Hey guys,
I know Stonewell was selling these a while back, and I just wanted to get your opinions on the them if any of you have them in your rig. Are they powerful enough? Or did stonewell have modified motors in them?

I can buy a couple new ones very cheap (under 100 for the pair) on a blowout deal, and wanted to put some new drill presses in my new rig I am assembling. I'm running out of funds for the rig and I could spend 280 +shipping on some good 8" drill presses from stonewell (they dont sell tradesman anymore becuase the company stopped makeing the 8" drill press) or I could save that 180 and put it towards somethign else. I just dont want to buy and install them and find out they are junk. I'd rather buy from stonewell since they are a great company, but the 180 savings is pretty substantial.

If you have one,
Could you check to see if your 8" Tradesman drill press has the 1/4hp motor or a differant rated motor? Also let me know how you like it.

Thanks,
Josh Noone

Josh,

I don't know if I have that particular brand, but I've got one that looks just like it. I've got another one(a Craftsman) on the truck too, and both have proven to be a good investment. I've got one set up to drill for pad rivets and the other, to drill and countersink for studs. Just remember to use a lot of cutting oil or the like and to keep them on the lowest speed.

For the price, I don't think you can go wrong, especially since you're on a budget.

Mine looks like that, but it says "Clark Tools" on it. Bought it at Tractor Supply for $49.95

Josh,

There's 7 of them on ebay for under 60 bucks shipped.....

Ebay Search for Tradesman Drill Press

Check out Harbor Freight Tools if you have one close by. Mine looks just like this one, but says Central Machinery. Got it for $40.00. It's all made in China anyway!

Bo

Douglas_Armstrong wrote:
Yeah, thats actually the guy I spoke to.

Remember these are not disposable. You could rebuild the motor, or spend another 50.00 and buy another one. Which is easier? More economical? More exspensive does not mean better quality/ longer life.

In all reality,are you going to be running your Drill press 10 hours every day under a heavy load?

Tony

SlowShoe wrote:
You're kidding right? $280 for a drill press? Must be one heck of a machine. Dude shop around. I got a nice Delta drill press with 1/3 horse motor the other day for $175 from a national home improvement chain.

Just from my own personal experience. If your making mainly rivet holes in shoes (1/8" etc) and occasionally Drilling as set of shoes for tapping a harbor freight type drill press for under 50 bucks will still be run forever. The last one I bought just retired to shop duty after 9 or 10 years of field service.

However, if you are drilling and tapping shoes on a regular basis, then you defiantly want to go with a press that has a motor larger than 1/4 horse and that has a higher amperage rating.

THats for two drill presses from stonewell. They are 8inch with large motors. I have a pair mounted in my truck now. One makes an aweful noise when it runs, but it works. Im just going to keep the current ones. =]