I don’t understand why the Delta 17-968 drill press doesn’t get more attention: It’s a powerful, heavy, high quality machine that runs quietly with little or no vibration or runout. At this price and with the free shipping offered by Amazon, it represents excellent value. It is the only drill press in this price range that has variable speed and a quill lock, which is absent from the much pricier Powermatic 2800. I also considered the 17 inch General, which is also extremely well made, but decided in favor of the Delta because of the variable speed, the positive stops on the tilting table, and the innovative depth control, which has a quick release that enables you to change depth settings quickly without rotating the adjusting nut all the way up and down the threaded rod. Yes, the 17-968 lacks the laser positioning of the more expensive machines, but as the laser has to be focused every time the drill setup is changed, I never found that option attractive. The only problem I had was getting it into my basement, because it is so heavy. As others have noted, transporting it and setting it up is definitely a two man job (and trying it by yourself is dangerous!). I fabricated a carriage out of scrap wood to fit the contour of the underside of the head and bolted the carriage to two 2×4 rails, which enabled two of us to carry it quite easily. The variable speed moves nicely toward higher rpms, but requires some force to shift to lower speeds. A nice surprise was the gooseneck lamp that bolts to the side of the head. My last drill press had a lamp built into the underside of the head and it seemed that the point of contact of the drill bit with the workpiece was always shadowed. Not any more!! I just position the lamp as needed. All in all, it’s an excellent machine and excellent value.
Rating: 5 / 5
Just recieved the Delta 17-968 this week. Assembly was easy and all tools were provided. Took roughly an hour. The drill press is one heavy sucker. Which provides the needed stability to keep it vibration free. I am loving the variable speed control which works flawlessly and quietly except at both ends of the spectrum, 200 RPMs and 2500Rpms. No biggy, just a bit louder. It comes wired for 110 and after hogging out a few 2″ holes in some sugar maple to test it with a forstner bit, I see no reason to up it to 220. This motor did not bog at all. I am very pleased with this tool, more than likely the last drill press I will buy.
Rating: 5 / 5
I had been waiting for a sale on a high qualitiy floor drill press. The price I paid was roughly 60% of MSRP. I am very pleased how easy it was to assemble. Setup instructions were easy to follow.
I will be using this machine primarily for my wood working hobby. I also do furniture repair, stipping and refinishing. The machine is accurate as it come out of the box, not “tweaking” required. Changing speeds is as simple as turning a knob (no belts to re-position).
Rating: 5 / 5
The assembly was easy and straight forward and took me about an hour and a half including setting up a Shop Fox mobile base. A half hour was spent staring at the drill press head trying to decide if I could get it on the shaft by myself. It’s definitely a two man lift but one man can get it done if you’re hard headed enough and willing to take the chance of hurting yourself or the drill head (or both). Like the other reviews, the finish on the table is rough but the machining is uniform. The unit runs quietly with practically no vibration except at both low and high speed extremes. I let it run for approximately 10 minutes at different speeds due to one of the other reviews but everything performed as it should. I drilled some scrap oak with various size Forstner bits and have no doubt the way it came from the factory will suit my needs. I didn’t try it with metal but that’s not something I do very often.
Rating: 5 / 5
Excellent machine. I have no regrets. I’ll buy it again. Good Work delta.
Keep it up.
Happy woodworker, San jose, ca.
Rating: 5 / 5
I don’t understand why the Delta 17-968 drill press doesn’t get more attention: It’s a powerful, heavy, high quality machine that runs quietly with little or no vibration or runout. At this price and with the free shipping offered by Amazon, it represents excellent value. It is the only drill press in this price range that has variable speed and a quill lock, which is absent from the much pricier Powermatic 2800. I also considered the 17 inch General, which is also extremely well made, but decided in favor of the Delta because of the variable speed, the positive stops on the tilting table, and the innovative depth control, which has a quick release that enables you to change depth settings quickly without rotating the adjusting nut all the way up and down the threaded rod. Yes, the 17-968 lacks the laser positioning of the more expensive machines, but as the laser has to be focused every time the drill setup is changed, I never found that option attractive. The only problem I had was getting it into my basement, because it is so heavy. As others have noted, transporting it and setting it up is definitely a two man job (and trying it by yourself is dangerous!). I fabricated a carriage out of scrap wood to fit the contour of the underside of the head and bolted the carriage to two 2×4 rails, which enabled two of us to carry it quite easily. The variable speed moves nicely toward higher rpms, but requires some force to shift to lower speeds. A nice surprise was the gooseneck lamp that bolts to the side of the head. My last drill press had a lamp built into the underside of the head and it seemed that the point of contact of the drill bit with the workpiece was always shadowed. Not any more!! I just position the lamp as needed. All in all, it’s an excellent machine and excellent value.
Rating: 5 / 5
Just recieved the Delta 17-968 this week. Assembly was easy and all tools were provided. Took roughly an hour. The drill press is one heavy sucker. Which provides the needed stability to keep it vibration free. I am loving the variable speed control which works flawlessly and quietly except at both ends of the spectrum, 200 RPMs and 2500Rpms. No biggy, just a bit louder. It comes wired for 110 and after hogging out a few 2″ holes in some sugar maple to test it with a forstner bit, I see no reason to up it to 220. This motor did not bog at all. I am very pleased with this tool, more than likely the last drill press I will buy.
Rating: 5 / 5
I had been waiting for a sale on a high qualitiy floor drill press. The price I paid was roughly 60% of MSRP. I am very pleased how easy it was to assemble. Setup instructions were easy to follow.
I will be using this machine primarily for my wood working hobby. I also do furniture repair, stipping and refinishing. The machine is accurate as it come out of the box, not “tweaking” required. Changing speeds is as simple as turning a knob (no belts to re-position).
Rating: 5 / 5
The assembly was easy and straight forward and took me about an hour and a half including setting up a Shop Fox mobile base. A half hour was spent staring at the drill press head trying to decide if I could get it on the shaft by myself. It’s definitely a two man lift but one man can get it done if you’re hard headed enough and willing to take the chance of hurting yourself or the drill head (or both). Like the other reviews, the finish on the table is rough but the machining is uniform. The unit runs quietly with practically no vibration except at both low and high speed extremes. I let it run for approximately 10 minutes at different speeds due to one of the other reviews but everything performed as it should. I drilled some scrap oak with various size Forstner bits and have no doubt the way it came from the factory will suit my needs. I didn’t try it with metal but that’s not something I do very often.
Rating: 5 / 5