RB61
Member
Registered: 02/28/11
Posts: 207
Loc: Maple Grove, MN
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I have been looking at some small drill presses. The ones that I have looked at so far (used) seem very noisy. The last one that I looked at was a Ryobi 10", 5 speed, belt driven. Owner stated that she bought it new for her studio and only used it a few times. Just as noisy as the rest. All shafts, pulleys, bearing, etc seem to have no play. Are these low end machines normally very noisy?
Thanks,
Ray (neander type guy)
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gregr
Member
Registered: 06/01/06
Posts: 811
Loc: Omaha, NE
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Yes, import machines tend to be noisy - at least in my experience.
If you want a nice quiet smooth running benchtop machine, look for an older 14" or 15" Delta benchtop from the 40's, 50's, 60's, or 70's. You will get 4" of quill travel, a quill lock that really does lock the quill, a split head to take up wear, a threaded rod and locking nut depth stop, and a quality built machine that will sound whisper quiet compared to the Asian rattley, plasticy stuff.
What you probably won't get is a raising mechanism for the table, but that is a modification that can be done with a bit of work.
You will probably have to replace bearings and belts in the older stuff, but that is a pretty easy job if you are at all handy. Besides, when you get done, you will know your drill press and get the satisfaction of putting an old piece of equipment back to work.
Of course once you start down the slippery slope there is no telling where the bottom is.
Greg
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The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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Richard D.
Off his rocker
Registered: 01/28/07
Posts: 6289
Loc: Los Angeles
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If you are used to hand tools I'm sure they all are noisy. If the belts are overly tight they will be noisier and that is usually an issue. Bolting the base to the bench will help reduce vibration. Ear plugs will also help. It's still a lot faster and more accurate than drilling by hand.
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RD
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Phil Thien
Member
Registered: 07/23/06
Posts: 1797
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A lot of noise can come from spline backlash. With the press OFF, wiggle the chuck back and forth. Hear the "clink" as it hits the pulley, right before the pulley begins to turn? When the press is under speed, that noise you hear when you were rotating the chuck back and forth can turn into a sort of clanking.
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Axl
Member
Registered: 06/30/08
Posts: 700
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Richard D. said:
Ear plugs will also help.
And if a drill press is loud enough to need hearing protection, it's time to give serious thought to passing it on to some schmuck on CL.
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NiteWalker
Member
Registered: 03/12/06
Posts: 5906
Loc: Albany, NY
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Axl said:
And if a drill press is loud enough to need hearing protection, it's time to give serious thought to passing it on to some schmuck on CL.
This. My drill press is the quietest tool in the shop that requires power.
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"I buy tools so i can make more money, so I can buy more tools so I can work more, to make more money, so I can buy more tools, so I can work more..."
"Happiness is seeing that big brown truck pull up in front of the house".
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Axl
Member
Registered: 06/30/08
Posts: 700
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NiteWalker said:
This. My drill press is the quietest tool in the shop that requires power.
So is my 1945 model.
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Richard D.
Off his rocker
Registered: 01/28/07
Posts: 6289
Loc: Los Angeles
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My drill press is also quiet, to me. If he has looked at several and they all are noisy ...............
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RD
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Routerman
Member
Registered: 10/15/99
Posts: 2905
Loc: Escondido/CA/USA
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"Are these low end machines normally very noisy?"
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Many are, noise suppression is not a speck for drill presses.
Not recommended, but did take the cover off (over the pulley system).
It could be lined with noise suppression material, but without it, it is not a source for noise. If the machine sits on the floor without rocking, then there is a lot less vibrating and making stuff clang.
Seat the thing well (cannot rock on the floor or table), it could buy you some noise suppression.
This one will not not vibrate a nickel off the table.
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Pat Warner
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gregr
Member
Registered: 06/01/06
Posts: 811
Loc: Omaha, NE
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"Are these low end machines normally very noisy?"
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Routerman said:
This one will not not vibrate a nickel off the table.
My point exactly in my post above. Those older presses such as Delta, Walker Turner, Powermatic and others are much smoother running, quieter, and much more pleasurable to work with than Asian imports.
Greg
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The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.
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