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Bico Drill Press

Discussion in 'The Tool Shed' started by jackdog, Feb 23, 2020.

  1. jackdog

    jackdog Member

    jackdog, Feb 23, 2020
    #1
  2. timgr

    timgr We stand on the shoulders of giants. 2022 Sponsor

    Suspect this is a far-east import that has a made up name. Half-new is a good rule of thumb, if there is nothing wrong with it. Compare to Harbor Freight - I don't think it's much of a bargain, particularly if the spindle wobbles. And a bench top model sells for less than a floor-stander.

    If it wobbles, kinda suspect that the spindle bearings are worn out. Even if it "just" needs a new chuck, an import 5/8" chuck is ca $25-50 on Amazon.

    Bought a tiny Wen drill press for ca $80 from Amazon a couple months ago. This is for electronics stuff, but I am impressed with how straight and true it runs. Maybe save up and buy a larger Wen from Amazon? WEN 4210T 10 In. Drill Press with Laser - - Amazon.com
     
    timgr, Feb 23, 2020
    #2
  3. Howard Eisenhauer

    Howard Eisenhauer Administrator Staff Member

    Looks a lot like mine, don't expect to do super precision work but if you just need to make generally round shaped holes in things more or less straight through whatever it will work a lot better & faster than a hand drill. The manufacturers of these thing would name them anything you wanted, my RF30 mill has a data plate on it with the name of a purely local machine tool supplier. Lots of different names- Harbor Freight, Enco, Grizzly, Busy Bee, BICO- all come from the same factories. FWIW the Taiwanese machines are generally considered to be fair to good quality. For $60 I'd go for it.
     
    Howard Eisenhauer, Feb 23, 2020
    #3
  4. jackdog

    jackdog Member

    Talked to the seller and it seems the taper on the shaft is odd, he can't seem to find a correct chuck. Guess I'll pass and buy new.
     
    jackdog, Feb 24, 2020
    #4
  5. melvinm

    melvinm Member

    Looks just like My dura craft , I've had it for 38 years works fine but the spindle does wobble.
    Have put new bearings in it and it still wobbles.
     
    melvinm, Feb 24, 2020
    #5