3 comments about JET 354165 JDP-15M 3/4 Horsepower 15-Inch Bench Drill Press.

1. The Jet drill is performing perfectly. Good fit for me and my shop. My Amazon experience coulda used some help. I ordered this is early February and it didn't arrive until a few days ago. The item said in stock soon (this means nothing other than not in stock I came to learn). I called several Jet dealers and they had it in stock. I even sent the dealers numbers to Amazon to fulfill the order. In the end...they use one dealer who did not have it in stock.
   
   I saved a good deal on this Machine, but, I would have cancelled it for better service. I still love the site....just gonna go to local dealers for this type of purchase.



2. I was looking for a benchtop drill press, and decided to get the jet. It is called a bench top drill press but i think that it is a full size drill press on a short pole. The table top is the biggest in its class. Changing speeds and setting the depth stop are excellent. Spend the extra money for a 3/4 hp instead of a 1/2 or 1/3 hp. Just another great jet product.



3. I just received my drill press. The handle that raises the table is too short to reach anything and consequently, the table cannot be raised or lowered unless it is done manually without use of the handle. Did anyone have this problem?
   
   When I called Jet they told me to take it to a repair shop. It is brand new why do I need it repaired?
   
   Thanks.
   
   Joe

5 comments about Jet 708580 JBM-5 1/2 Horsepower Bench Mortiser.

1. The tool works well! I am happy with its' ease of use and set up. For a low end mortiser it works very well for the occasional user. The first one I received had a caved in top due to improper packaging. I let Amazon know, and in two days I received a new replacement, at no charge. The staff at Amazon were great - it was very easy to get a new one sent quickly and have UPS pick up the one that was damaged. Thanks, Amazon for your wonderful customer support.



2. This is not typical Jet equipment, I have a Jet table saw, lathe and band saw, they are impressive tools. I should have read the small print with the mortiser. the throat is just enough to mortise a 2X4, in hard wood the motor jams because of wood chips, the chuck is too small 5/8ths would have been a better choice and hard to access. I did keep the machine and added a spacer for wider stock. It does work better than my drill press but not much.
   Rich



3. I used my neighbors machine... he has this same machine, I was so impressed, I ordered it the next day.
   Mine arrived very quickly, amazon is great -- the packing was perfect, but the machine looked like it was assembled by monkeys!
   
   The fan and fan cover were beat up and broken and one of the screws was cross-threaded. Yeah, they are sending me new pieces, but what a bad QC job!!



4. When I received the mortiser, there were no obvious signs of damage. However, when I opened the box I found the top fan cover was dented in so as to impede the movement of the cooling fan. It was easy to pound back out and there is no paint or structural damage but it should never have left the factory that way. Also,the post that the hold down clamp secures to has a set screw to hold it tight and that was loose from the factory. There is no wrench included to tighten it and it took a while to find one in my collection that was close enough tighten it. Just a pain in the neck. Once I got going, it performed as I would have expected although I will probably get a better set of bits than the ones included.



5. Finally decided to try a benchtop mortiser and with the rebate the Jet looked a bit better (i.e. cheaper) than the other options. Contrary to some of the recent reviews below, mine arrived without a scratch in a pristine-looking box-- and just three days after I ordered with free shipping. Can't argue about that. This is my fifth or sixth major tool purchase from Amazon (inc. jointer and planer) and I've always had excellent experiences with their shipping service.
   
   Assembly took less than ten minutes and I was making sawdust soon after. The unit actually comes mostly assembled; all that has to be added is the arm, fence, and table. Nothing was slathered with grease! As others have noted there's a hydraulic cylinder on the head that doesn't really seem to do much, but I found the action to be relatively smooth without it. My test cuts in red oak went in easily and the bit did not clog. My next purchase will have to be the proper stone to sharpen these chisels; the were quite sharp out of the box but I'm sure will dull quickly as well.
   
   At this price point, with free shipping, I think either the Jet or Delta would be acceptable. It's not exciting but it makes square holes. If you do a lot of M&T joinery or are making Craftsman furniture as I am (doing a bed this summer) it should be a real time saver. Otherwise, you may want to save the space and just use your router and a hand chisel to square off the ends.

1 comments about Powermatic 6285528 3/8-Inch Chisel and Bit Set.

1. These creations are wonderful. They install quickly and easily and will cut precision mortises at depths that are easily controlled with a drill press. If you like building furnature with real professional quality joints this is the tool to make the hard parts simple.

No comments about Powermatic 6285529 1/2-Inch Chisel and Bit Set.

No comments about Powermatic 6285526 1/4-Inch Chisel and Bit Set.

5 comments about Powermatic 1791310 PM701 3/4 Horsepower Bench Mortiser.

1. I bought this machine after trying out a full floor standing model and was a little apprehensive.
   
   But this benchtop machine has been fantastic. Alot of machine just to drill square holes...............
   
   It came well packaged. I did note one side of the plastic tool rest was chipped off. Not a big deal for me.
   
   Takes about 5 minutes to get set up out of the box. I bought the Lee Valley chisel and bit set (which I highly recommend). Squaring the chisel to the fence takes about 5 seconds. The fence was machined nearly perfect.
   
   Next, this is the part that potential buyers will need to note. The hold down on this machine (as opposed to the Jet, Delta, Fisch, Griz etc) has the horizontal wheeled support. This support holds the workpiece securely against the fence and allows you to easily push the wood to the right or left without worrying about getting "out of square". For me, that's worth the extra cost. Of course, if you were planning on buying a mortiser and getting an after-market X-Y vise, the horizontal supports will not matter. I submit, you don't need an aftermarket device as the hold-downs on this machine work great.
   
   My machine (with the Lee Valley Chisels) worked perfect right out of the box. The mortises were clean and easy to cut.
   
   I gave it 5 stars. It easily drills square holes, like it's designed to.



2. I ordered this item approx 10 days ago via Free Super Shipping and received it today. The staples holding the box together on the side were pulled out from the cardboard, the packing straps had cut into the cardboard...I still wasn't worried, pulled it out, put it up on a table to start degreasing it and waxing the top and noticed it wobbled somewhat. It is hard to make cast iron that far out of true, so I looked at the base, looked around the back and the cast iron base at both T-slots was cracked all the way through the metal. Amazon is starting to process the replacement, I am hopeful it is not a repeat issue. It appears to be a solid piece of equipment, for the few minutes I looked at it. I did not realize until receiving that the bit tray is plastic-not a problem but caught me off guard. I can do a better rating when I get one that is not broken, until then 2 stars is me being kind....
   .
   Update:
   OK, I received the replacement-the tool tray was smashed to pieces and the set screw for the sharpener was missing. Further inspection showed marks on adjustment knobs, marks on the paint, etc. There is NO way this is a brand new piece of equipment. I have talked to approx. a dozen customer service reps and had a couple of very helpful people, most not so, especially overseas call centers-horrible customer service! Most recently I was told that they were going to ship the replacement pieces for the broken one, then later receive an email from the fullfilment center that they do not stock these and to go contact the manufacturer myself and order/pay for the pieces myself...FOR A SUPPOSEDLY BRAND NEW PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. One guy says he is going to make it right and you agree to a course of action then someone else changes that to something not acceptable to any right-minded person and drops you an email. I have spent HOURS AND HOURS ON THE PHONE TO CLEAR UP THEIR OWN INTERNAL MISTAKES. If you have a choice, go to a real store where there is some accountability, clearly there is not much here. Still not resolved.....



3. I bought this machine after looking at several other bench top mortisers. I bought it for a specific propose but I have concluded it has a fatal flaw which makes it useless to me. First I'll start with the good stuff. It has a lot better clamps and adjustments then other machines you can get in its class. It also has decent horsepower. It did not bog at all even with very hard wood. It would probably be fine for softer wood applications however for what I was using it for it just didn't hack it. I was working with Ipe which is a pretty hard wood. The problem is the gear that is that controls the up and down motion is attached to it's grooved shank with a very small tooth. The rest of the machine is built like a rock but it really doesn't matter since this tooth will easily shear if you try to use the machine with moderate force. I have done this twice already in just a few minutes of use. If you have a lighter application than I do it might work OK for you. However I still feel this is a design flaw so I must rate the machine accordingly. In my view wood working tools should be rock solid and it fact most are. This is first shop tool I have had this much trouble with. My saws, drill press, planer and other equipment all work fine even with exotic hardwoods.



4. First, although an occasional Amazon customer, I avoided all potential problems with shipping, backorder, and freight damage by the simple expedient of buying locally. I was able to look at Delta, Jet, Shopfox, and Steel City side by side for comparison. Oddly, I bought the one machine they did not have set up on display - the Powermatic PM701 - based on past experience with Powermatic machines, and the reviews on this site.
   
   The Powermatic was $100 more than the others, give or take. This got me a solid cast iron table and fence, adjustible roller guides for holding the stock against the fence, right or left hand operation, a large access door for the chuck, a 3/4 hp motor, an included diamond hone, and (a serious consideration) a brand that would be easy to resell if I decided I didn't like or need it.
   
   Surprises:
   1. Virturally no assembly. You take it out of the box, install the handle, adjust the three jib bolts (and yes,as noted by others, an included 3mm hex key would have been welcome), install the bit and it is ready.
   2. The stock hold down will adjust from flush on the table to the maximum stock height, so even narrow pieces can be clamped down.
   3. Both the hold down clamp and the rollers have two separate locking devices that let you choose to clamp firmly against the stock, for maximum precision, or with a bit of play, for easier movement of stock through the machine.
   4. The tool holder is quite useful, not just a flimsy little attachment like those on some others.
   5. The diamond hone is attached to the top of the frame so I don't lose it.
   6. The machine is surprisingly quiet. I get the occasional squeal from the bit when a chip gets caught, of course, but not much even of that.
   7. Perhaps most importantly, it easily cut square mortises for me in white oak with little effort - right out of the box!
   
   No Surprise, typical of Powermatic machines:
   1. All machined surfaces and all gears are clean and smooth in operation.
   2. The finish work on the machine is typical of all Powermatic tools produced these last 30 years or so - poor. There may have been a time when Powermatic made nicely finished machines, but it must have been before my time. The castings are left pretty rough except for the table and fence faces, which are excellent. The paint appears to have been done with a spray can outdoors on a windy day. The piece which holds the handle in place had a casting burr sharp enough to cut someone. It took but 15 seconds with a file to clean it, but even so....
   3. All fittings and hardware appear to be designed for long term use. Although there are plenty of plastic pieces, nothing seems to be fragile.
   
   Mortises in white oak, with little effort? Yes, but let me explain. I do not even try the bit without sharpening first. When I have a mirror polish on the flat faces, I give it a few turns on the diamond hone. After the first plunge, I take only about half the width of the bit at a time. And I bore down only a 1/4 to 1/2 inch at a time. This method requires relatively little force on the handle, keeps the bit cool, and makes it easy for the waste to clear the chisel.
   
   About that handle: It is stout and long enough for plenty of leverage. Powermatic lets you choose which side you want it on. I could be wrong, but I don't think anyone else does.
   
   The machine is very stiff. I can detect no play in the column during operation. Although common sense and the manual both suggest bolting it down for use, I find it plenty stable just sitting on top of my workbench. It is possible to reverse the column to work off the edge of the base, but in that case you would have no choice but to secure it to a fairly large, stout benchtop.
   
   I would certainly make the same choice again.



5. I purchased the tool in February, 2007 but didn't get around to setting it up until October. The tool arrived without any problem as has been my experience with Amazon, but letting the tool sit caused the oil to leak out of a hydraulic piston (Part number 701-178) that holds the motor upright. I contacted WMH technical support and the representative told me the part doesn't hold up the motor so this was normal. The manual suggests otherwise. I went to the web site to just buy the part so I could start using the machine and shipping for a cigar sized item is $19.95! Shipping is more than the part. Needless to say this is very disappointing. Customer Service for WMH tool group is quite bad. As for the machine, I enjoy the weight and consideration of its design. I'm no expert at mortising, but this looks like a good item when functioning properly. The Chinese characters on the part mentioned above do suggest that it is foreign manufactured and the quality of manufacturing is in question. There could be other gotcha's but it seems like a good machine.

5 comments about DELTA DP300L 12-Inch TwinLaser Crosshair Drill Press.

1. The drill arrived in a box that appeared to have been handled roughly during shipping. I was initially concerned. However, the foam packaging did its job and all drill componenents were in brand-new condition.
   
   Assembly was easy and proceeded exactly as the manual specified. All metal parts have a healthy dose of protective oil. You can wipe the excess oil with a clean rag (but never actually wash or "clean" the oiled surfaces).
   
   The laser alignment process works as advertised thanks to the included alignment pin that fits into the drill chuck. It is important (as another reviewer has mentioned) to align each laser parallel to the alignment pin. Once each laser is parallel, you can adjust where they intersect for perfect alignment below the drill bit regardless of the height of the adjustable table.
   
   For the money, this is an excellent drill press. I haven't used it extensively yet, but initial tests have been perfect.



2. ver solid piece of machinery. Changing speeds is very easy. I added a 5/8 chuck as I work for a metal export company so I cant comment on the factory chuck. But it is a jacob's taper so the upgradability is definetley there. I have yet to use the laser guide but the old fashion eye works fine as this is very accurate. great buy for the $$$.



3. I received the drill press in great condition. ELG was the shipper and they did a great job. Assembly of the drill press was easy, the directions were great. I purchased the mortise attachment at the same time and can't wait to use it. I recommend this machine to any one who is interested in getting the most out of their hard earned $$.



4. Mine arrived looking like it had fallen off the back of the truck at high speed. I even took exhaustive pictures out of concern that it had been damaged. NOPE. Everything was in perfect shape even tho the packing was falling out in some places.
   
   Don't expect "professional grade", but this press impressed me as solid workhorse and, if you read the instructions (GASP!) and follow them, all the "little issues" are clearly addressed, the most annoying is that the table binds a bit as you lower it. No problems with spindle eccentricity, vibration, or the chuck coming loose. And everything locks and stays where you put it, except for the lasers, and that's only during adjustment. That's a pain because the housing and mounts are plastic and the thing flexes during adjustment. Just when you think you've got everything perfect, you tighten up the retaining screw and it sometimes shifts a TAD. You'll get the hang of it, but it was a frustrating lesson for me and took about 2 hours to get 'em right. Then again, I'm a bit fussy about my tools ;) Oh, the gooseneck, well, is a bit limp at times.
   
   I'm delighted with it for the price.



5. This is my first drill press and I purchased it for woodworking. As cost is an issue, I swallowed my fears about Black and Decker owning Delta (and selling the same model for more $$$) and bought the DP300L.
   
   Overall, it is a decent machine. Mine came without one set screw for the head so I can't tighen it down real well. Assembly otherwise went okay - even considering Delta's poorly pictured manuals. Once assembled, the drill so far seems to operate smoothly. The one piece of wood I drilled (at top speed) worked well. The lasers seem to align well and work well(darn thing is made out of plastic tho, the metal screws seem over tight for plastic so, out of fear of breaking it, I ignored the instructions and and just twisted the bottom knobs till I go something I could live with. Oh well, plastic cases.
   
   I do have an issue with the way speeds are changed and the instructions for which is the correct speed to use. Delta does not advise correct speeds for anything and the drill came configured for top speed. Ok, but I can't seem to loosen the belt tension to move the belt on it's pulleys. Lacking a set screw to tighten down the head may be an issue, but the motor doesn't seem to want to move to release tension. So, my speed stays at top speed.
   
   I emailed Delta on all my issues and will update when/if I receive answers - I also asked about whether the mortising attachement will work on the DP300L. Outside of my issues, I would buy it again. I took off a star because the machine is competent, NOT outstanding. I continue to fear what B&D is going to do to a former great toolmaker. But, as a woodworker friend told me about my table saw, if you want to be a woodworker, get used to futzing around with the machines that go along with it!

5 comments about Delta 14-651 Professional 1/2 Horsepower Bench Mortising Machine.

1. Delta is one of my favorite brands and The 14-651 is certianly no exception to that. It was easy to put together from the box and pretty much squared it's self. It sank into the wood and completed the job in no time. Things to remember: I would have a good sharp hand chisle on hand to cleanup the mortises and make sure to run a Mortise and Tenon on some scrap before you comit on you project wood. This one tool that will certianly not disapoint whether you do it professionally or as a hobby.



2. Hello,
   
   After reading many reviews and researching mortising machines, I selected the Delta. I like the solid cast iron table. I can't comment on the chisels as I can't compare the Delta included chisels to others on the market. They worked fine.
   
   Tip- follow instructions and set the machine up carefully. When cutting mortises, cut the ends first. Don't make the mistake I did and tried to cut "over lapping" mortises thinking I could take little bites. This caused the chisel to wander. You need to take full bites leaving little bridges between cuts that you clean up last.



3. I received my bench mortising machine in excellent condition. The box had suffered a beating but all was ok. Within an hour I had the tool assembled and ready for use. I had never used one before but was quite pleased with its ease of use. I was able to make exact mortises in no time at all. I had a project underway that required alot of mortises in maple from 2" to 4" thick. I had made mortises by hand and with a router but wanted to try a mortiser, and with the low cost I made the order. Glad I did, setup is much faster than the router. I consider this to be a time saving tool and well made.



4. I would recommend the Delta 14-651 mortiser and would buy it again. I was able to complete the setup and adjustments fairly quickly and with a little practice could cut good mortises even in red and white oak with the starter chisels provided. The owners manual is not very instructive and glosses over some important adjustments. You will have to figure out your own methods to attach the hydraulic cylinder and to loosen the sliding of the head against the column. My mortiser arrived with the head adjusted so tightly that, even with no cutting involved, it took all my strength just to lower it on the column. You will need your own 6mm allen wrench and will have to experiment as the manual is vague on this point.
   
   My main problem was with delivery. I opted for Amazon's free delivery and the product arrived on a Friday as promised. But the box delivered by UPS was badly beat-up and marked with caution tape. It had a suspicious metallic rattle. On opening, I found that the box had been dropped from height at some point and that the 1/4 inch cast metal of the mortiser head on the left side was fatally cracked through, leaving a loose gib piece to bang around inside the box. I contacted Amazon for a damage-based return and was routed to a hard-to-understand, fast-talking overseas operator. During a very long phone call, I agreed to accept a replacement unit only if I could receive free 2-day shipping. The broken unit was picked up by UPS on Monday and the replacement unit delivered as promised by FedEx on Tuesday. The replacement unit was in an obviously newer box with a much less violent history. I would warn Amazon buyers to be wary of delivery problems.



5. Avoid this tool at all cost. I purchased one 2 months ago, uncrated and set it up yesterday and used it for the first time today. On the fourth mortise cut, the handle flopped freely and the head stopped in position. Unable to raise or lower the head with the handle, I removed the head from the stand. Upon examination of the gear mechanism I discovered that the pin that holds the gear to the handle had sheared off. I had not really stressed the machine at all so the failure was inexplicable. I've never been a fan of Delta tools and this experience proved my worst fears. Buyer beware.

5 comments about Delta 17-950L 16.5-Inch TwinLaser Crosshair Drill Press.

1. I shopped and shopped...I started to opt for the more expensive laser versions, but at this price this is a great deal.
   
   It arrived in great shape, and went together easily; although the head on this puppy is HEAVY. I built a mobile base for it....and so far it's a really smart buy.
   
   Throw in the free shipping, and it's a no brainer....



2. A solid upgrade from my Delta 011-090 Drill Press
   
   The table adjustment crank could be smoother, it tends to jump a little, but is a vast improvement over there not being a crank
   
   The table leveling could be better, I used a digital angle gauge to adjust to zero tighter then the Delta procedure called for.
   
   The manual is clearer then many recent Delta manuals (like the 31-255X)
   
   The laser centering is nice, but certainly not a requirement, it's a little gimmicky.



3. This is a good addition to my home workshop. I have successfully used this tool for precision drilling in wood and metal as well as milling both hardwoods (Walnut, Rosewood and Mahogany) as well as softer metals such as aircraft-grade aluminum and brass. Setup was easy with some assistance in lifting the head unit to the top of the post. The laser is not particularly useful to me as I always check measurements and levels at least in two dimensions prior to drilling or milling. The laser does provide a good rough approximation of location for the bit or cutting mill. The auxiliary light fixture failed (as all of them do on my Delta tools) within several hours of run time on the machine. This is the only common fault I have found with Delta products. A very minor concern though. Buy at Lowes when on sale. The price was considerably less than the On-line price.



4. I must corroborate what other reviewers have said here: the drill is very nice, but not perfect. It could be smoother, more powerful, and better integrated, but it gets the job done.
   
   The table is versatile and more than enough for most uses. The adjustment is as smooth as one would expect it to be, and the press itself is easy to use. The belts are a little noisy but not excessively so-- who wants a silent drill, after all?
   
   One area of disappointment for me is the lack of integration between all the different electrical components:
   
   The lasers run off a 9v battery attached to a conveniently placed switch. The switch is independent of the drill and so it's easy to leave the lasers on. Forget it one night and you've drained the battery completely. I'd invest in rechargeable 9volts-- but why isn't this run off of line current like the rest of the drill?
   
   The lamp has a separate plug. At first I thought this was a shortcoming of the drill, but it's a good thing if you use it correctly. I found this out by not: a workpiece busted loose while I was boring at speed, causing the drill to draw inconsistent current as the piece bounced around the bit freely before I could stop it.
   
   The lamp was plugged into the same outlet as the drill press, and the bulb blew before the circuit breaker did. Lesson learned: plug the lamp into a different circuit. :-)
   
   But overall the unit is very nice, very solid.



5. The assembly instructions were clear and easy to use. The drill press is excellent with plenty of power and table area. The laser is a gimick; and could use a focus adjustment to sharpen the lines. Be prepared to build a stabilizing base out of plywood if you don't anchor it to the floor. Definitely worth the money...:)

4 comments about Hitachi B13FI 10 inch Drill Press, Benchtop with Laser.

1. the table does not line up with the base, which does not affect the machine workings but does throw the user's eye off. i have yet to find the stops for drilling consistent hole depth. the laser is totally useless and flimsy. the belt adjustment is not easy. there is a grinding noise coming from the spindle. i would say this item is not worth the price asked, but i got mine on the initial offer which had 100 off, maing the price 50...and that is about what it is worth.
   
   i have since writing the above had more time with the machine and like it even less. the motor is not at all powerful; when drilling thru 1/4" steel the press easily gets overloaded and stalls out. this makes for tedious and long drilling times; having to go slow and all to keep the thing from stalling out under this modest load.



2. I recently purchased this same tool at Lowes for $139.00. I usually buy from Amazon due to their excellent pricing but I needed the press quickly. Its ok. It lacks power and bogged down and stalled when drilling 1/4" teak with a 4" hole saw. I used it for production drilling of rub rails for my boat and it worked fine for that. It pretty much meets my needs but could be a bit more robust.



3. I ordered the Drill press via Amazon because of the good price and the free shipping. However, the unit arrived damaged. The Drill including the box weighs over 61 pounds and shipped in the original manufactures package. When the box is not handled correctly, e.g. dropped on the floor, the belt guard cover (which is made out of very thin sheet metal) bends into the head assembly of the drill. During the impact, the heavy weight of the head assembly also deforms the base of the pulley cover. I then returned the first unit to Amazon and they shipped me a second unit as a replacement. Unfortunately the second unit also arrived with the exact same damage. UPS or whoever else was handling the two units did a lousy job by most likely dropping the box or not being careful enough for this type of packaging. I also returned the second unit. I can't say much of the product quality itself but if the way how the package is holding up in transit is any indication I don't expect much.



4. Received the first one broken after a call a new one arrived a few days later been working great.