New Delta Drill Press Delayed - Again!

[Nancy Laird]

I ordered this drill press back in Jan and not sure if I want to wait any longer. They arte having real problems with this drill press.

I heard April 2008.

Rather than waiting around for the Delta, which may or may not appear within the next 6-8 months, why don't you take a look at the comparable Steel City machine. You might like it better.

Nancy (72 days)

[J. Greg Jones]

Rather than waiting around for the Delta, which may or may not appear within the next 6-8 months, why don't you take a look at the comparable Steel City machine. You might like it better.

Nancy (72 days)

Does SC have a drill press other than the 20520? The reason that I ask is because the specs between the 20520 and the Delta 20-959LX don't appear to be very comparable.

[Nancy Laird]

Greg, At this time, the only SC DP available is the 20-520. It's a 17" DP 3/4hp with 16 available speeds (slowest is a little faster than the Delta; fastest is a little slower than the Delta). Otherwise, the two are pretty compatible. The table is a little smaller, but who doesn't put a sacrifice table on a DP anyway. It's $479.00 less than the Delta, and weighs a little less.

Just to let you know, we have the Delta 17-925 which is no longer available, and if we were in the market for a new DP, the Steel City would be sitting in our shop in a heartbeat.

You are the one who needs to determine if you need the 20-959 20" machine rather than a 17" one. I can't tell you which one to buy; I'm just suggesting a good look at the SC before you pull the trigger on one that costs about twice as much.

Nancy (72 days)

[Matt Meiser]

Doesn't the phantom Delta also have adjustable speed through a handwheel on the front and a digital readout showing the speed and depth? If so, the Steel City doesn't have those. There is a Powermatic that does though. You pay a lot more for those features though.

[Leigh Betsch]

Doesn't the phantom Delta also have adjustable speed through a handwheel on the front and a digital readout showing the speed and depth? If so, the Steel City doesn't have those. There is a Powermatic that does though. You pay a lot more for those features though.

I bought the PM 2800 bcause I really like the variable speed and was willing to spend the extra money for it. Unfortunatly I have had 2 machines in the last 2 weeks and have the third on the way from the service center right now. Maybe just maybe the third one will be right. This is very frustrating. Powermatic can't get them built without defects and Delta can get one built at all. I won't get into a rant about the Chinese imports, I'll leave it for each to judge.

[Vic Damone]

In a Rockler flyer that arrived 10/8/07 they're advertising an October arrival.

Vic

[Gary Keedwell]

In a Rockler flyer that arrived 10/8/07 they're advertising an October arrival.

Vic

Vic Damone...Your not the singer are you?
GK

[Denny Rice]

Nice. Looks like I may have to cancel my order with Amazon.

I think Delta is worried about Steel City, thats why they have rushed the new line into production. I don't think anyone can go wrong with the steel city line, even though I own a Craftsman "professional series" drill press and been very happy with it. If you put the steel city and the Craftsman side by side its hard to tell them apart.

[Dave MacArthur]

It's not the same machine, but I did buy a 17-950L and have enjoyed that one. Lowe's had a big clearance--it's a much less expensive machine. However, the table is good with woodworking clamp flanges, it has a light, a decent quill travel, and a laser. The runout is good. You might consider that as a much less expensive alternative also.

[Mark J Bachler]

The only machine that I'm not happy with in my shop is my delta drill press. I wished I had gone with the powermatic. My spindle has never run true & I've had a few people try to get it in tune. If anyone in the northern Wish-conch-sin area is looking for a deal on one let me know.

[J. Greg Jones]

Nancy, your original post said "Rather than waiting around for the Delta, which may or may not appear within the next 6-8 months, why don't you take a look at the comparable Steel City machine. You might like it better." Someone might interpret this to mean that the SC is available now with similar features to the 20-959LX. The differences between the Steel City and the Delta are huge-what feature of the SC, other than price, might someone like better than the 20-959LX? If price is the driving factor in the purchase decision, then the 20-959LX is not going to make anyone's short list. To recap some differences that you mention, and some that you do not:

1) Speed Settings The Delta is variable speed, the SC has 16 speeds. The Delta has a larger range of speeds, from lowest to highest.

2) Display The speed and depth settings on the Delta are a digital display.

3) Power The Delta is 1hp while the SC is 3/4hp.

4) Swing The Delta is 20" while the SC is 17".

5) Weight The Delta weighs nearly 20% more than the SC.

6) Laser The Delta includes a laser while it is optional on the SC.

7) Footprint The Delta has a larger footprint for additional stability.

8) Table Saving the best for last, the table on the Delta is, in my opinion, the single best reason to consider the Delta. Nothing about the SC table compares to the table on this press. No table from any manufacturer, other than the PM2800, can compare to this table. The Delta table looks to me like it is a woodworker's dream, and slapping a sacrificial table on a press with a machinist's table will not make it the same. The Delta table tilts to the front in addition to side-to-side, and I don't know if even the PM2800 table can do that (correct me if I am mistaken).

As I compare the two presses, the only significant features that compare is that they both include a work light and 6" of quill travel. The additional features of the Delta come with a hefty list price, but the Delta will be heavily discounted from list while the SC products are usually not, so the 2x difference between them will shrink some. An advantage in favor of the SC is a 5-year warranty compared to a 2-year warranty with the Delta.

Personally, I own a Delta 17-925 with a Woodpeckers table myself and I am very pleased with it. However, assuming that the Delta ever does ship, the table on the 20-959LX would get me thinking about trading up. I cannot say the same about the SC, as it does not have all the features (variable speed) that my 17-925 has, and I bought it new for less than what the SC sells for.

I'm more of lurker than a poster here, so perhaps I am out of line for saying this, but here goes. I've noticed that in a number of threads someone will ask about how brand "X" compares to brand "Y". You'll often chime in with a comment of "Have you considered the Steel City ________ ?" What I don't see as often is you mention that you do not own the particular Steel City tool that you are recommending. The original poster may be left with the impression that you like your Steel City _______ when in fact you don't and have not owned that particular model. I also have read here that you have a personal friendship with the management of Steel City, and that you may have a professional relationship with Steel City in the future. It might be worthwhile to mention these three facts when you make a Steel City recommendation, so that everyone is aware of your bias for Steel City. I'm not suggesting that your bias is a bad thing-just different from the real experience of owning the particular model in question and using it to do real work in your shop.

[Jim Dunn]

I have a friend that ordered Delta's new drill press at a show in Feb. Still doesn't have it although he had paid for it when he ordered it.

[John Callahan]

They all probably had lead paint on them.

....................... you might be right. Saw a new 17-959L yesterday. Really impressive fit and finish. It looked as if had no paint on the the head- it looked like it had been sandblasted. Best looking imported drill press I've ever seen.

[Brad Townsend]

Nancy, your original post said "Rather than waiting around for the Delta, which may or may not appear within the next 6-8 months, why don't you take a look at the comparable Steel City machine. You might like it better." Someone might interpret this to mean that the SC is available now with similar features to the 20-959LX. The differences between the Steel City and the Delta are huge-what feature of the SC, other than price, might someone like better than the 20-959LX? If price is the driving factor in the purchase decision, then the 20-959LX is not going to make anyone's short list. To recap some differences that you mention, and some that you do not:

1) Speed Settings The Delta is variable speed, the SC has 16 speeds. The Delta has a larger range of speeds, from lowest to highest.

2) Display The speed and depth settings on the Delta are a digital display.

3) Power The Delta is 1hp while the SC is 3/4hp.

4) Swing The Delta is 20" while the SC is 17".

5) Weight The Delta weighs nearly 20% more than the SC.

6) Laser The Delta includes a laser while it is optional on the SC.

7) Footprint The Delta has a larger footprint for additional stability.

8) Table Saving the best for last, the table on the Delta is, in my opinion, the single best reason to consider the Delta. Nothing about the SC table compares to the table on this press. No table from any manufacturer, other than the PM2800, can compare to this table. The Delta table looks to me like it is a woodworker's dream, and slapping a sacrificial table on a press with a machinist's table will not make it the same. The Delta table tilts to the front in addition to side-to-side, and I don't know if even the PM2800 table can do that (correct me if I am mistaken).

As I compare the two presses, the only significant features that compare is that they both include a work light and 6" of quill travel. The additional features of the Delta come with a hefty list price, but the Delta will be heavily discounted from list while the SC products are usually not, so the 2x difference between them will shrink some. An advantage in favor of the SC is a 5-year warranty compared to a 2-year warranty with the Delta.

Personally, I own a Delta 17-925 with a Woodpeckers table myself and I am very pleased with it. However, assuming that the Delta ever does ship, the table on the 20-959LX would get me thinking about trading up. I cannot say the same about the SC, as it does not have all the features (variable speed) that my 17-925 has, and I bought it new for less than what the SC sells for.

I'm more of lurker than a poster here, so perhaps I am out of line for saying this, but here goes. I've noticed that in a number of threads someone will ask about how brand "X" compares to brand "Y". You'll often chime in with a comment of "Have you considered the Steel City ________ ?" What I don't see as often is you mention that you do not own the particular Steel City tool that you are recommending. The original poster may be left with the impression that you like your Steel City _______ when in fact you don't and have not owned that particular model. I also have read here that you have a personal friendship with the management of Steel City, and that you may have a professional relationship with Steel City in the future. It might be worthwhile to mention these three facts when you make a Steel City recommendation, so that everyone is aware of your bias for Steel City. I'm not suggesting that your bias is a bad thing-just different from the real experience of owning the particular model in question and using it to do real work in your shop.

I think this is a bit harsh, although perhaps it is a bit unfair of Nancy to compare a real DP to vaporware. The real thing will always come out ahead.

Anyone can publish a picture of something with a list of specs, but it isn't much good if you can't buy it. All of the SC tools have gotten excellent reviews from both magazine reviews and end users. The OP can wait for months and take a chance on an early production run of the Delta, or spend half the money and immediately get, what is from all reports, a good solid machine. I know which one I would go for.

[Chuck Lenz]

....................... you might be right. Saw a new 17-959L yesterday. Really impressive fit and finish. It looked as if had no paint on the the head- it looked like it had been sandblasted. Best looking imported drill press I've ever seen.

Interesting, where did you see that at John ?