PM2800 Drill Press

[Drew Sanderson]

I have read a few thread about people complaining about the PM2800 but the posts were a little older. Have things improved at all? I just got the promo email this morning of $899 with free shipping. That is a lot of money not to be happy.

[Dan Lee]

Drew
I've had mine for about a 1.5 years.Used for 99% WWing. I like it. It drills straight true holes. The laser cross hairs are aligned and work. I wasn't really prepared for them to be so accurate thought it was going to just be a gimmic. The quill travel (4" ?) has always been suffcient for me .. YMMV.

The main reason I bought it was for the VS on the fly. Had an older Craftsman belt changer and was a PITA for me ... I know it only takes a minute to change speed on that type but ....

Extension wings I have only utilized once boring into 3 ft long 4x4 maple legs. On my Cman that caused the thing it to want to tip over. Low speed is 400 RPM ... I have run 3" Forstner bits no problem and up to 5" circle cutters. Integral T-Track is great.
I only wish the tables were ground a little smoother. The integrated light sucks so I have mag based light dedicated to it.
Thats it I'd buy it again

[glenn bradley]

They did have a rough start. My real concern would be the speeds available as they apply to woodworking. I generally turn circle cutters, hole saws or large Forstner bits in the 250 to 300 range. If my DP would go slower than 250, I am sure I would use that. The 2000 to 4000 RPM range is pretty darn fast in woodworking for me. For example, the Delta runs 200 - 2500 for its VS range. (I'm not pushing Delta, this is just an example). Then again, I rarely use the DP for little drills. VS in a DP would be a wonderful feature that mine does not have. I guess you have to weigh the pros and cons as they will apply to you. For me the low end at 400 RPM is a deal breaker.

[Drew Sanderson]

Glenn,

I was all about the Delta 20-950 20-Inch Variable Speed DP but when I went to look at the Delta site today it seems as if they scrapped a ton of their line up. Now it is only 1 bench top and 1 floor model. Whats the story there? 17" 3/4 hp with no VS ?

What would you buy?

[Drew Sanderson]

Dan,

i had read that the fit and finish like you mention about the smoothness of the table was subpar. I am glad to read you are happy with yours! Thanks for the reply!

[Drew Sanderson]

I was just watching the video "IWF 2006: Delta Updates The Drill Press" on finewoodworking.com. Did they ever release the DP with digital read out?

[Dan Lee]

They did have a rough start. My real concern would be the speeds available as they apply to woodworking. I generally turn circle cutters, hole saws or large Forstner bits in the 250 to 300 range. If my DP would go slower than 250, I am sure I would use that. The 2000 to 4000 RPM range is pretty darn fast in woodworking for me. For example, the Delta runs 200 - 2500 for its VS range. (I'm not pushing Delta, this is just an example). Then again, I rarely use the DP for little drills. VS in a DP would be a wonderful feature that mine does not have. I guess you have to weigh the pros and cons as they will apply to you. For me the low end at 400 RPM is a deal breaker.

Glenn
I often hear this low RPM claim made for circle cutters. The one I have from LV recommends under 500 RPM. Like I said I use large Forstner bits and circle cutters at 400 no problem. Major key is to clamp the work piece to the table
Do you have a cite for 250-300 RPM and what is the reasoning?

[glenn bradley]

Glenn
I often hear this low RPM claim made for circle cutters. The one I have from LV recommends under 500 RPM. Like I said I use large Forstner bits and circle cutters at 400 no problem. Major key is to clamp the work piece to the table
Do you have a cite for 250-300 RPM and what is the reasoning?

My circle cutter states maximum speed of 500 RPM. Cuts cleaner and smoother at lower speeds so my super-scientific reason is the result .
My DP is a Delta 17-950 which is an OK machine after a bearing fix and a table-raiser pinon and gear track replacement in the first year of light service (therefor my statement that I wasn't pushing Delta ). A beefier machine with more power would probably behave differently. I run 3/4" Forstners at about 600 RPM, smaller ones faster.

Bradpoint bits give me a much cleaner starting hole (when they'll be exposed like for peg holes) at speeds slower than recommended. Split-points do better at the speeds recommended on most charts.

[glenn bradley]

Glenn,

I was all about the Delta 20-950 20-Inch Variable Speed DP but when I went to look at the Delta site today it seems as if they scrapped a ton of their line up. Now it is only 1 bench top and 1 floor model. Whats the story there? 17" 3/4 hp with no VS ?

What would you buy?

I was saving for the Steel City but it is smaller than you are looking at. A great deal came up on the Delta 17-950 so I go it. It has worked out OK but there were a couple warranty issues the first year. I can't really recommend it as one to get but, as I said; its done OK. As a side note; the absence of the 6" stroke that made the Steel City so attractive has not been missed.

Since I have made my peace with this unit, I have not been looking at DP's so I will let someone who has been doing their homework chime in. As Dan states in his post, the lack of lower speeds has not bothered him. I have not never had a 1HP+ drill press so my impressions are based on 3/4HP and below machines.

[Dan Lee]

My circle cutter states maximum speed of 500 RPM. Cuts cleaner and smoother at lower speeds so my super-scientific reason is the result .
My DP is a Delta 17-950 which is an OK machine after a bearing fix and a table-raiser pinon and gear track replacement in the first year of light service (therefor my statement that I wasn't pushing Delta ). A beefier machine with more power would probably behave differently. I run 3/4" Forstners at about 600 RPM, smaller ones faster.

Bradpoint bits give me a much cleaner starting hole (when they'll be exposed like for peg holes) at speeds slower than recommended. Split-points do better at the speeds recommended on most charts.

Well there we go I've had better results with circle cutters in some cases (no burning) at 500-600 RPMs. And for me defintely higher speed the better for brad points

[Drew Sanderson]

I started this thread:

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=124981

[Dana Vogel]

I looked at the 2800's and was not impressed, quality control issues abound, noisy drives, vibrations, sloppy quills this is not typical PM machinery more like Chinese out sourcing. I refuse to support PM's commitment to higher profit margins at my expense.

[Drew Sanderson]

ing. I refuse to support PM's commitment to higher profit margins at my expense.

Are they trying to kill their brand?

[Dana Vogel]

It seems this whole country is trying to kill their brands for sake of short term high profits. I remember back in the early 90's the Japanese warned the US that American mfg. was only concerned of next quarters profits not long term commitments.

[Kent A Bathurst]

..........quality control issues abound, noisy drives, vibrations, sloppy quills..........

OK, Dana - what alternatives - with comparable features - would you be looking at? Not a jab, a sincere inquiry.

Thanks