There’s always one tool that turns assembling things and joining parts together from an amateur pastime into a serious activity. For me it was the beginning of creating a proper home shop: the drill press. The difference between drilling by hand and using a drill press are like night and day.
Instead of random holes wherever I thought they might be useful, there is precise and repeatable holes that don’t wander around surface or underneath furniture like an out-of-control minefield. It’s not just nice, but necessary. If you’re off on your first hole then you’ll find yourself off on everything else.
How’s a dowel hole going to line up if the hole for it is wonky? What about a screw? Are you really expecting perfect alignment when your screw pilot hole isn’t perfect?
Rikon Drill Press Review And Overview
Why Precision Matters in Woodworking
The selection are about more than just the price. For decades Rikon has established a specific market niche among woodworking tools. They are not the cheapest option on the shelf, nor are they the most expensive industrial giants.
Rikon Drill Press Market Position
It is right in the middle. It have solid cast iron and solid mechanicals for a reasonable price that doesn’t ignore what a serious hobbyist can spend. It is known for keeping a straight edge on things through years of use and not moving under heavy load while drilling.
That is achieved by simple engineering without a lot of flash, just good stuff. But do you get what you pay for? Is that middle tier purchase really worth having a drill press that stays put for working fine furniture?
Heavy Cast Iron Construction Benefits
Rikon starts with heavy cast iron for their column, head and base. This provide heft that is immediately apparent when stepping up to a Rikon. Inexpensive machines cut corners where they can to keep prices low.
You’ll see sheet metal bases and hollow pillars in cheaper models. These seem lightweight but when you’re pressing down hard as you do, light is not good because it’s an enemy of precision. The heaviness of Rikon dampen the vibration from the motor.
This works along with friction created between the bit and the hardwood being drilled into. You’ll also notice that machine doesn’t shudder, which keeps your bit on target. Because whole structure is rigid, it allows you to drill right through a hard wood such as oak or maple without worrying about tool “walking” off-target.
Keyed Chucks and Depth Control
It may sound like a small thing but it makes all the difference when trying to get a clean hole. That’s where the serious drilling occur, specifically in the quill travel and chuck quality. Rikon outfits their presses with solid keyed chucks that hold onto drill bits tightly.
For heavy duty work, keyed chucks are preferred because they resist loosening from torque better than quick change chucks. Also the quill move smoothly on hardened ways for consistent depth control. You can confidently set the depth stop and know it will stay put as you return your handle.
This gives you confidence if you’re doing repetitive things like a bunch of shelf pin hole to keep everything uniform. That’s what makes cabinets look professional. These machines also transmit power well.
Belt Drive Speed Adjustment System
Instead of using an electronic variable speed drive, most Rikon models uses a simple belt and pulley system. There are no electronics to fail, and belt drives generally lasts longer and are easier to keep running. To adjust speeds, you loosen a knob and slide the belt over.
Takes about as long as it sounds (a few seconds), but it keeps reliability up and price down. You have many speeds available that work with anything from large Forstner bits down to small pilot holes. And torque stays consistent throughout, which makes for clean hole finishing and no scorched wood.
Mounting Options and Table Features
You also have some flexibility in how you incorporate the press into your work area through its mounting options. You get a tilting table on base for angled drilling. The whole head assembly raises and lowers to work at different workpiece heights.
To gain even more stability and free up some floor space many woodworkers bench-mount their Rikon. It’s not hard to do with the solid base, which is flat and holds securely so you can bolt it down. When mounted like this, the press become part of your workbench instead of another stand-alone appliance.
This helps keep the flow going smoothly from sander to saw to whatever else you use. So how do you summarize the value proposition of a Rikon drill press? It lasts a long time.
Long-Term Value and Durability
You’re buying something that won’t get worn out and something that won’t warp. It’s not flashy, but it’s going to be accurate twenty years down the road. If you’re looking for a sensible option that keeps your bank account happy without driving you nuts with poorly-made tools, Rikon drill presses has got you covered.
What you spend today on stability will prevent you from having to re-do joints tomorrow. That’s what cutting corners realy costs you.