I was getting ready to get a drill press and was thinking about getting either a JET or one of those presses available at Sears. However, after talking to a friend, I am having a second thought, and thinking about getting a drill/mill combo instead. JET also makes a light duty drill/mill for around $1200 and it seems to be good enough for some basic drilling and milling operations. I do not plan on do any milling work with this machine but would like to be able to locate and drill multiple holes accurately. I did think about getting a drill press and then adding an x-y table, etc. but by the time I am done with it, I might as well get a light drill/mill combo instead for a little more cash. Appreciate any insight, suggestion, etc.! Thanks in advance for your reply!

Mauser,
man, you are in michigan. There's HUNDREDs for bridgeport series 1's, 1 , 1.5, or 2 HP machines in your area, or at least with 100 miles for that price range.

if you don't have 3 phase (call the light company and ask how far from your house.. tell them HOBBY tools) then a 1 phase to 3 phase is 225 delivered.

Or, here's the other story

the 1200 mill drill is a "rung fu 31" which is sold at harbour freight for 799, and homier for 699, sometimes 599 at a show.

you would then order the INCH dials from grizzly, which are about 40 bucks, as that's an inch lead screw with metric dials.

the BEST thing to make from that is a cnc machine, as you take a CHEAP sloppy machine (it really really really is) and make a cheap cnc.

bridgeport J head series 1, 2 hp is what you want. should be able to get in mich for 1000-1500 in great condition, or nearly double that in texas, and you don't have to pay obscene shipping

jeffe

Don't get a drill press and add an X-Y table, it won't make it a mill, been there, done that.

One of the RF-30 mill drills is a very useful tool. It doesn't have the true Z axis of a real mill, but you can do a heck of a lot with the tool.

The only thing that you might find useful in a floor mount drill press is drilling stock butts for recoil pads, or mounting bolts for 2 piece stocks. Asside from that, go with the drill/mill.

you can get a mill and use it as a drill press but don't reverse it....it's a darn poor mill that way.

A drill press is a drill press.
A mill is usually a mill, but once in a blue moon it becomes a drill press.

Buy the mill first, especially if you can get it for a reasonable price.
Then buy a drill press later on.

3 main machine tools a smith needs in order of importance:

1. Lathe
2. Mill
3. Drill press

I use my Drill Press more than my mill, so be sure to locate a mill first, but you will probably end up getting them both within a short period of time from one another.

-Spencer

Just sold our Victoria mill with tooling and change gears and coolant system, to Tip Burns.
It is a 1965 model still in service until we unplug her next week.

What you need is one of these, a 4 axis Hurco

Rusty, machine shops sure aren't what they used to be, more like operating rooms!

Listen to Jeffe, his advise is right on !!!

the bearings in a mill are made to take sideways force, a drill press bearing are not. However if you intention is just to drill holes, then go for a drill press. If you have some maching in mind then to a small bridgeport. forget the chinese crap

Thanks guys for all the replies. Like I said before, this drilling machine will not be used for any milling work, as I have access to a full machine shop from a friend’s place for that kind of need. However, after reading some of the comments posted, I am having a third thought, as I might go for a used machine instead of getting a new one. Cheers!!!