Drill press or mini mill?

Fletch Helical

Fletch Helical

Joined
Sep 29, 2009
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1,614
At the moment I think I can safely say that between my bandsaw, files and little belt grinder I can cut out and make something that resembles some kind of knife shape. So I'm wondering, when the time comes what should my next tool be. I have access to drill presses fairly easily, I just don't have one myself I have 2 family members that live 20 min away with them both of which are floor standing models. However they're not variable speed, I used one to drill a few holes in a blank but I'm not sure if it was the bit's or the fact that the press ran on warp speed but it wasn't easy getting through. Wondering if I heated up the spots too much (it was on 1084).

So I was debating looking for a decent multi speed press but then wondered about just looking for something like a mini mill. The only problem with the mini mill is I know Jack about milling anything so to me it would just be a fancy press.

The final question is if I'm going to get a press should I not even waste my time with something like a bench top model and look for a floor model. Or are the benchtop fine if I just wanted something designated for metal work?
 
I just got a new tabletop variable speed drill press from Northern Tool for about $80.00. It works just fine for knife stuff so far. We'll see how it holds up over time. Came with a year warranty, as well. I'd love to have a mini-mill, too, but can't justify the expenditure.

Todd
 
I do not know anything about the benchtop mills but............

For the drill press, I am a fabricator and I myself have used benchtop drill presses that are just as good as the 10 floor models we have at work!

They might not be as big or strong but for knife making I do not see a reason to get a huge drill press!!

I would have to say that a mill would be better than drill press just because there is a lot more you can do with it..
 
How about a Drill/Mill?

"This benchtop mill/drill is a real work horse. Install the 3" face mill (included!) , fire up the 2 HP 12-speed motor, and you will have chips flying in no time! Raise the head a lofty 18" over the large 8" x 28" table, and add the 1/2" drill chuck or R-8 collets for holding a wide array of endmills."
 
I vote mill - it can be used to drill, but with practice, can also be used for a wide range of other duties - like roughing in a profile.
 
If your looking for a quality drill press, I would Highly Recommend the RIDGID Floor Model Drill Press. The speeds are very easy to change and its built like a tank. They have a lifetime warrenty also. You can get them at Home Depot. They are Heavy Duty. I bought a cheaper one at harbor freight and in 2 weeks, its burnt up. I was only drilling a few oles in wood at the time. So, I rturned it and bought the RIDGID. I do alot of woodworking and metal working and drill alot of holes for various projects and I am sold on the RIDGID Brand. I think it would be a great all around press for you. You can also get a small milling table and bolt it to the drill press table for mill work. You can find them at Grizzly Tools.
 
I vote drill press here.

First of all it is an invaluable piece of equipment and even if it can't do as much as a mill it is still a basic piece of equipment that you need. I would get a floor model myself (that is what I have) for the small difference in price but that has more to do with what I like and what I have as far as a shop layout. Both will do exactly the same thing all things being equal.

As far as the mill is concerned well I was recently thinking about buying a mini mill and was steered away by the good folks here. I bought a round column Rong-Fu type mill that although still a relatively small, is way better than a mini-mill would have been. But that is also way above the budget you are talking here.

So between buying a GOOD drill pres that'll last you probably your whole life and buying a very bottom end mill (not knocking the mini-mills here just trying to situate them as far s price and capacity is concerned) that you'll surely eventually outgrow, the choice seems obvious.

Patrice
 
This it’s my drill press variable speed set up
whit a keyless chuk
Since I don't mill anything,
Just clamp, and jump from hole to hole
This little milling table its bery handy,
but never use for milling , only drilling
Plus a pedal for on and off.

I will buy a little lathe
To make screws, pibots,washers
Before a mill
 
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I moved from a benchtop drill to a floor standing and while the benchtop worked fine the floor standing is much better. There are probably benchtops that are better made and work better than my floor model but thats where I am at.

I have a mini mill that I use for drilling holes in folders, its a pain to get set up compared to the drill press so I would not advise it in place of a drill press. I use my drill press alot more than the mill for holes.

BTW with the correct speed you drilling will be more accurate and you wont burn bits. It really nice to see a long curl of steel come off a drill bit when you have the right feed and speed. I see this nearly every time.
 
I started drilling tangs with a hand drill then bought a little drill press with variable speed, the slowest speed is around 650 RPM and I find it too fast, I like the plug-in variable speed hand drill better. Good thing the drill press was only $40.00 but it comes in very handy for drilling stitching holes for sheaths.
 
I was also toying with the idea of looking for a decent bench top for the time being. Then possibly getting a floor model down the road, but not sure if that's a waste of money. My thoughts were I can use the bench top for metal and the floor for bigger projects like wood or possibly some occasional metal work.

My thoughts were working with metal can be messy on the press especially when you start doing things like using oil while drilling. So if there was one designated just for metal I wouldn't have to worry about getting any oil or whatnot on a nice piece of wood. But perhaps that's just going a bit overboard and/or trying to sell myself on the fact I need 2 presses for some reason.
 
nyefmaker said:
If your looking for a quality drill press, I would Highly Recommend the RIDGID Floor Model Drill Press.
Click to expand...

X2

I've spent several months researching drill presses, belt grinders, band saws, sanders, and other tools for my big purchasing that I'm about to do.

The Ridgid DP1550 is on my list. At first, I was looking for a table-top drill press because I figured space would be an issue and ultimately, I'd be drilling small things anyways. Well, a floor-standing drill press is the same size, just taller. It takes up the same footprint. It can be easily moved around...meaning, you don't have to pick it up to move it, you can use a hand-truck, etc.

I would go with the drill press and a good vise. For a vise, you could do a drill press machining vise, or what I want to get, the Whalstrom Float Lock vise. The Whalstrom really looks like it would be perfect for knife making.
 
One thing I forgot to mention is that a mill is not just a souped-up drill press. Side loading a drill press is asking for trouble, and evidence of sideloading is grounds for refusal by the manufacturer to warranty a press with bearing problems. Unfortunately I learned that through experience.

Todd
 
Todd,

If you don't mind me asking, what were you doing to cause side load damage? I've been using a sanding drum in a drill press, but I feed the steel to the drum very lightly. It takes forever, but that's the best way I currently have to make nice index finger notches. That's changing soon, though.;)
 
I was using it basicly as a lathe making some small dowels out of walnut for a friend to pin some handle scales on a bowie. Wore out the bearings and couldn't get it warrantied. Kind of an expensive lesson.

Todd
 
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