Drill Press AND a Vertical Mill???

[MyLilMule]

So, I don't have a decent drill press. It's extremely shallow and doesn't have any real power. It was my Dad's so I won't get rid of it. I've thought about putting a different motor on it. But it's still to short, not a lot of travel.

I'm in the process of refurbishing, rebuilding, rehabbing, refreshing (pick a term) a 2HP Bridgeport.

Once the mill is up and running, do I really NEED a drill press? A decent floor model drill press, with something that will go down to ~200 RPM, are REALLY expensive, at least to me - I'm frugal or cheap, pick a term

Thoughts?

 

[Winegrower]

Mostly my drill press (Powermatic) is for wood, Mill (Bridgeport clone) is for metal, though on occasion I have mixed the media up for special jobs. I’ve mortised and grooved wood on the mill, and drilled sheet metal on the press.

Of course you need both.

 

[Mitch Alsup]

I have lived for 4 years with only my mill, I have a drill press but it is 6-miles away from my mill and has not been turned on in a decade.
It will shortly be moved into the shop.....
Technically, you should have both.......

 

[vecair]

So, I don't have a decent drill press. It's extremely shallow and doesn't have any real power. It was my Dad's so I won't get rid of it. I've thought about putting a different motor on it. But it's still to short, not a lot of travel.

I'm in the process of refurbishing, rebuilding, rehabbing, refreshing (pick a term) a 2HP Bridgeport.

Once the mill is up and running, do I really NEED a drill press? A decent floor model drill press, with something that will go down to ~200 RPM, are REALLY expensive, at least to me - I'm frugal or cheap, pick a term

Thoughts?

Yes you need both. I bought a used cheap China Chicago 12 speed drill press and repullied the lowest speed for large metal drills and tapping. It was cheap and its fast to use. Installed a cheap drum switch to reverse it. Put a old 1-1/2 hp motor I had on it and use it everyday. A drill press is just easier and faster to use and if you drill a hole in a cheap xy vise you don't cry over it. Save the mill for what it does best.

 

[Batmanacw]

I have a mill and mill/drill....lol. nice to have both.

 

[wachuko]

Nice to have both...

 

[sdelivery]

Nope. Once you have the BP. Restore Dad's drill Press and keep it for light duty hole drilling. The Bridgeport is one of the most versatile machines ever.
In a production environment yes for a drill press, home shop with BP don't waste the space.

 

[mmcmdl]

I vote for 3 BPs and 3 DPs !

 

[Manual Mac]

I use the mill a lot.
i use the drill press more than the mill.

 

[T Bredehoft]

I have a small mill and three drill presses, could probably do without one DP, but don't expect to get rid of it.