Do I really need that many options to drill holes?

[MrWhoopee]

Why would you want to reduce your options for no benefit? You don't need the space or the money, what is the benefit?

Get a tapping head for it. You will wonder how you got along without one.

 

[Weldingrod1]

Are the operating speeds pretty far apart? My little one runs more than 10x faster than my big one... I need both

Sent from my SM-S911U using Tapatalk

 

[mattthemuppet2]

If you have two decent drill presses I can’t see the need for a small bench top import. They’re pretty limited in size and aren’t put together well enough for small hole precision drilling. Very few have enough height to even be useful with a tapping head (and no female Morse taper either).

I would pass it on to someone beginning their journey or who needs a basic machine to drill holes in wood and the like

 

[jwmay]

I think if you’re wondering if you need it, then you probably don’t.

But if there’s nothing gained through selling it, then it’s also zero sum.

This seems like the classic human problem of not actually having any real problem to occupy yourself with. Congrats! Life is good.

Go out and enjoy it.

 

[Pevehouse]

I recently bought a Jet JPD-20MF on sale, which is basically the largest "regular" drill press you can get. Plus still have my old 13" taiwanese (5/8" capacity, 3/4HP) one that I bought when I was younger and just starting (my first stationary machine). And some cheapo 8", 5 speed, 1/3 HP mini...

I know I have some sentimental attachment to my stuff (like we all do around here) but objectively speaking, is there a reason to keep the smaller drill presses once I have a really decent one? I've always thought that the smaller one is a keeper; not because it's great, but because it weights like 16 Kg and I can take it with me wherever I need. Really, since I understand its limitations, and moderate my expectations accordingly, the mini DP is just a quantum leap from having to drill holes with a handheld drill. And, yeah, I kind of can do the same with the 13" one, but it's so heavy I have to take the head off, so it's far less convenient.

I don't need either the space or the money (considering the low resale price, I don't think I'm losing much), but I keep thinking that I should not keep tools that I don't really need. So what's your reasoning behind keeping several DPs?

P. S. I have other machinery, like milling machines and lathes. I've even got a magnetic drill...

Throw it out

 

[matthewsx]

My old shop, don’t think I can have two where I am now. But if I had the space, definitely.

Why I need two drill presses in my shop

www.hobby-machinist.com

John

 

[mickri]

You can never ever have too many tools. Keep all of them. Set them up to do different things. I have two drill presses. One is in my single car garage that is only used on metal. The other is in the shed with the dirty woodworking tools and only used on wood.

 

[Winegrower]

Here's an example that suggests keeping it. A short while ago I had a woodworking project where I needed to drill about 60 half inch holes in some 8' 2x6, one at each end through the long side. It was critical that the center to center spacing was exactly equal for all boards. I have two drill presses, a big Rockwell EFL, and a PowerMatic 2800B, that I used to think was a pretty big drill press. I moved the Powermatic so that the spindles were the exact distance I wanted and I could position each board once and drill both holes in one setup. Actually pressed a helper into service and we manipulated the boards into stops on the tables and drilled both ends simultaneously. This really went fast, and the project went together perfectly.

Of course I often set up second or third operations between the mill and the two drill presses.

I don't really need productivity, I just get a kick out of minimizing the annoying repetition as much as possible and "mistake-proofing" the operation as I generally need more of that.

 

[Larry$]

I prefer to drill on the knee mill, BUT, it is sometimes setup for something so I have an older Jet benchtop drill press that I've fixed up for 2nd operations. I also have an old Crapsman DP used for wood. (Speeds are too high for drilling steel.) I leave the Jet with a compound vice most of the time. Allows repeat drilling. Since you have room, keep it.

 

[m1kemex]

but me, knowing only what you just said- I'd keep the little one even if it was complete crap. You implied somewhat better than that. If you can keep one in "reasonably" close proximity to the other, I bet you'll find it quite handy, if not useful to have the pair.

Three of 'em? Well, there's a use case in production environments, and there's industrial equipment out there to proove it, but I seriously doubt that translates well into home hobby, repair, or light commercial. But two, I can easily see that.

I bought the 13" long time ago, like 20 years back. It was a pretty decent machine back then. Actually, I've noticed that new imports are decreasing on quality. They are rated the same but it seems like they are shaving the castings and what not, to save costs. Mine, for example, has a long (around 100mm) collar supporting the column. New ones are lucky to have a 30mm one. That's certainly a good reason to keep it...

Thing is, I've taken it to many places over the years but it's quite bulky even when disassembled. It's not really a portable machine. That's the main reason I bought the small one: to have something really portable to take to places. I don't use it much otherwise. I keep that one because it's so small I can just put it in a corner. And because, for the $75 it cost me, I think It's built really well (all critical parts are made of cast iron; now the cheap drill presses have stamped steel replacements). It's got 4 bearings: two in the quill and two in the main pulley. The motor has a fan (the 13" doesn't have one)... Model ZJ4113 if you care to look.

I usually leave one DP always set up with a countersink for quick hole deburring.

Seems like a good use for the small one. Thanks.

If you do a lot of tapping, then a tapping head may be a good dedicated use for one unit.

Seems like a good use for the 13" one. Thanks.

Besides money and space, an unused and redundant tool does add to clutter and requires some minimal cleaning and maintenance. Those are clutter in my mind.

That's what I was thinking: the necessity of maintenance grows with the size of your tool collection. I actually regret purchasing a lot of my cordless power tools for that reason: I don't use them as much as I thought I would and the expensive batteries will die on me regardless.

Why would you want to reduce your options for no benefit? You don't need the space or the money, what is the benefit?

Well, keeping them was my first choice. I was just interested in arguments against.

If you have two decent drill presses I can’t see the need for a small bench top import. They’re pretty limited in size and aren’t put together well enough for small hole precision drilling. Very few have enough height to even be useful with a tapping head (and no female Morse taper either).

I would pass it on to someone beginning their journey or who needs a basic machine to drill holes in wood and the like

If using it around the shop was my only need then I agree, no reason to have a small one. It has just five speeds and has no rack to adjust the table, so it certainly feels limited. But truth is that I purchased it with the intention to take it with me when I go to places, and not much else. I used to do the same with the 13" but it's quite heavy. I just used it last week at my mom's when I went there to fix something.

I bought another for a friend who didn't have one and he's super happy with it. Of course, he doesn't have anything to compare it to.

I think if you’re wondering if you need it, then you probably don’t.

But if there’s nothing gained through selling it, then it’s also zero sum.

This seems like the classic human problem of not actually having any real problem to occupy yourself with. Congrats! Life is good.

Go out and enjoy it.

White people problems? Hahaha.

Here's an example that suggests keeping it. A short while ago I had a woodworking project where I needed to drill about 60 half inch holes in some 8' 2x6, one at each end through the long side. It was critical that the center to center spacing was exactly equal for all boards. I have two drill presses, a big Rockwell EFL, and a PowerMatic 2800B, that I used to think was a pretty big drill press. I moved the Powermatic so that the spindles were the exact distance I wanted and I could position each board once and drill both holes in one setup. Actually pressed a helper into service and we manipulated the boards into stops on the tables and drilled both ends simultaneously. This really went fast, and the project went together perfectly.

Of course I often set up second or third operations between the mill and the two drill presses.

I don't really need productivity, I just get a kick out of minimizing the annoying repetition as much as possible and "mistake-proofing" the operation as I generally need more of that.

Yeah, I guess you can always find some use for them. I will actually try to set them up to the same height so I can do what you describe. It didn't cross my mind. Thanks.

I prefer to drill on the knee mill, BUT, it is sometimes setup for something so I have an older Jet benchtop drill press that I've fixed up for 2nd operations. I also have an old Crapsman DP used for wood. (Speeds are too high for drilling steel.) I leave the Jet with a compound vice most of the time. Allows repeat drilling. Since you have room, keep it.

Yeah, compared to a milling machine this is home-grade stuff. It lacks precision, rigidity... That's why I bought the large one: I do metal machining and it's the bare minimum I'd consider for any serious tasks.

Thing is, I've used the 13" for many other tasks over the years; typical DP stuff that doesn't require a lot of precision. No complains there. But then again, since I've bought the Jet, which is essentially the same type of the machine, just larger (i.e. still not a true metalworking machine) what do I need the 13" for?

Like I said, I really have no problem keeping it "just because". It's just an exercise to justify such decision.