Compact drill press for AR work that doesn't suck?

**jerrysimons** · 11-30-16, 09:37

The short of it is I want a drill press for general AR smithing like pinning gas-blocks and front sight bases, drilling out a blind pinned muzzle devices, and my pet project of DIY gas-port-restricting, gas-block inserts.

All I need is a small drill press that is steady and can drill a straight hole the size that the drill bit cuts. I tried (I know) to get away buying cheap, way cheap: https://www.amazon.com/WEN-4208-8-In...ds=Drill+press (incidently the smallest Craftsman drill press from sears for $160 is just a branded WEN)
As you might guess this is too much to ask for buying cheap. The Chinese junk grade WEN from amazon had insane amount of wobble. I would better off using a hand drill.

Any recommendations? Budget? As cheap as possible that can do what I want with emphasis on a straight hole.

**nova3930** · 11-30-16, 09:48

#1. You might try a dovetail column mill/drill. They suck for milling but are pretty darn good for drilling. They can be had cheaper than grizzly but grizzly CS is pretty good in my experience if you have a problem.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Mini...ce=grizzly.com

#2. If you want a really true hole, a drill bit won't do it alone. You've got to drill and then ream to size. Drill bits wander and flex too much.

#3 if you're dead set on a drill press, grizzly again might be a good place to look. Some grizzly is chicom, some is taiwan, but in either case the designs and QC are generally better.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/12-S...ce=grizzly.com

**rocket 442** · 11-30-16, 10:09

If you have the room & capacity buy a used Bridgeport mill.

**Biggy** · 11-30-16, 11:09

Originally Posted by rocket 442

If you have the room & capacity buy a used Bridgeport mill.

I agree, I have been a machinist pretty much my whole life, and while there may be other ways to do it. A Bridgeport mill with a decent vice, good quality drill bits and a little know how will make the job a whole lot easier with consistent results.

**SomeOtherGuy** · 11-30-16, 11:41

Another option - watch garage sales and classifieds for a used, older, US-made drill press. The US-made hobby machines from 25+ years ago are often better than what you can buy today for under $1000. I've inherited a few tools in this category and am very thankful for them.

**nova3930** · 11-30-16, 12:02

Originally Posted by rocket 442

If you have the room & capacity buy a used Bridgeport mill.

Originally Posted by Biggy

I agree, I have been a machinist pretty much my whole life, and while there may be other ways to do it. A Bridgeport mill with a decent vice, good quality drill bits and a little know how will make the job a whole lot easier with consistent results.

I would have to agree with both of the above as well. Mine makes life stupid easy drilling holes. Even a used one is a pretty significant investment in $ not to mention space though.

**556BlackRifle** · 11-30-16, 12:04

Unless you are in a rush, search the newspaper and Craigslist for used. I know a guy who found a Walker & Turner drill press for $50 at a garage sale. He had to replace the brushes in the motor and change the belt but when he was done he had a USA made quality drill press for around $100. I have a similar model that was given to me by my father. I think he got it used in the 1950s and it's still going strong today.

**jerrysimons** · 11-30-16, 18:16

Can what I want be done with a drill press? I would like to maintain .001" of tolerances for the gas-port inserts. I won't be full on manufacturing them or full time smithing, I'll mostly just be going for hobby use and the occasional pin job for a build.

A Bridgeport mill is beyond my space constraints and out of the budget, though I would very much like to have and learn one, I can't justify it unless I were going for business use and then it is still bigger than I have room for.