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However, for my small home shop, this has proven to be more than enough. There are bench tops that cost 50-100% more and would be great tools and/or there is old iron out there that can be nice machines, but for the inexpensive drill press, I think this is about the best you can do in a 12" or under. The table height adjustment could be smoother, but it works. Heck if I know, they just look cool. I kept telling myself I needed a big floor mount drill press.
Changing belt speeds is a bit of a pain as well as the chuck, but we are talking about a tool under $200. Why. I built a mobile cart for it and with mobility (or a good permanent place to use it) this drill press will do just about anything I need. Still, I wonder how one of the bench top Grizzly's between 200 and 300 would have stacked against this. As for the laser, I haven't even bothered with it.
Frankly, it binds and is just difficult to use. Would I buy it again. Sure the little things are not much of an annoyance. The only problem I had with assembly and setup was being foolish enough to pick it up and put it on the workbench by myself, but a few more days of pain pills will fix that.As for use, the drill has very little runout, is smooth, reliable, consistent and easy to use. Could it be better. Nope, just a bad design. I've been using drill presses of various type for years but never one "laser guided" - I thought that was just for missles.
The light is far too limp to stay aimed and I didn't mount the accessory table. I change speeds fairly often and don't mind moving the belt but keep a small bar beside to help with tighting the tension. After aiming the thing twice and giving more thought to the "why" I was more concerned with getting the beams parallel and then later adjusting where they crossed and I am now satified they work consistently. Sure, but then again for the price it is a great value. I would prefer the lasers were powered off the cord and came on with the switch than being separately battery powered so I wouldn't have to rely on memory to turn it off or a drawer full of batteries. The only real negative I have found is with the stop. Not quite a "5" but a solid "4".
I even took it apart thinking there was a metal shaving inside making it bind.
All Amazon needed to do was add another box around the outside to have kept this together and not twisted in shipment and cracking the cover. Since it doesn't show or affect the operation of the drill. The laser has to be readjusted with each table height adjustment but that only takes a minute.The operation is moooth and quiet and it is very accurate. I received this unit with the box partially open and the bands on one side of the box. The shipper, FedEx had added some tape to the box to keep it together. I added more tape before I took it home from work where I had it delivered.Once I looked in the box, everything looked complete and fine and it wasn't until I lifted the power head out of the box to install when I noticed a crack up the entire corner of the plastic pulley cover. There were no dents in the outside of the box or signs that this was mishandled.otherwise the drill works perfectly. Easy to clamp objects to the table for stability.For the price, you can't beat this unit for quality in build and features.
The movable workplate was 1/2 out of the box. I just ignored the crack. I expect this to last forever. The packing is meant for delivery of multiple units via pallet and is certainly not strong enough for shipping individually.
Once assembled, the drill so far seems to operate smoothly. As cost is an issue, I swallowed my fears about Black and Decker owning Delta (and selling the same model for more $$$) and bought the DP300L.Overall, it is a decent machine. The lasers seem to align well and work well(darn thing is made out of plastic tho, the metal screws seem over tight for plastic so, out of fear of breaking it, I ignored the instructions and and just twisted the bottom knobs till I go something I could live with. Delta does not advise correct speeds for anything and the drill came configured for top speed.
So, my speed stays at top speed.I emailed Delta on all my issues and will update when/if I receive answers - I also asked about whether the mortising attachement will work on the DP300L. I took off a star because the machine is competent, NOT outstanding. Lacking a set screw to tighten down the head may be an issue, but the motor doesn't seem to want to move to release tension. This is my first drill press and I purchased it for woodworking. Assembly otherwise went okay - even considering Delta's poorly pictured manuals. The one piece of wood I drilled (at top speed) worked well. Outside of my issues, I would buy it again.
I continue to fear what B&D is going to do to a former great toolmaker. Mine came without one set screw for the head so I can't tighen it down real well. Oh well, plastic cases.I do have an issue with the way speeds are changed and the instructions for which is the correct speed to use. But, as a woodworker friend told me about my table saw, if you want to be a woodworker, get used to futzing around with the machines that go along with it. Ok, but I can't seem to loosen the belt tension to move the belt on it's pulleys.
Everything was in perfect shape even tho the packing was falling out in some places.Don't expect "professional grade", but this press impressed me as solid workhorse and, if you read the instructions (GASP). Just when you think you've got everything perfect, you tighten up the retaining screw and it sometimes shifts a TAD. Mine arrived looking like it had fallen off the back of the truck at high speed. You'll get the hang of it, but it was a frustrating lesson for me and took about 2 hours to get 'em right. NOPE. That's a pain because the housing and mounts are plastic and the thing flexes during adjustment. No problems with spindle eccentricity, vibration, or the chuck coming loose.
I even took exhaustive pictures out of concern that it had been damaged. and follow them, all the "little issues" are clearly addressed, the most annoying is that the table binds a bit as you lower it. Then again, I'm a bit fussy about my tools ;) Oh, the gooseneck, well, is a bit limp at times.I'm delighted with it for the price. And everything locks and stays where you put it, except for the lasers, and that's only during adjustment.
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