Pawnshop find: Delta Shopmaster drill press, $90 good deal?

G

GrizzlyBear

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Dec 5, 2009
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I was in my local pawn shop a little while ago and they had a very nice looking Delta Shopmaster drill press; bench top model. It's the one with the grey plastic casing that goes around the pulleys, it also has the lamp that adjusts from the side. It is variable speed up to I think 3100 RPM. They have a tag of $90 on it and I think I may go snag it tomorrow if its worth that.

If it is, and I do go to get it, what should I look for as pieces that may be loose that may be missing? I've never owned a drill press before. Also, should I have the shop owner chuck a bit into it and turn it on to check for any wobbling? What else should I look for?

Oh, while I was there I did pick up a nice Simonds flat bastard file out of the loose tool crates for $2. Think I may keep it to use or turn it into a blade...it's awful thick though.
 
Or, would I be better off to go with a new HF Central Machinery 12spd 10" press. I have a 20% off coupon that would take the 149.99 down to 119.00
 
I looked up the specs online and if I found the right one its a 5 speed 1/4 hp, this is pretty small and underpowered for most metal drilling. The new listed price was $99 with %20 off coupons available. I would not go below 1/2 hp.
 
I think I paid like $105 FOR MINE NEW. mAYBE AT $60 BUT THERE MAKING ABOUT $65 PROFIT OFF YOU. Sorry....caps stuck on :)
 
I'm going to go back tomorrow and double check the ratings on it, they had another older green/black delta sitting beside it for the same price but it was smaller. I'll get the specs on it as well.
 
I have a Shopmaster 4-speed. It's a pain in the butt tying to use it to drill holes wider than 1/4" in tool steel. If I were doing it over again, I'd look for a drill press with a low end speed of ~300 RPM, which should get me up to 1/2" without difficulty.
 
I bought one at a big blue box store a couple years ago on sale for 69.99. so I don't think you are getting any kind of deal at all. You are going to want more power very soon if you are going to drill a lot of metal. That or a good supply of sharp bits.
 
Pawn shop by my house sells files for .50 cents a piece. Hard not to buy them all. But the box is really full. John
 
Ok, so I just went back to the pawn shop and here is what I found out.

The larger drill press is a 10" Delta Shopmaster model SM300. 5spd; 620, 1100, 1720, 2340, 3100. 1/4HP. Looks like the price they want is just under what you can get one new for, $99.

The smaller one is an 8" model, same 1/4HP motor and same 5 speed settings, for $79.00.

Seems like the general views of these 2 across the internet is that they are greatly underpowered, and for the smaller one, the table is a hassle getting adjusted correctly.

So, that being said here are the other 2 options that I ran across:

From Lowe's, 10% discount available on anything (fiance is employee).
--Skil 5spd 10" drill press w/ laser guide. Speeds 570-3050. Price: $102.60 (w/discount)
3.2amp motor Model 3320-01.

From Harbor Freight, 20% discount coupon available:
--12spd Drill Press, speeds 250-3100. 10" swing: 149.99 - 20% = $119.99
or
--5spd 8" Drill Press, Speed 620-3100. $89.99 - 20% = $72.00

I take it that the 12spd HF would be a better choice because it has the lowest speed of 250RPM and a 1/2HP motor?
 
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