Customer Reviews

Delta DP300 Shopmaster 12-Inch Drill Press

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This drill press is adequate as a bench top unit. Initially I was fairly happy with it, other than some vibration from the spindle. But the more I use it the more I am dissapointed with it. The minimum spindle speed is 620 which is too fast for my hole cutter ( recommended 400 RPM). Delta should change the pulley ratios to allow an alternative slower speed rather than so many at the higher end. I used my hole cutter anyways and ended up barely being able to cut a 3" diameter hole the drill kept stopping. It appears as if the motor just stops under load. I noticed a similar problem using a small diameter forstner bit. I hope that my motor needs to be replaced, and it isn't just that that's the best that 1/3 hp can do.

Just to note... the two-year old Delta 12" model 11-990 which the troublesome DP300 replaced is still available at a discount from some industrial tool suppliers. I purchased one about two months ago. It is the exact same drill press with all of the same specifications, including being made in China.
So far, it has been a very good tool and I have no complaints, especially considering the reduced price. I wrote a review on it last month.
It's possible that since technically it is an older model, it may have been made to higher standards, because as everyone in the woodworking industry now knows, Delta's continued cost cutting shift to its overseas production facilities has produced increasingly inferior products over the last few years. This is especially true for their low priced light home duty "ShopMaster" series and medium priced commercial product line.
Considering the fact that Delta owns these overseas facilities, if they exercised better material selection, manufacturing techniques and quality control, this wouldn't be such an issue. Unfortunately for everyone, overall product quality as well as Delta's reputation are now almost completely in the tank.

For such a popular brand, getting any Delta product serviced is a pain. I live in the DC area and it's a 2 hour round trip to drop it off and 2 hours to pick it up.

DON'T LOSE THE CHUCK KEY! It's a different diameter to any of the others you have lying around, and you have to call Delta to get a replacement. I had to grind down a different key as an interim replacement.

Besides all that, its a fine machine for the money. I've even used the mortising attachment a few times. But with a 12" drill press, you'll only get a 2 1/2" mortise. So, if you will be doing basic light drilling, this is your drill press.

As an old woodworker, disappointed that the depth stop mechanism does not work, even when following the written instructions. The spindle travel is very short out of the box, and ours just (without any adjustment) became shorter. The depth control ring and the guage are not intuitive, the guage reading what appears to be backwards. Not up to the old standads of Rockwell/Delta days. Do not buy this model.

Received my DP300 on Friday afternoon. Out of box the tool rest was broken. After assembly, the depth stop was not settable - the screw stop inside the mechanism was not attached. More importantly, the quill raised and lowered with great force required. It would not return under its own spring return tension. I suspect there is a woodruff key in the slot and it is broken. Of course customer service is closed for the weekend and I cannot get redress from Delta until Monday.

I have several other US made Delta tools with which I am satisfied. There was no damage to the shipping container, so I believe the DP300 left the factory in China in this condition. Delta needs to revisit their Quality control in offshore locations or risk ruining their previously fine name.

I do wish the table had gooves that were in an "X" pattern instead of parallel to each other. The 6" Delta vise does not fit the DP300 press. Don't expect to move the press to easily,it weighs just under 80 lbs. It was easy to assemble (just have someone available to help). The head weighs a lot and when you lift it to place on the column, its nice to have some help. The depth stop DOES NOT WORK like it says in the manual!! It is hard to figure out. I hope it lasts awhile. The tool tray does not fasten to the press as shown on the box. It goes at the top of the raising rack and is to high. The goose ncek lamp is great.

I am not very happy with this product. It was my last Delta tool purchase. I now buy Jet products.

The motor stopped working reliably after about 1 hour of use. The motor doesn't always have enough torque to start up, and I sometimes have to give the spindle a nudge with my hand to get things moving. Some days it runs without a hitch, other days I need to nudge it. I was not very happy with Delta's "solution" to the problem so I have been struggling with a shoddy product. Delta's support is also very poor.

Next, the little lamp is a nice feature. Unfortunately, the gooseneck is not strong enough to support the weight of the lamp. The result is that the lamp droops considerably and doesn't stay pointed where you want it.

The tool tray is a nice feature. My tool tray is mounted on the right size of the press, despite the picture showing it on the left side. I don't know if they changed the design or not. The location on the right side is a complete disaster. The tray constantly interferes with the plunge levers and generally just gets in the way. The mounting bracket also makes it so you can't raise the table very high..

The chuck doesn't seem to hold very tightly.

The motor stalls under rather low loads.

The price tag on this is the only nice feature about it.

This is a nice small drill press, runs nice and is quiet to run and works well, one thing that I found out is that the tool rest if you put it on as directed you cannot pivot the table off to the side. I cut the bracket down a litte shorter and put it above the top ring and this works well. The only other thing is the depth stop is not as positive stop as on a Craftsman bench top otherwise it is a good unit.

I bought the older version, 11-990, but see no differences. Delta has dropped in quality to be competitive $$$. I was reading the other reviews in the older model # and people do have valid complaints about the instructions, the assembly, and the plastic that Delta is using.

For myself I couldn't spend the extra money and am happy with this one. It does seem odd hammering the quill on and if it's not done right trouble will follow.

The belt housing is plastic. Also, the knobs for the handles were not the right thread, but Delta sent replacements.

Prepare to spend a couple of hours and a can of WD-40 getting the rust-inhibiting material off the metal. I guess they didn't want it rusting as it came across the ocean!

I purchased the drill press to use with my middle school students. Less than 2 weeks after it arrived, my students called me over cause it smelled funny. I noticed hot melted plastic dripping from the motor and immediately unplugged it and we had to leave the area because of the fumes. Now I get the wonderful task of tracking down the warranty, and then the communciation with delta/amazon, and then the return shipping or lawsuit, and then the... You get the picture! You may want to check other brands...if not, good luck!