Drill Press ?

I happen to own a Shopsmith myself. Pretty interesting wood working tool.

And, I have a seperate drill press. Because as much as I do like my Shopsmith, it makes a lousy metal working tool. I suspect the same will be true with this Paramount Woodworker. Neither are rigid enough or strong enough for metal working.

I picked up a Shoptask 2000 mill/drill/lathe for light metal work.
It can take standard R-8 or MT3 tooling, swings 13" over the ways, has autofeed carriage drive, etc
Not a high precision tool, but with some care and attention, you can achieve very good results

Machining fuel injector pockets into a Spitfire single carb manifold:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/13867611@N04/1517807268/in/set-72157602324566095/.

Look on CL and such (or estate sales) for bargains, you can find machine & tooling for pennies on the dollar.

Carter

after the discussion about the woodworker, I have to admit it's probably not what I need. (but DANG it's cool, and for $50....)

But I found a 17", 1.5HP, 5/8" chuck Craftsman on the North side of A-town for $100, supposed to go see the guy Sunday. It's quite a drive, but should be worth it. Looks like a solid unit in good shape.

So I told the seller of the Paramount Woodworker that it wouldn't work. I picked this 1.5 hp monster up for $100. The pic shows it home safe in my shop after a day long run to Atl to get it.

Thanks for all the wisdom GRM. Most appreciated.

Edit: I can't tell on my phone if the pic loaded. It's a pre-Kmart Craftsman 17" with 5/8" chuck. Lightly used solely for woodworking.

Good on ya' !

In reply to BJDavid :

I reckon that'll only be useful in drilling hole in your canoe

Zombie thread, canoe deleted

Curmudgeon said:

I have a Delta 1/2" benchtop which has been great, it looks almost exactly like the top one in Dan's pictures. I have drilled or holesawed stuff thicker than 1/4" with no problems. I've never used it on stainless, though.

I haz a sad.

Floor model with the rack and pinion raise/lower function. 1/2" chuck goes without saying.

Ease of speed change is a big deal since it should be done often. If I could figure out how, I would have a variable speed control on the thing.

Don't forget the value of a good vise: a vise that clamps to the drilling table and can adjust in an X-Y pattern is a big asset.

Buy as heavy-duty and big as you can afford. $200 is pretty much used hobby range and while you willl do a ton of work with it, you will have drill press envy for as long as you own it.

The milling machine is a great tool, but not going to see anything for under $2k

spitfirebill said:

Curmudgeon said:

I have a Delta 1/2" benchtop which has been great, it looks almost exactly like the top one in Dan's pictures. I have drilled or holesawed stuff thicker than 1/4" with no problems. I've never used it on stainless, though.

I haz a sad.

It's always kind of a shock when these pop up. 

In reply to Toyman01 :

It really is.  I never met the guy face to face, but we conversed here a good bit.  I sent him part he needed for the GT-6 he was working on right before he passed.  A lot of the car guys up here knew Mike very well, as I know you did.          

This is a project was building for the challenge but it's not going to make it. It's a turbo flange I built with hand tools. With a 12in drill press from Harbor Freight.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/KMRyqsrxw6xiAWCK2

[canoe vs. kayak spam review] may be helpful here!

7 year old canoe.

holy crap a foxtrapper post..  another great lost to the ages..

Rikon is the same as all the Jet, Central Machinery, Delta etc gak from offshore. They just seem to be backing it with a better warranty than everyone else.