Use a retractable key ring holder! Zip tie the key to the retractable holder and you'll never loose it and it automatically returns as soon as you let it go.

Learn to love metric. Its much easier than imperial.

The motor is the heaviest part of the head. I removed the motor and then it was much easier to put the head on the support tube. I was able to do that by myself without any machine or help.

The gear assembly for the table raising and lowering, wants to pull in on the shaft when raising and pull the handle off the shaft (the set screw is some small mm philips screw for the handle and still wants pull the handle off even when tightened), when lowering the shaft wants to push out. Both ways want to bind the gears and is very hard to turn to operate the table position. Not happy with this problem and calling HF about this. 15 Jan 24. The table handle assembly is now set at a 45 degrees to the table so there is no table interference.

I came back 7 years later for the assembly advice. I just bought the 17" model yesterday from HF for $387 on sale. My bday present along with a 13" DeWalt planer. Hope all is well Matt.

I use a magnet stuck to the side of the head to keep my chuck key from getting lost.

Correct v belt deflection is 1/4 inch deflection for every 7 inches of span

I’m still lost

WD-40 works the best for cleaning and protecting 👌

My 20 inch Wilton weight 685 lbs.

Bought as a gift for my son and his second grade son to use on a Pinewood Derby car. Wanted something relatively safe and able to be packed away when not in use. Worked well.

I have one of these. After assembly, I immediately noticed that the chuck they supplied was very large. It's smallest opening was rated at 1mm but it did not go that far down. It would not grip a 1/16" drill bit or several sizes up from there. So, one of the first things I purchased for use with it was a 1/2", Rohm chuck that did grip 1/16" bits and even a bit smaller. That is the chuck that I use most of the time. I only use the Central Machinery chuck when I need to use a bit larger than 1/2". I also replaced the belts with some better quality ones that I purchased locally: they reduced the vibration a lot.

The sticky grease stuff is cosmoline they use it to stop rust on metal. It is the same stuff on rotors the best remover is brake clean.

Do not even think of using gasoline as a cleaning solvent unless you want to take a trip to the burn unit. Otherwise a excellent review.

The substance on it is most likely Cosmoline not grease. It is put on tools and equipment and sometimes even firearms that is shipped in containers on ocean going vessels. It is needed to protect from salt air on those trips. If you were ever in the military you would be very familiar with this as almost every new piece of equipment I ever used was covered in the same stuff. Solvent is correct use for taking it off then needs to be re-oiled and greased.

I use 800 rpm for 90% of my work. That seems to be the ideal speed for steel and even metal. I chose my press for the mid range speeds. I use 400, 800, 1,200 rpm's. I had to go with another brand to find those speeds.

Great job on the details! Thanks for making these vids. If most people were to watch your vids when they buy HF stuff there would be less returns and bad reviews. Some of their tools are gems. The main problem is their quality control. I like to tinker so I don't mind modifying or tweaking their tools which makes a huge difference.

Glue a really strong magnet to the front of the motor cover and your chuck key will always be there.

This is a very useful video. Thanks for making it. The grease on all the surfaces, I would bet, is to prevent rust while it is in transport from China and storage. It might be the same kind of super thick / sticky grease that the military used to coat weapons with, called Cosmoline.

I put a magnetic parts tray on the top of my drill press for the chuck key