I'll agree on the belts.. replace em and all the vibration goes away.

one assembly tip.. Be sure you clean all the grease off the spindle and the reciever when putting it together.. unless it's perfectly clean the chuck will keep falling out.

[Franz]

Here's a picture of one we have in the shop for swinging a fly cutter up to 8".
When in back gear at lo speed, it will turn about 10 rpm.

[AthlonAJ]

Just how well would a sander like that work for on metal, assuming you used the right belt? I do so much finish grinding that I would like to get something like a BurrKing but can't afford to dump $1k just into a belt grinder at the moment.