Product Description
Power Tools
Product Details
- Amazon Sales Rank: #25511 in Home Improvement
- Color: N/A
- Brand: Jet
- Model: 354165
- Number of items: 1
- Dimensions: 40.00" h x13.00" w x31.00" l,156.00 pounds
Features
- Bench mount drill press with 16 speeds ranging from 200 to 3,630 RPM
- Crank-operated, rotating worktable tilts up to 45-Degree; full 10-by-13-Inch work surface
- 3/4 HP 115/230-Volt motor; 15-Inch swing; adjustable tension spindle return spring
- Includes 5/8-Inch drill chuck and key; built-in work-light (bulb not included)
- Measures 31-by-13-by-39-1/2-Inch (Length by Weight by Height); weighs 150-Pound
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
55 of 55 people found the following review helpful.
Probably the best bench top drill press
By G. Peterson
For those of you who need a quality drill press, but whose shops are a little small for a floor-standing model, this is probably your best bet. Combined with a quality drill press vise (6" or larger), you can do just about anything. I build custom furniture and use this press for numerous purposes, and can confidently drill accurate stopped holes in curved hardwood stock without problems.
The press comes via freight in a single box. It is HEAVY but can be man-handled around on the ground without too much issue. You will need to assemble the press out of the box. Assembly is very easy - until you need to lift the drill head and motor housing onto the column. It is possible to do it yourself if you are tall and strong, but I recommend having a helper because it is a bit of a workout.
All parts are well-machined and HEAVY. The base and column are substantial pieces of metal, and the worktable is larger than most. Fit and finish are good - the work table moves easily on the column without too much play, and the clamp handles to lock down the table require little effort to utilize and hold the table very securely. Out of the box the machined metal will be greasy and dirty - you will want to wipe it down with a good degreaser like WD40 to clean it up before use. Not necessary, but you might also want to run a metal file around the table edges and slots to make sure there aren't any sharp burrs left after machining. Once assembled, this is a HEAVY piece of equipment. I keep mentioning the weight, but my last benchtop drill press I was able to move around pretty easily and scoot it on the top of a worktable. Even sitting on an old towel, it is hard to push this drill press around even a few inches. This is good if you are looking for a solid, stable work surface. It is not so good if you like to pull it forward to work, and push it back out of the way between jobs.
In use, the drill is very accurate, with minimal run-out (so-called drill bit "wobble") which is the bane of most cheap drill presses. Proper setup of the spindle and chuck during assembly is required to get perfect accuracy, but once setup properly, the machine continues to perform accurately without additional adjustment. The on/off switch in the front of the machine is large, easy to access, and feels substantial so that you aren't left wondering when the switch is going to malfunction. A very nice feature on this drill is the dedicated work light which is located inside the drill head behind the bit. The light takes standard medium base bulbs, and is controlled via a separate rocker switch on the side of the drill head, so you can turn the light on and off independent of the operation of the drill. The light provides good task lighting from BEHIND the bit - an area that is normally shadowed if you are only using ambient shop lighting - and makes it much easier to line up your drilling work.
Changing drill speeds require shifting belts in the drill head (as in all non-variable speed drill presses). Fortunately, this task is made simpler by the degree to which the motor slides easily on rails to allow slack in the drive belts. To change speeds you simply loosen side-mounted motor housing clamp, slide the motor slightly towards the drill head (providing slack in the belts), adjust the belts, slide the motor back away from drill head (tightening the belts), and lock it down with the clamp. This operation can be a hassle if the motor does not slide easily, but is pretty effortless in the case of this press.
The drill depth gauge is located on the side of the drill head, and has positive and negative stops. The positive stop is a locking stop, so your setting will not start to drift if you are executing repetitive drills that all have to be the same uniform depth. The depth gauge works well and accurately.
The work table can be set at an angle, but I have not used this feature since I prefer to keep my table always set square and angle the work on the table (via a vise). The angle setting for the work table is located beneath the table, and there is a small angle gauge there to allow you to eyeball an angle setting. If you decide to use this feature, I would highly recommend you purchase an electronic angle gauge (one of the magnetic ones) so that you can set your table angle more accurately than what can be accomplished using the small gauge that is attached to the drill press.
My last comment is to suggest that you purchase a good drill press vise for use with this press. A drill press vise will add a great degree of accuracy and control, and when setup properly will increase the speed with which you can execute repetitive drilling or angled holes. It is much better to keep your table flat and work with an angled vise, than to try to angle your work table with your work piece clamped to it. Personal opinion :)
In summary, I recommend this drill press for anyone who is looking for power, accuracy and weight in the smallest possible package. A drill press is a very simple machine when it works the way it should - but will cause no end of nightmares if it doesn't. The Jet 15" bench top drill press has been for me a very dependable and reliable machine.
****UPDATE May 2012****
I have had this press almost two years now and it continues to perform well. I have had no need to adjust the spindle and chuck, and in all other ways the machine has been completely dependable. I am very pleased with this purchase; it is nice to have a machine that does not need to be babied to get accurate work output.
28 of 28 people found the following review helpful.Great Drill Press!!!!
By Amazon Fan
I decided to write this review since it didn't have a very good rating. I've had my drill press since April 2008 and I use it quite often. I haven't had any problems. It does everything I need. It drills very straight without wobble. I do woodworking and pen turning. It was easy to set up, although it was very heavy so I needed assistance placing the top portion on the lower portion. Like one reviewer wrote, it's a table top but it's not small. It's works and acts like a full size press. If you're looking for a press that is portable or that you can move around your bench, this isn't for you. I put mine on a cabinet I built that has wheels so I can move it around the garage.
I would highly recommend it.
***May 25, 2010 Update***
Still using the drill press, a lot, and still working great and I would still recommend it.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful.
Good Press. Needed to tweak a little.
By IQLessThanU
Summary:
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So far, I really like this press. It seems like a great buy for the price. It is smooth, solid and relatively quiet. I had to make a few tweaks but we should expect a little compromise at this price level.
Pros:
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1) Assembly was easy. You'll need a second person to help with the head assembly.
2) This thing is solid. In fact, it's a mini-beast at 150+ lbs.
3) Work light is a nice plus
Cons and Nitpicks:
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1) Vibration and wobble Issues
- According to the parts list, one of the belts I got was one size too big and I couldn't get proper tension. I grabbed one at my local auto parts store for $8. I didn't want to wait for a replacement.
- The nut on spindle pulley was torqued down goofy at the factory and the pulley wasn't "true." I loosened the nut, rocked the pulley a little to even things out and tightened it back down.
- This might be my bad, but there was about .004" of runout after I installed the chuck/arbor. Several re-installation attempts didn't seem to help. Not sure if this is super-bad, but a guy on a forum suggested whacking it with a mallet. So, I found the "bad" spot with a cheap dial indicator, installed a socket extender in the chuck and gave it a few whacks with a mallet. Runout is now .002"
There is still a tiny bit of vibration left but I have it down to an acceptable level (for me). This isn't an industrial class machine anyway.
2) Several folks have mentioned minor issues with the iron work so I wasn't surprised. I had to file down the edges of the table since it was razor sharp. Also, one of the bolt holes was partially blocked by some stray iron. I was able to chisel and file that back to make space for the bolt.
3) The bolt holes on the base are a less common, 7/16" which caused me to do a little fishing. I found a great industrial hardware store in my area.
4) The belt tension lever is a little short and it would be nicer if it was longer. I use a wrench to get more leverage since I'm "worthless and weak."
5) The table crank mechanism isn't as smooth as I would like. I just lift a little on the table as I crank upwards.
6) No laser guide
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