New drill press. Which???

**Clive S** · 05-01-2017

Originally Posted by routercnc

Sorry to hear that Clive. Well I can only go on my own experiences and they have been good. I've bought lots of smaller stuff from them plus the drill and lathe. I've made numerous technical enquiries about things prior to purchase and after purchase for that I needed to check on, and swapped out a DRO etc. with no issues at all and quick responses. Been to the HQ for the open days and chatted to them, plus at the shows. Seem very friendly and accommodating. But good to get all views and experiences so the OP can make a choice

Yes having said that I can't knock the quality of the stuff that I have bought and I am happy with it.

**Chaz** · 05-01-2017

Ive got one of the el cheapo units with the slop in the headstock. It works but not well. Will be looking to see if I can improve it over the coming days - Ive seen a vid of someone that turns a new headstock with better tolerances and replaces the unit with a somewhat marked improvement.

**Snapper** · 05-01-2017

Thanks for the responses so far. I'm not in any way, shape or form an engineer or even trained, I just buy these tools and figure out the rest for myself. As such I'm not clued up on what to look out for and what to avoid, which manufacturers are reputable and which are the same tat sold under different brands for wildly varying prices.

A mill / drill was ideally what I wanted, but they come with a price tag. The Sieg SX2/2.7 in particular was what I had been looking for (2nd hand) but one never popped up. These things usually tend to go on sale on forums, and are sold within a day of being posted so it's difficult to catch them.

After having recently received 40 faulty components which need seized steel inserts drilling out and replacing ASAP (they don't fit under the NuTool when clamped with a drill bit in the chuck, and I doubt it'd be up to it anyway) the matter has become more pressing so I'm probably going to have to settle for a straight out drill.

I remember reading your thread a few months back routercnc, when I first thought about getting a proper drill.

**routercnc** · 05-01-2017

Originally Posted by Chaz

Ive got one of the el cheapo units with the slop in the headstock. It works but not well. Will be looking to see if I can improve it over the coming days - Ive seen a vid of someone that turns a new headstock with better tolerances and replaces the unit with a somewhat marked improvement.

Sounds like 'this old tony' on YouTube. He upgraded a cheap drill press with a new quill (just for fun mainly). Not what the OP wants but good viewing anyway.

**Chaz** · 05-01-2017

Originally Posted by routercnc

Sounds like 'this old tony' on YouTube. He upgraded a cheap drill press with a new quill (just for fun mainly). Not what the OP wants but good viewing anyway.

Thanks, ill go find it and see what was involved.

**routercnc** · 05-01-2017

Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fyzZ7NGap8

**Chaz** · 05-01-2017

Originally Posted by routercnc

Here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9fyzZ7NGap8

Thanks. That frame and setup is almost identical to mine. My start buttons are on the side but its virtually identical.

**Boyan Silyavski** · 05-01-2017

I would buy a mini mill instead for that money. An used one. And fashion some pillar and stand if such big clearance is needed. Or hunt for a serious industrial one from a scrap yard. It should be more than 150-200 from there. In fact thats exactly what i did/ the mini mill with a round column/ and could not be more happier.