Official Luthiers Forum!

I've got an 18" Jet bandsaw. If it was stolen I'd get another one just like it, and maybe put out a hit on the guy who stole the first one.

Those little itty bitty drill presses, I don't know the size, but they are cheap (mine is a Ryobi, I think), and stand about 2' high off the benchtop. Are an ok place to start if that's all you can afford, at least your holes will be at 90 degrees to the surface you're drilling (if you set it up right), but the castings are weak. If I try to use mine as a fret press I have to support the table or it'd probably snap right off. If you have the funds get a bloody great huge one.

I was at an auction a few years ago, it was a large fabricating place that was closing down. They had about a dozen huge drill presses lined up for auction. These things were as tall as me and super heavy duty industrial models (minimum 3hp). They needed a clean up but were all in working order. They most they got was $75 for the biggest one. So it pays to hunt around and go to the auctions. And no I didn't get one because buyers had to take the item with them on the spot. I had arrived by motorcycle and couldn't organise other transport.