Comments on: Delta DP250 Shopmaster 10-Inch Bench Top Drill Press

By: M. Moisson

M. Moisson — Sat, 08 May 2010 03:17:20 +0000

I bought this equipment recently from Amazon.com. It was delivered on time as promised.
After some thorough degreasing the assembly was easy and uneventful.The variable speed system allows a lot of drilling versatility without touching the belt, but it is not ultra-smooth. It also requires weekly maintenance if you plan on using the drill frequently. The three spoke pilot wheel and the adjustable locking depth mechanisms are nice and easy in operation. The tilting table is OK but not at all easy to use. The finish of all major components seems to be basically per the standard for this price level. However in order to access the belt housing I needed to remove some screws that were jammed into the holes rather than cleanly treaded. After removing the top cover I decided to re-drill these holes, now everything goes together as it was intended. Verdict, this Delta drill is an OK machine for the price. It does what it is supposed to do but I am not impressed by the overall attention to detail in fabrication. The variable speed feature is convenient but given the frequent requirement for oiling I don’t see a large advantage over the traditional belt and pulley systems.
Rating: 3 / 5

By: Dewline

Dewline — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:28:59 +0000

(…)Setup: 3 stars (the Delta shipping grease again)
Repair flaw: 1 star
Use When it isn’t broken: 5 stars
Broken: Two times in 6 months – 0 stars…

This drill broke again today; the variable speed control snapped inside the housing. This second mechanical failure, combined with the wobbling chuck I have endured the last couple times I used it, have forced me to publicly condemn this machine as unfit to sell. I don’t mind maintaining my machines occasionally, but I have put in over 8 hours of labor vs. less than one hour using the drill. Presently I am sick of it and will decide if I should try to fix it again, or just buy one from a different manufacturer.(…)
Rating: 4 / 5

By: Brian J. Gedeon MD

Brian J. Gedeon MD — Fri, 07 May 2010 23:12:06 +0000

I received the drill press in great condition and quickly from Amazon. It was easy to assemble and the instructions were well written (there was a lot of grease on every piece that made assembly challenging).

Once together, it functioned flawlessly—–for about 1 day! Then the variable speed function ceased working properly. Upon examination of the pulley system after removal of the top cover (which was nearly impossible to reassemble) it was noted that the spring system on the rear pulley did not work properly. The die-cast (cheap) rear pully had a small crack in it as well. I disassembled it and returned it to Amazon.

Subsequently, I purchased the Sears Craftsman 12″ drill press and although you need to change the belt pulley ratio manually to adjust the speed, it has worked perfectly on a daily basis for months now and under heavy loads the motor doesn’t even lag.

AVOID THIS DELTA DRILL PRESS!!
Rating: 1 / 5

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:54:14 +0000

This drill press has been very disappointing. For a bench top, it is too heavy to lift so I made a stand for it, taking up limited space in my small work area. After using it for a couple of months things sort of flew apart. The main reason I selected this model was its ease of changing speeds with a simple turn of the dial. Since I have experience in machine and assembly, took the thing apart and discovered the reason was poor parts and design. While the variable speed mechanism is faily simple the design needs a little work. A set screw to hold the bearing in place on the upper motor pulley would have helped. It worked its way out of place (friction fit?) and there went the variable speed. Next, a little attention to the machining of the cap holding the spring above the motor pulley so it wouldn’t bend the retaining ring out of it’s grove on the motor shaft would help as well. I believe I have spent more time fixing the thing than it has given me doing the drilling tasks I bought it for.
Rating: 1 / 5

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 07 May 2010 21:23:03 +0000

First time buyer on Amazom. Great price, no tax, free delevery and I received the item eariler than expected. The unit was a bit heavier then I expected. Two areas that could be improved on are, there isn’t a place to hold the chuck key. That would appear to be a simple task for Delta to incorporate into the design. The handle that raises the table could have been placed on an angle so as to not be so close the table. If one wants to increase the work surface area with a peice of plywood, you must provide a cutout for the elavation handle.
Other than that it appears to be a sturdy machine
Rating: 4 / 5