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Which Large Drill Press to buy??

mandtindustries

Plastic
Joined
Dec 26, 2008
Location
West Virginia
Hello everyone and thank you for allowing me onto your discussion forums. I have enjoyed reading many of your posts. More than helpful!!

I need help in a purchase for a large drill press. I am looking at used ones and have found a few Cincinatti-Bickford and also a few Cleermanl.
24"/25". I need a capacity of 2" in mild steel and want to do this without burning the machine up. These are boxed coulumn, geared head. I HAVE NOT used either one of these makes and need help in determining which one would be best suited for what I want to do. These are used, can't justify a new one. All "appear" to be in good condition with coolant and all of the "normal" stuff one would expect on these heavier drill presses. I normally use annular cutters and the mag drill for larger holes but, I am finding the need to do more drilling and also milling. I am also looking for a good Bridgeport mill and I need both pieces yesterday.

Could anyone give me the pros and cons of both brands?
Thanks in advance for your help!!
 
Quickly...if you want 2" drilling capacity, forget a Bridgeport. It can probably run annular cutters and large holesaws at some risk to the back-gears.

At the same time, forget about milling with a boxed column drill (likely with a MT spindle and no drawbar, not to mention only 1 orthogonal way).

Ideally you need both machines...the good news is many times the box-column drills sell for little more than scrap value. A Bridgeport sells for more.

If you need both pieces yesterday, I'd say you need to trade the time to "shop around" and instead find a reputable dealer or a seller who will allow you to put the machine thru its paces before you buy. Consistent with your timing you need machines that will run the minute you plug them in, and wouldn't have time for "fixer-uppers".
 
I apologize for not being more specific. The bridgeport is a seperate deal completely.
The Drill Press will only be used for drilling/tapping.
Sorry for the mix up.

I have located several dealers online, as there isn't anyone in the area that sells used stuff and I've found several good ones. I just didn't know if one of the two brands had a better reputation?.
 
Thank you. I was making it more difficult than it is!! I couldn't see any major differences in "grade" of construction, etc. But, I seem to have gotten dumber everyday since I graduated high school!:crazy:
 
That was going to be my suggestion, Carl. Couldn't agree more. You get all the advantages of a big drill press, plus the ability to reach way out there on large parts. Also, WAY more power than a typical heavy duty drill press. I love 'em.
 
+1 on looking for a true radial drill for this task. Having so much more power and selectable feed rates will make the work much easier and more consistent. You'll need it for 2" and bigger holes. I used to use a 17" Carlton like this one for drilling with 3" and larger spade drills:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carlton-Cincinn...5|66:2|65:12|39:1|240:1318|301:1|293:1|294:50

P.S. - I just noticed the "free shipping" on that auction. Seems like a great deal!
 
Scroll down, shipping isn't free. People do that all the time on ebay! Free shipping to get you to read the rest and then it talks about freight on down the page.

I also notice that they have hardly no info in their auction and they have "ZERO" feedback??
I am so scared of some of these people. I took a good one right before Christmas last year on EBAY, a present for my daughters, and I am SO CAREFUL now it isn't even funny!
 
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BTW I'm not opposed to a radial drill, I had just given up because of the oversize height on them and the resulting fees for escorts, etc. to haul the machine into us.
 
I've got a surplus Avey box column BMA-6 head. The head only, you'd need to fabricate table and small riser on which to mount it. Six speeds (has a gear shifter!), gear head, 2hp 1140rpm motor, power down feed, 2mt spindle. HEAVIEST drill press head I've seen except for weird big old Buffalo's and radial drills. The head alone weighs north of 700 lbs I imagine. Freakishly heavy duty for a 2mt.

I want a hunnert bucks, it's in Chattanooga.

I might know of a BP in WV as well. Give me a shout.

Tools (Mike Danford, 423 580 1383)
 
The trick to getting a radial is to find one of reasonable size. You don't need a 20" column Carlton with an 8ft arm packing 40hp that stands 18ft tall and weighs 80,00lbs. Look for the smallest radial you can find. Ignore anything over a 5ft arm and 12" column, unless it is next door.

I have a 4ft Fosdick at home and we have 5ft G&L Bickford at work. The G&L is probably 8000lbs, but has the T type base (three of the normal radial drill bases in a T shape so you can have three stations, also adds gobs of stability). My Fosdick is only about 6000lbs and is about 7 1/2ft tall.
 








 
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