Customer Reviews:
 A serious drill press December 6, 2008
King Matt (Cedar Rapids, Iowa)
I spent quite a bit of time researching drill presses before I bought this one, largely based on the reviews on amazon. I am very happy with this drill press. It has a large stable base and 6" reach which I really like. The castings are quality. The runout measures .0005" like advertised. The assembly instructions were o.k. but left out a few details like how to mount the table. I used an engine hoist to raise the head into place. With the hoist, two people, and some extra grease here and there, the assembly was fairly easy. Keep in mind that this is a 400lb piece of machinery.
Now for the bad... The chuck was very poor. With the provided chuck, the runout measured .005", 10x was it should have been. The V-belts are the worst I've ever seen. Also, the pin that locks the angle on the table seems to have been sheared off at the factory by someone overtightening the bolt that attaches the table. Fortunately, this wasn't a big deal to me as I rarely change the angle anyway. I bought a new precision chuck, new cogged ax belts (29" and 30", I believe), a good vice, and good hold downs.
With the upgrades, I love this drill press. I still think it was a good value, even though I had to spend some extra cash.
I would say its good for light industrial use. Its no Clausing, but its still a good drill press for a good price.
 Solid General Purpose Drill Press June 5, 2008
Sam (Columbus, OH United States)
I spent considerable time looking for a good drill press with the size and power to provide versatility in my shop. I looked at all of the usual suspects, Delta, Jet, Powermatic, General, Wilton, etc. I am a woodworker with a small hobby shop and do not depend on my equipment to make a living. I considered buying an older Rockwell-Delta machine but in the end I wasn't interested in a rehab project and running down hard to find parts, if necessary. The only review I could find on this machine was here on Amazon.com. I am writing this review to address some of the things in that review and to provide my own input for others. To start with, Amazon shipped this machine quickly (free, too!) and I chose to pick it up myself because I have a forklift at my shop and could easily unload it from my pickup truck. This machine is heavy! But, it was very easy to assemble despite limited instructions--it took about an hour or so. The hard part is setting the motor/drill head on the column. I used a mobile engine hoist (which I highly recommend keeping around your shop if you have the space--I use it for many things). Unlike the other reviewer, I have not noticed any vibration issues and the motor is smooth and quiet. As far as the chuck is concerned it is a standard keyed chuck and works fine for me. If I were a production shop I would probably want to buy a keyless chuck, but for my needs the standard chuck is fine. As far as the belts are concerned, I will probably continue to use the factory belts until they need replaced. I have not had any experience with slipping, vibration or noise. It is very easy and quick to change speeds and there is a speed chart in a handy location inside the belt cover. As this is basically a metalworker's drill, I have ordered a woodworking vice to mount on the generously sized table. All in all, this drill has lived up to my expectations. It is solid, smooth running and has been dependable to date. Unlike the other reviewer I have not seen a need to change anything about this drill press, although I agree you will need a clamping system, vice, etc. If you are looking for a strong, heavy and dependable drill press I can recommend the Palmgren.
Quality where it counts March 13, 2007
Paul B. Doubt
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I purchased this drill press primarily for metalworking applications. Palmgren states that quill taper runout is 0.0005" or less and this is the case with the unit I received. The work table is flat enough, although I would estimate it is out 0.005" across a 12" span. The T-slots are 9/16", not 5/8" as stated.
I found the vibration as shipped to be unacceptable and have done the following to improve this condition:
1) installed quality cogged-style AX v-belts, allowing press to run well with lower belt tensions (easier on idler bearings). 2) cleaned quill drive step-pulley taper with acetone to remove paint, eliminating pulley wobble. 3) installed new Baldor VL1310 c-face motor - the non-UL motor supplied is out-of-balance and had strange bearing noises etc.
The press has several quality features that I am pleased with: work table rack and pinion have quality feel and work well; sheet-metal belt cover is well-made and does not vibrate or buzz; motor mount and belt tensioning design is best I have seen on a belt-driven press, especially since it allows you to use a c-face motor. Very clean and simple.
At a minimum, I would plan on purchasing a quality chuck, new belts, a clamping kit(if you don't have one)and a vise, and adding a work light. If you can afford it, add levelling feet, replace the motor, and rewire with quality industrial power cord and strain reliefs. With these mods and additions, I now have a press that is smooth, precise, and a pleasure to operate.
I chose this press over the Wilton mainly due to budget. The Palmgren gives you the quality where you need it (castings, bearings and shafts) and you can upgrade other components with the money you save on the purchase price. Overall, I am very pleased with the Palmgren.
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