Need a fine German drill press ? Just order it from.... Amazon ??

Milacron · Oct 23, 2014

I was vaguely interested in a Flott TB13+ that was "show special" at IMTS for aprox $4,800 including a table. So I call up Flottusa to find out what the model was (temporarily misplaced the flyer and couldn't remember), he tells me TB13+.... but then "sorry, can't sell at the show special now" While on the phone, Google the model and there it comes up on Amazon of all crazy places and for a $1,000 less* and with free shipping ! WTF ?

Flott TB 13+ Tabletop Model Drill Press 0.7 Horsepower, 220V Single Phase, Heavy duty steel with cast-iron base, 17": Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

*No table included...and it was a pretty nice table they had at IMTS....but still...

Zonko · Oct 23, 2014

Seriously....why do modern machines, no matter how good, have to LOOK LIKE CRAP.

EPAIII · Oct 23, 2014

I'm not a big fan of plastic covers, but I don't think they look like c#@p either.

What's the problem here? I buy from or through Amazon all the time. Usually with their free shipping. They work in large volume and have a well oiled distribution network, so is it any surprise that they can sell things for less? My only complaint about them is the fees they charge to carry a product. Only the big boys can afford to sell there.

Zonko said:
Seriously....why do modern machines, no matter how good, have to LOOK LIKE CRAP.

Milacron · Oct 23, 2014

EPAIII said:
What's the problem here?

Do you see anywhere in my writing that I say there is a "problem" ?

Milacron · Oct 23, 2014

Zonko said:
Seriously....why do modern machines, no matter how good, have to LOOK LIKE CRAP.

In the case of Flott's latest offerings, the word "goofy" comes to mind more so than "crap". Same deal with Alzmetall...their drill presses are now rectangular box heads. But not "all" modern machines look goofy....plenty of CNC's out there that look better than ever to me...even Haas...

L Vanice · Oct 23, 2014

The Flott looks interesting, but requiring a 220V outlet for .7 HP is a pain. I have to wonder what HP is left when you dial the VFD down to 40 RPM. Is there a step pulley to help with the speed reduction without losing HP?

I am often amazed at the industrial things I can buy on Amazon. I got some Boston gears a while back. Last week I found they sell Hardinge collets.

Larry

Ries · Oct 23, 2014

I am wondering what you mean by no table included- the amazon drill press seems to have exactly the same table as all of the models on the Flott german website. Was there an aftermarket rotary table or vise on the one you saw?

rbent · Oct 23, 2014

The Amazon Prime shipping is great. Free truck freight is hard to beat on some items.

kenh · Oct 23, 2014

One item I bought there was $300, free shipping. Else where $350 + $75 shipping!

richard newman · Oct 23, 2014

Yes, I'm astounded at what I can get from Amazon, plus their Prime gives you free 2 day shipping and free streaming of films and tv shows. Best part is it's almost always the best price I can find. Used to get bargains on ebay, but these days stuff there is usually WAY more expensive than Amazon.

Milacron · Oct 23, 2014

Ries said:
I am wondering what you mean by no table included- the amazon drill press seems to have exactly the same table as all of the models on the Flott german website. Was there an aftermarket rotary table or vise on the one you saw?

Guess I should have said "workstation".....pretty nice one....but I don't need the table really. See page 28, item EDP FP004F http://eurolinkinc.com/literature/flottusa/flo-cat14/index.html

redlee · Oct 23, 2014

After looking at that drill, can someone tell me why its worth so much?- Whats so special about it.
Good heavens it looks like it should be on Harbour Freight!

Milacron · Oct 23, 2014

redlee said:
After looking at that drill, can someone tell me why its worth so much?- Whats so special about it.
Good heavens it looks like it should be on Harbour Freight!

I've got an $18,000 German micro tapping machine so small it will fit in the trunk of a Honda Civic, you'd probably say the same thing about just glancing at a photo of it. Admitedly Flott is amazingly slack in explaining the charms of their machines. Crap that no one really cares about like how it won't restart once the power goes out, and then they neglect to point out how you can digitally set the depth, tapping reverse, etc. They do at least mention it is VFD controlled spindle.

One slight annoyance with that model is the B16 chuck mount taper. B16 is pretty standard in Europe but not so common here. Also, not sure how they expect one to go from drill holder to tap holder quickly with no internal morse taper.

APD · Oct 23, 2014

If you look at the ad it says: "Ships from and sold by Amazon.com" and then further down it says: "This item will be visible when delivered. Sorry, we are unable to conceal it."
Usually it lists the actual retailer you are buying from.

Amazon obviously doesnt have these in stock. Amazon has become a sort of online broker. They are just a marketplace for retailers, manufacturers, distributers, etc. to sell their stuff. They have a deal with some tool distributer, he gets the his stuff to show up on Amazon and they get a cut.

It does seem surprising at first, but just today on NPR there was a story about how Amazon is essentially trying to have a hand in everything that sells online. They are even going to open some actual retail stores (dont know how they will decide what to stock).

redlee · Oct 23, 2014

Milacron said:
I've got an $18,000 German micro tapping machine so small it will fit in the trunk of a Honda Civic, you'd probably say the same thing about just glancing at a photo of it. Admitedly Flott is amazingly slack in explaining the charms of their machines. Crap that no one really cares about like how it won't restart once the power goes out, and then they neglect to point out how you can digitally set the depth, tapping reverse, etc. They do at least mention it is VFD controlled spindle.

One slight annoyance with that model is the B16 chuck mount taper. B16 is pretty standard in Europe but not so common here. Also, not sure how they expect one to go from drill holder to tap holder quickly with no internal morse taper.

I guess what Im asking is it really worth the money and what else does it do other than drilling a hole?

CMT John · Oct 23, 2014

"Speed range of 40-4,000 RPM with use of variable-frequency drive"
This doesn't fill me with confidence that the VFD is included.

Milacron · Oct 23, 2014

APD said:
If you look at the ad it says: "Ships from and sold by Amazon.com" and then further down it says: "This item will be visible when delivered. Sorry, we are unable to conceal it."
Usually it lists the actual retailer you are buying from.

Amazon obviously doesnt have these in stock. Amazon has become a sort of online broker. They are just a marketplace for retailers, manufacturers, distributers, etc. to sell their stuff. They have a deal with some tool distributer, he gets the his stuff to show up on Amazon and they get a cut.

They seem to just be out of that one right now. Check out below link for a different Flott... in stock, ships from Amazon.

WARNING- redlee, do not open this link as you will probably have a stroke when you see the price. Either that or run screaming into the night straight to your nearest HF store begging them to save you.

http://www.amazon.com/Flott-Tableto...=1414113701&sr=1-1&keywords=flott+drill+press

Milacron · Oct 23, 2014

CMT John said:
"Speed range of 40-4,000 RPM with use of variable-frequency drive"
This doesn't fill me with confidence that the VFD is included.

More German translation issues or slack copy writing... VFD is included....I've seen and run it in real life at IMTS last month.

redlee · Oct 23, 2014

Milacron said:
They seem to just be out of that one right now. Check out below link for a different Flott... in stock, ships from Amazon.

WARNING- redlee, do not open this link as you will probably have a stroke when you see the price. Either that or run screaming into the night straight to your nearest HF store begging them to save you.

http://www.amazon.com/Flott-Tableto...=1414113701&sr=1-1&keywords=flott+drill+press

Criminy!!! What the %^&* makes it worth that? Someone please tell me!
Building Rolexes?

Pete F · Oct 23, 2014

redlee said:
Criminy!!! What the %^&* makes it worth that? Someone please tell me!
Building Rolexes?

View attachment 120144

Mate you've asked the same ignorant question 3 times now. It drills holes, get over it and move on. Just like a Hardinge lathe is "just a lathe" and why would anyone want to spend that amount of money on a lathe when a Chinese POS 10" lathe can do "exactly the same". FFS :rolleyes5:

I "owned" a Flott for a very short period of time, the worst decision I made was to sell that rather than keeping it. Of all the fancy machines I've seen run, this was without doubt the sweetest sounding machine I've ever heard. it just hummed with precision. And yes, it is "just" a drill press. The guys in the tool room were justly proud of that machine, it sat amongst a sea of Schaublin/Aciera/VMC machines. Go figure.

They're still pig ugly however, no points for style I'm afraid, but hard to deduct any off a perfect score. I have no idea what the latest models are like, but if anything like the previous editions I'd recommend them in a heart beat.

Need a fine German drill press ? Just order it from.... Amazon ??

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