Drill Press Minimum Quill Stroke?

[Rick Potter]

Good grief David. It's like 'which Bentley shall I drive today'. I am turning green with jealousy.

[Alan Lightstone]

Nova Voyager has 6" of quill travel. About double your budget though. I have had mine since shortly after they came out. Do not recall having needed the full six inches of travel, or even close to that.

I actually used the full 6" of quill travel on my Voyager this week. But that's been the only time since I owned it. But 4" or more is very nice to have.

[Tom Bender]

That's tough to follow, especially with mine. My Craftsman has served me well for 35 years, and has only 3 1/4" stroke. I do have to move the table often. Had I read this post 20 years ago I'd have upgraded but now I'm looking at the dark at the end of the tunnel.

[Rod Sheridan]

3 to 4 inch stroke is fine.

The main items I look for are runout, a large cast iron table that's square to the quill, a table elevation rack or other mechanism, and a range of speeds that's adequate for woodworking, not metal working......Rod.

P.S I also like a square or rectangular table, much nicer for jigs or clamping.

P.P.S. i would give up on the mortising attachment, I had one and gave it away to someone I didn't like :-)