Is The Harbor Freight Drill Press Worth It? Honest Review and Assembly

Рет қаралды 27,738

2 жыл бұрын

Have you ever wondered if these cheap Drill Presses are any good? me too. Today I go through everything you need to know from assembling every part and going over every piece. I show you everything. Thanks for watching
It has only been one month and I already broke it. For more info come check out my update video.
• The Secret Cost of Buy...
--------// links to the products in the video\\-------
13 in. 16 Speed Drill Press
www.harborfreight.com/power-t...
17" Drill Press
www.harborfreight.com/16-spee...
20" Drill Press
www.harborfreight.com/12-spee...
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Swpeet Powerful Speedy Hand Drill 1/4-Inch Capacity with 13Pcs Drill bits
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Stanley coping Shaw
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Speed Square Layout Tool
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Пікірлер: 72

@DelightfulDissident 2 жыл бұрын

I do absolutely zero wood or metal work and you've convinced me that I need one 😄

@alandesgrange9703 Жыл бұрын

Fact of life. Cheap tools generally need some customization to make them more usable. Attach your chuck key to a light weight chain, and attach the chain to the press. Makes it impossible for it to walk away, or end up in a pile of sawdust.

@reidiford1136 Жыл бұрын

Good point. I've never done it any other way, and never lost one. But I admit his solution is clever. This is too small for me, but I'm thinking of buying the 20. At my age just don't need to spend $1,000 more for a brand name.

@alandesgrange9703 Жыл бұрын

@@reidiford1136 I've bought and sold a bunch of drill presses over the years. The new presses in the lower price range are not very good. Check Craig's list, and estate sales for vintage USA made. I have dealt with some pretty amazing ones in the $200-$400 range, and the quality is not even close.

@jt9498 3 ай бұрын

I use a heavy duty magnet epoxied to the side of my drill press main body. Haven't lost one yet! :)

@richardliles4415 2 жыл бұрын

Just bought one, so far I like it. I did buy it for woodworking. Thanks for the video.

@AmateurRedneckWorkshop 2 жыл бұрын

Great review of the drill press. About 50 years ago I bought a Taiwan made drill press of that same design but a lot more substantial. It does not wobble on the base. If you experiment you will find that the drill bit can touch down on any part of that table. This means you can bolt the vise to the table and never have to move the vise. I would advise always clamping things you drill to the table or use a vise. A part will helicopter and hurt you severely if it gets caught on the bit.

@WyldeWoodworks 2 жыл бұрын

That's good advice. Thank you

@keithrayeski6417 2 жыл бұрын

Back in the day, HarborFreight carried the Central Machinery line out of Taiwan. My Dad bought one and years later it was subjected to a house fire. He cleaned it up pretty well and it continued to run. I inherited it, being the only son he left me everything tool related, and I didn’t have a place for it so it was subjected to further abuse through storage, exposed to moisture and general abuse. About 3 years ago, my wife and I built our home and that included a workshop for me. I completely disassembled the drill and began a weeks long restoration. Frankly, I thought it would end up scrap metal! It was in an absolute deplorable state!! Rust wasn’t just the color, it was the condition! Well, it turned out amazing and I even continue to use the original fan belt from when he got it in about 1980! She runs and operates today as she did new out of the box from HarborFreight!! And yes, incredibly powerful! Laugh all they want, ye critics of HarborFreight, but I have far more good than bad to testify about them and their tools!!

@stickbogart3657 Жыл бұрын

I like the fact that you build a base for the bottom that is a good idea. I will do that when I get mine but I’m not sure exactly what I’m going to get. I’m thinking about getting the biggest one. They got that way there’s always extra power and you feel like you bought a good chunk of metal Keep up the good work. I love you video.

@stickbogart3657 Жыл бұрын

❤❤❤ I bought a 17 inch ones. I modified it and put it on a very large heavy duty pedestal that I built out of wood to give it a better stance.❤ I am very happy with it. It works well and it’s got a lot of torque if you put it in the low speed operation for drilling metal or something heavy duty.❤

@dlmckirdy 2 жыл бұрын

The quill return spring on mine broke abouts 6 months in. I bought one from Grizzly for their equivalent machine. The Grizzly spring is substantially thicker and stronger. Don’t forget to get the cap also, as the Grizzly spring doea not fit in the Harbor Freight cap. I also placed mine in a mobile base, which made it more stabile because of the added width.

@WyldeWoodworks 2 жыл бұрын

Great info thanks!

@WarrickTaylor 2 жыл бұрын

Use a strong small magnet and a drop of super glue and glue the magnet on the drill press where you want to keep the drill chuck, you can choose the spot most convenient to you. Or double sided tape if you want to change it in the future. If the magnet goes on a flat part of the machine but may not need glue as the chuck key is rounded so will stick less strongly to the magnet.

@grumpyoldman7818 2 жыл бұрын

next get a dolly to use to move heavy things around so you don't hurt your back like I did too many times. Other wise, thanks for telling us about your new drill press. good info to know.

@jasonbailey9139 2 жыл бұрын

I was wanting to lend him my dolly when I saw him move it across the shop, too.

@WyldeWoodworks 2 жыл бұрын

lol

@jt9498 3 ай бұрын

I put small castors on the wood base of my floor drill press. Just roll it out if I have to clean around it. Stays put when I'm using it.

@bryancannon631 Жыл бұрын

I jave the 17 inch model. I got a small magnetic parts bowl. Stuck that on top of the machine and put the chuck keys and Allen wrenches in there. Magnet is strong enough when I open the lid to switch speeds it doesn't fall off and the prices stay in the bowl

@peterbigblock Жыл бұрын

Good review. Obviously it needs to be bolted down, that’s not really a drawback. Even one with a wider base should be bolted down, not free-standing. As for the 15/16” bolt, a simple box-end wrench will be perfect. I’m getting this same drill press to replace an old, cheapo one I’ve had for years. For occasional woodworking use it’s perfect.

@00jamiejohnson00 11 ай бұрын

use a magnet for the key like everyone else does. .use correct spees, use locktite , nd bend the lid tab .

@ecay Жыл бұрын

It depends on what kind of metalworking you're using, whether or not that's a good one. I've seen people use just the bench top drill presses and do a lot of metal working, especially if they're just punching holes which is drilling out holes to be tapped later or just for pens or something like that

@Hengry-hn7rb Жыл бұрын

It’s just a drill press dude , don’t get paranoid. I have also the 13” speed drill press for three years & it works great . Mines is the bench top model.

@MorrisonDavid94 2 жыл бұрын

Buy a 15/16 box end wrench and hang it on the drill somewhere

@jasonbailey9139 2 жыл бұрын

Wow, the spammers hit your video fast. I reported all of them to keep the comment section nice and clean. Hope you get some good use out of that drill press. Another option would be to find an old Shopsmith for sale and modify it to stay in drill press mode all the time. Then you don't have to swap belts and have a much larger table.

@WyldeWoodworks 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! In the 1st 10 minutes I have to delete a bunch of them on every video. I've never actually used a shop smith. Do they take up a lot of space?

@jbenson9403 Жыл бұрын

Deflection in your old drill press may be caused by a dirty chuck. May need to pop it off and give it a good cleaning.

@doomsdaydiesel Жыл бұрын

Lmao at the note to future Dylan

@mikejarves7611 Жыл бұрын

They make the same exact model with a short pole as their benchtop model. I couldn't justify losing all that storage space for a floor mounted model.

@MrKirby365 2 жыл бұрын

Have you considered apprenticing a maker in your area your area or whatever or whatever an apprentice master is...lol. You could consider sharing some of your old tools with a maker... Just an idea and sometimes that's the way people get started you can get them a really good discount or just give them the tool.

@WyldeWoodworks 2 жыл бұрын

That would be awesome. I wouldn't know how to start something like that. I always thought it would be fun to help set someone up a starter shop. Find a few beginner tools and build a workbench with them.

@genegene3348 2 жыл бұрын

Would a Harbor Freight racheting box end wrench on the tilt function?

@WyldeWoodworks 2 жыл бұрын

Maybe? I dont have one that size but it might

@genegene3348 2 жыл бұрын

@@WyldeWoodworks I have had one of these drill presses for quite awhile. Never actually used the tilting bed function yet. I recently moved and haven't dug it out to set it up yet but did buy a couple sets of those wrenches. Guess i will find out soon.

@WyldeWoodworks 2 жыл бұрын

@@genegene3348 I would love to know if it does. I would buy the same set. I've been meaning to upgrade my ratcheting wrench set anyway.

@Morpha-Ahprom 2 жыл бұрын

💖

@stoneyswolf 9 ай бұрын

I have that exact drill press only difference it says craftsman on it.

@bluebones7713 Жыл бұрын

Will this DP handle a mortising attachment ?

@WyldeWoodworks Жыл бұрын

I'm not sure. It might but I wouldn't count on it

@bluebones7713 Жыл бұрын

@@WyldeWoodworks Thx

@edwardbazydlo5896 6 ай бұрын

just get a magnet and put it wherever you desire the chuck key

@cpowerdesign Жыл бұрын

I'm surprised that you're surprised that a tool from Harbor Freight has cheap features. Harbor Freight has a bunch of good stuff if you don't mind some of the features being cheap. Their tools are a good entry level/ weekender tool. I would love to have a bunch of the higher end tools, but the higher end tools are for people that do woodworking or metalworking for a living.

@dutchboy9273 2 жыл бұрын

Next get a vice so you don't mangle your fingers. Isn't that a magnet on the side for the chuck key?

@Flintlocke89 2 жыл бұрын

If you're talking about the chrome puck on the side, that's the housing for the quill's flatspring. I do agree that just slapping a magnet to the side would be my choice for chuck key storage. Also yeah this dude needs to get a drill vice before he loses a finger or worse, I've seen a guy need 30 stitches after a drill press grabbed a piece and ripped it across his stomach. Not a big fan of the one-handed fumble-opening of the belt cover while in operation either. Minus points for the lack of eye protection too.

@WyldeWoodworks 2 жыл бұрын

I used a drill vice in the video

@dutchboy9273 2 жыл бұрын

@@WyldeWoodworks AFTER you got your fingers wacked.

@Flintlocke89 2 жыл бұрын

@@WyldeWoodworksSo you did indeed, my bad. I hadn't watched that far.

@Georgedepinedo Жыл бұрын

Dude, use a magnet for the chuck key.

@adamthewoodworker2571 Жыл бұрын

Hi, so 6 months later, what are your thoughts on this drill press?

@WyldeWoodworks Жыл бұрын

It's ok. Spend the money to buy a better one if you can.

@junod.j Жыл бұрын

@@WyldeWoodworks what would you recommend?

@WyldeWoodworks Жыл бұрын

@Joe Junod I'm not sure honestly. I would say try to find a good used one which I have had no luck doing that in my area.

@junod.j Жыл бұрын

@@WyldeWoodworks I'll look around for sure. What are your biggest issues with this harbor freight one? I'd be using it for woodworking but nothing crazy

@WyldeWoodworks Жыл бұрын

@Joe Junod It will probably work fine for that. The biggest issue is it just feels like it's always about to break. It will drill accurately which is why I haven't replaced it yet

@Flintlocke89 2 жыл бұрын

Hey man, nice vid. Got some good ideas of what I need to look for in a cheap drill press. I'm sorry for the unsolicited advice but I really think you need to pay more attention to safety in the workplace. Lack of eye protection is the least of it. Holding the workpiece by hand made me pucker and using a glue clamp is not much of an upgrade. The one-handed opening of the belt cover is something I would really REALLY not recommend.

@chrishoesing5455 Жыл бұрын

Everybody on youtube appreciates safety advice. I'm confused about your belt cover comment though? You would try to grab that little knob with both hands?

@victorhopper6774 Жыл бұрын

. re magnate right on the front for key

@adamknapp662 2 ай бұрын

To the future you. You used $100 worth of john deere ballast weight in your base

@thelibertyworkshop2952 Жыл бұрын

Wow ... 80 dollar ( each ) , tractor weights to stabilize a drill press ?? Think I would have gone and got more sand , L O L ... I'll trade you two hundred lbs of sand for them ...

@tomzahlman1156 Жыл бұрын

Just bought a 13 and it's crap. Going right back.

@WyldeWoodworks Жыл бұрын

Yeah there's no getting around it. It's a cheap one isn't it?

@LordTominator Жыл бұрын

Interesting...you somehow got an all cast-iron/steel version! I just bought this same DP from HF, the 13 inch 16 speed. Every part except the tube and base was ALUMINUM, yes even the quill! I ended up returning it right away once saw the spindle shaft was completely bent cause horrendous wobble and vibration. Complete junk and a waste of my time.

@WyldeWoodworks Жыл бұрын

Seriously? Yeah it was all steel and cast iron

@LordTominator Жыл бұрын

@@WyldeWoodworks Indeed! I later saw on HF product reviews, on their page that some reviewers had different skew numbers, apparently there are two versions from different suppliers.