Thanks a lot for the video. I just bought this drill and like a lot of people I researched the heck out of it before buying. I was so glad you did this setup video as it helped a lot. I actually saw your review video first and that helped with my purchase decision.
Glad that you found the videos to be useful. If you are interested, you might want to check out the drill press table build on the channel. I've done a modification to the drill press that you might find useful in the future. Thanks for tuning in and for the kind words.
I finally got mine, ordered it several months ago. Went together incredibly easy and I'm happy to report the lasers were spot on from the factory. I've been impressed with all three of the Rikon tools I have purchased, the new 3061 10" bandsaw, the 70-150 vsr lathe and now the drill press. Keep it up Rikon.
Sorry about that Steve but I'm glad that you liked the rest of the video. I guess I can't think of everything but now that you mention it, I wish I would have included it in the video. Thanks for tuning in.
You are very welcome. I'm glad that you found the show to be useful. Thanks for tuning in and for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate the support.
You're very welcome. Good luck with the new drill press. I'm pretty sure that you are going to love it. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'd be more than happy to help if I can. Thank you for tuning in to the show.
Very nice drill press Kenny, like the features on it but like you said 'if you use them' but at least you have them. A nice pair up with your Rikon Bandsaw as well so that's 2 cracking tools you have there. Good job your wife was there helping you as when you were lifting it up, it started to topple towards her then her right hand came up and stopped it, well done Mrs Kenny ha ha ha and well done to you on the purchase of your new toy, so jealous now ha ha ha. Barry (ENG)
I've been using the features more and more Barry and I have really gotten attached to them. I agree that Mrs Kenny did a great job helping and there was no way that I would be able to do that by myself. I would strongly suggest getting someone to help when it comes to putting something like this together. I have gotten to really like the Rikon line and thus far, they haven't let me down. Time will tell though. Thanks for tuning in to the show as always. I truly appreciate the support.
Appreciate your video on the Rikon. I'm in need of a drill press for mostly metal work & this is one tool at a reasonable price point that'll run at lower (below 200 RPM) speeds needed for metal. All the best to you & yours & stay well. Again thanks !!!
Hi Kenny, I have had to drill out and re-tap all my drill arms. I got it second hand and the arms were always loose, eventually I got fed up with them dropping off and got some thicker bar and threaded them. I used thread lock on the new arms and I have had 15 years without any problems. My only wish is that I had done this upgrade earlier. My drill press is not as fancy as yours but it does seem to be quieter, I have to move belts around to change speeds but I don't use that very often.
The thread locker is a life saver with these sorts of thing. I honestly can't stand it when drill press handle come loose but the thread locker makes a huge difference. This drill press is a little louder than my other one and it will have an effect on my review when it gets posted. The noise level doesn't bother me too much though. After all, it's a drill press in a wood working shop so what's a little noise matter? Fancy, doesn't necessarily equate to good, but in this case, I have been enjoying the press and like the way it works. Thus far, it seems like a solid machine. Thanks for tuning in to the show John. It's very much appreciated.
I have been enjoying it so far Raymond. Although I wasn't sure about the laser feature, I have been enjoying and using that as well. Thanks for tuning in sir.
@@glenstickelmier1535 Glad to hear that you found the video useful. Thanks for tuning in and for taking the time to chime in with your kind words. It's very much appreciated.
Ken, that is a really nice drill press. You are missing the boat, you need to contact Rikon and get them to sponsor your channel. If nothing else you should send them the link to your setup videos, maybe they will link them on their website. Hey, views are views. Nice job explaining the setup and features of the drill press. It is an impressive tool.
Thanks Paul. I like the way you think. I may just have to send them a link in order to get it put out there. So far, I like this drill press and it's work well since I purchased it. Thanks for the kind words on the show and for tuning in this week. I truly appreciate it.
I got my self some 70 buck press. Not fancy, belt driven (I never change the speed), but like you said; It does it's job...holes. Congrats on the new tool man...always feels like Christmas when you get one. You might wanna think about putting something up to keep them dogs outta the glass :). Take care.
Kenny I rec'd my Rikon 30-212 VS today & will be unboxing it shortly. Feel like a little kid on Christmas morning LOL !!! Few dents in the packaging so I hope nothing's damaged. I think I'll use your video as the guide to assemble my unit. I do have a quick question to ask if I may. I plan to use this occasionally for light duty milling with a cross slide drill press vise... poor man's milling machine if you will. As you have great workshop advice is there any particular cross slide vise & mounting you'd recommend for this purpose that would fit this drill press. Thanks again for sharing your videos with us. All the best to you & yours & always stay well !!!
Glad to hear that you got your drill Stan and I hope you enjoy it. As for the cross slide vise recommendation, this is not a process that I really use in my shop so I really have no recommendations for the vise to perform the task. I'm sorry that I can't help more on this one. Thanks for tuning in and good luck with your assembly.
The hole in the drill press table is normally centred on the table. I've never heard of one that is off centre. How badly is it out of centre. I haven't heard of them changing their specifications on this unit so I would think that the hole should be in the middle of the drill press table. If you'd like, you can send me a picture of it at kennye@acutabovewoodworkings.com and I can give you a more educated answer but as it stands right now, it doesn't sound right to me. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in to the show.
@@acutabove_woodworkings l have finally had a chance to continue with the assembly and it turned out the off-centre hole is internal in the shaft of the table, but what actually matters is its external centering once you stick the table into its place. And then it is well centered. Thanks for trying to help!
I will add that suggestion to my filming schedule and get it on the show Ronnie. Unfortunately, with the show being pre-recorded, it wont air until mid August. If you need information about it immediately, you can contact me at the channel's Facebook page or send me an email. Check the channel's "about" tab for the address of both. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in and for the show suggestion. I appreciate it.
The protective grease that I removed is for shipping and storage purposes only. It prevents the cast iron from rusting, prior to being in the possession of the customer. It needs to be removed because it is thick, sticky and will ruin every piece of wood that it touches. The second protectant doesn't have those qualities. It's a thing coating that protects the surface from rust and it doesn't soak into wood. It also doesn't rub off on your clothes when you touch it. The protective coating that I apply is called Auto-Sol Metal Polish. It's a great product that cleans, shines and leaves behind a protective coating that lasts a really long time. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in.
Thank You for the assembly video. I plan to purchase this drill press but have a concern I am hoping you can shed light on. I plan to place the drill press on a very small cabinet, 20 x 20 inches and probably 30 inches in height. How top heavy is the drill press? Should I weight down the cabinet for stability? My gut tells me yes especially being I plan on making the table for it that you built as well. Any thoughts you may have would be appreciated. Thank again.
Drill presses are always top heavy for the most part and should be bolted down to a solid surface. If this were me mounting the drill press on the small cabinet, I would mount it, test for stability and if I had any doubts what-so-ever, I would wet the bottom or bolt the cabinet to the floor. If your gut is telling you to add weight, always follow your gut. Thanks for tuning in Michael.
@@acutabove_woodworkings Thanks for your reply. I believe I will be building a cabinet and securing it to the wall for stability. On Rikons web site it states that from Chuck to Base is 19.5 inches. My assumption is that they are referring to the distance from the bottom of the chuck to the base. Can you confirm the distance from the bottom of the chuck to the cabinet top. I'm trying to determine the proper height to build the cabinet. Thanks again for your time. Metric measurement is fine... :)
@@michaelrotondi2232 I measured it today when I was out there in the shop and it is approximately 22" from the bottom of the chuck to the bottom of the base. I also measured my cabinet height and it is 31" from the floor which makes it a great height for me to work from. I hope this helps Mike.
G’day mate, very cool review on a Rikon product, I viewed there range at last years Woodworking show in Melbourne & they look to have an impressive range of machines, I to like the autosol & was interested in the newspaper article on Tesla you had at the start of the video lol, I’m sure you’ll get plenty of use from it 🍻👍👍👍👍👍
Just pause the show and you can zoom in and read the article if you want. LOL. Maybe I will turn the page and put it on next week's show so that you don't miss out. LOL. thanks for the kind words on the show and for tuning in. I appreciate it.
Hey Kenny - I picked up one of these presses at LV this weekend. Works great, well packaged and easy to assemble. Wonder if you find this unit vibrates too much and whether you have done anything about it .. Brian
I don't find any vibration in the unit at all Brian. If you are having vibration, there may be an issue with either your setup, or the tool itself. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in.
kenny .. thanks for the reply. I called Rikon and reported the problem. They are sending me new parts; centre pulley, belts, chuck and spindle. They were very helpful and professional. Hopefully this will fix the issue.
@@brianyee7840 I have heard great things about the Rikon customer service. Even new babies get sick sometimes. Hopefully your new parts will correct your problem. Please let me know how you make out with the repair.
Always enjoy your videos, Kenny! Thanks for posting this. I've been using my old Delta benchtop drill press for more than 15 years. It performs well but could use an upgrade sometime in the future. Based on your vid on the Rikon I will definitely consider the Rikon. It would be a welcomed addition to my shop. Also, based on your recommendation of the Autosol product in one of your previous videos I purchased this and used it on one of the beds on my jointer. It worked great. I look forward to using it on all of the cast iron beds on the remainder of my equipment. Thanks for that recommendation.
Glad to hear that like the Autosol. I love the stuff and although it's a little messy to use, it does a great job and really protects the tools. Look for a review of the Rikon Drill press in the coming months on the show. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for tuning in.
What is the metal handle on the right side, just above the set screws for the head to post connection? I bought one today that’s identical but it’s a store brand for Menards, the only difference I see is that handle and the location of the of the chuck key holder, oh and the table connection.
That metal handle that you are referring to is the belt tensioning handle Colin. It allows you to apply tension to the belts with one hand while you tighten it with the other. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in.
kennyearrings1 oh ok, that makes sense. The manual for mine states that the tension is preset and if you touch it it will cut your finger off... or void the warranty, maybe both :)
I just received and assembled this drill press. I have issues with it. First, that lever that adjusts the speed is very stiff and difficult to move. Their tech support said it should loosen up with use. We will see. But now I've discovered a much more serious problem. This drill came from the factory with the belts set for the slower or the two speed ranges. It is supposed to be a snap, to move the belt. Loosen two little locking knobs, make sure a nut is turned all the way over to rest against the motor housing and move another lever forward which moves the motor forward, giving slack in the rear belt. Well, this doesn't provide anywhere near enough slack to move the belt. I couldn't even walk the belt off the pulley. It's Saturday. I've sent pictures to the manufacturer's tech support and to Lee Valley Tools where I bought it. I have a very bad feeling this is going to have to be exchanged which isn't funny given the weight of this machine and the fact that the box it came in is sitting outside where it snowed all night! This should be a good machine but I'm not a happy camper yet!! By the way, out of the box I had to adjust the laser. One of the lines was off-center.
Well, I will start off my response with reminding you that new babies get sick too Craig and while I fully understand your frustration and you not being a happy camper, your issues don't seem that serious to me. (easy for me to say, I know). The stiffness of the variable speed lever is normal and I wouldn't be too concerned about it. If you had a look under the hood of this drill press you would have seen what a beast of a belt that speed changer is. The spring on the split pulley that changes the speed is still new and stiff and will loosen up over usage. I am assuming that you are changing the speed with the drill press running of course. Trying to change it while the drill press is turned off will not work. As for the laser, seeing the way that courier companies (UPS is the worst for this) abuse our packages, having the laser be off is easily fixable and I would consider that as part of calibrating the tool. At least it is only a couple of Allen key adjustments to align the laser to your liking. I'm a little confused though on the belt being so tight that you can't change the pulley speed. You should be able to loosen the two thumbscrews at the back of the post, which will loosen the motor assembly. This should give you enough slack to ride the belt from the larger pulley to the smaller pulley on wheel and then do the same process on the other wheel. (I'm pretty sure that you have plenty of experience in this matter but I am also adding information for those who might not know and read this comment later) The belt is never loose enough to just drop it out and change it to a smaller pulley so it has to be "walked" (as you stated) from the larger pulley to the smaller one. When you loosen the thumbscrews, does your motor move at all on its rods? If so, how much does it move? I am going out to the shop again tomorrow and will check mine to see how much the pulleys move and report back to you. I'm sure there has to be a logical explanation for this and if things are defective, I know that Rikon stands behind their product from what I have heard from others. I hope this helps a little Craig and I hope that you have your drill press set up the way you like it and running smoothly in no time. Thanks for tuning in to the show.
@@acutabove_woodworkings Thanks for that detailed reply Ken. I agree with the issue about the speed changer being stiff and will likely loosen up with use. I also agree with your statement regarding UPS. That is the company Lee Valley uses and I really wish they wouldn't. Now, the rear belt issue. I can't tell you how much I hope you are right. I would be happy if it was shown that I was a complete bone head and this is all going to be fixed easily. I can't see it though. You ask the key question and I have the answer. How much movement do I get from the motor when I pull the lever forward? 1/8". That is as far as it moves before that nut resting snug against the motor is up against the drill case. I really don't want to have to drive 6 hours to exchange this machine which is what will happen because I don't want to hand it off to UPS. I want this situation to be resolved one way or another.
@@craigmouldey2339 You said that you only get the pulley to move about 1/8" before the "nut" hits the drill casing. That "nut" is the motor levelling bolt and in order to get more travel on the motor, you will need to tighten that bolt in until it bottoms out against the plate that it is mounted into. Once you get that bolt threaded in, you should get about 1/4"-1/2" travel along the rods which will give you more than enough room to walk the belt from the large pulley at the back of the drill press, to the smaller pulley underneath. Once you get that belt moved and have walked the belt to the larger pulley in the middle of the drill press, you can re-tension and re-tighten the motor. From there, you will need to loosen the motor levelling bolt in order to get the motor back level with the casing. If you are interested in what page of the manual you can find this information, you can find it on page 14 of the drill press's manual. I hope this helps sir. Let me know how you make out with it.
@@acutabove_woodworkings The leveling nut is all the way over to that metal plate. There is no 1/2" to be seen here. I should hear from their tech department tomorrow. I do have 4 pictures I sent them
I have checked the runout on this drill press John and it as close to perfect as you can get. I can't remember the exact measurement on the dial indicator but it wasn't even worth mentioning. I've been quite happy with this machine so far and it has served me well. No problems whatsoever John. Thanks for tuning in and taking the time to ask your question. It's very much appreciated.
Hi Kenny, are you still happy with this drill press? I'm considering it as a potential upgrade now as my 20 year old delta is about done. Still debating on bench top vs full size, but bench top is probably adequate, more mobile, and cheaper.
So far Chris, I have been quite happy with the Rikon drill press. Two features have been extremely helpful and those would be the laser guides and the variable speed. If you are interested, you can check out my review of the drill press here. ua-cam.com/video/a_napF0Lfgk/v-deo.html In the months that I have used it, I would recommend it as a great addition to any shop. I hope this helps but if not, feel free to ask any questions that you may have. I'd be more than happy to help out if I can. Thanks for tuning in
Fantastic, Kenny. Thanks for that. Rikon and/or Lee Valley should licence your video! I know what you mean about the price. 600 CAD seems like an awful lot of cash for a drill press. But I still haven't seen any other VS that goes down to 150 RPM. I'm sure you've looked at the King Canada 13". But having to futz with step pulleys is a pain. First world problem, right?
I couldn't agree with you more about the step pulleys Jim. I fussed around with those things for year and I eventually, just picked an RPM that was about 1/2 of the the maximum speed of the press was and left it there. I've been enjoying the ability to shift a lever and adjust the speed. Although the price was a little much, I don't regret the purchase thus far. I did consider the King 13" but there were several more features on the Rikon that I liked. thanks or tuning in to the show sir. I appreciate it.
Hey there Alain. My runout on this machine is less than .003". It was much higher at .006+" but I was able to correct that. I would suggest removing your chuck, polishing the shaft and cleaning the inside of your chuck jaws and then reinstalling your chuck onto its morse taper. You should be able to reduce your runout considerably by doing that. (for the record, .008" isn't that bad....I've seen and used a lot worse.). Thanks for tuning in. I hope this helps.
kennyearrings1 ikust did a conversion and 0.008” is sbout 0.2mm. A 0.5” hole has do much play that it is unusable. I got it at lee valley so i can always return it, but i hope i can just return the top asse,bly simce i domt feel like repacking everything and reassemblimg everything twice!
@@AlainPilon Removing the chuck and reinstalling it should improve this immensely. I've got mine down to less than .003". If you do the conversion on that, it is about .07mm. These drill presses take a beating during shipping. Removing your chuck, polishing the morse taper and then reinstalling will help. Give it a try. If it doesn't work, then return it or get a new chuck from Rikon.
Nice drill press and the led speed display is a great feature. When I bought mine (Clarke CDP102B) I sent it back for a replacement as it sounded like a bag of spanners. I did not know they pretty much all sounded like that as the new one is the same, at least all I've heard sound similar due to belt and pulleys. Say hi to your dog ;O)
This drill press is much louder than my older one and I am in the process of trouble shooting as to why. I don't think it is something that is a fault of the machine, but rather I think it is the vibration of some of the parts and I am hoping that they can be adjusted, or padded to dampen sound. If not, I'm not concerned as the drill press functions as it should. Thanks for tuning in to the show. It's very much appreciated.
@@acutabove_woodworkings Hi Kenny, I don't know if you have seen this guy's review of the same machine. He had (and fixed) a manufacturing problem with his that was causing all kinds of noise and vibration. ua-cam.com/video/0kZrf-d1cf8/v-deo.html A bit of bummer on Rikon's supposed QC though.
Rikon has been around for quite some time but have only really gained popularity recently. Their tools carry a 5 year warranty and from everything that I have researched about their customer service, it is top notch. I have heard only good things about them to be honest. I hope this answers your questions. Thanks for tuning in to the show and for taking the time to ask your question.
I purchased one from Amazon. When I received it it look like they just drag it behind the delivery truck by the chain. It was a total wreck. If it were a boxer it would’ve been beat the hell up. It was also a pain in the ass to return it. Multiple stops and poor customer service all the way. I did end up buying one directly from a retailer but I had to travel 40 miles to pick it up. It’s a nice machine but it’s too bad it came damaged from my first retailer.
Replacing or returning anything with Amazon is a complete joke. They are absolutely horrible when it comes to returns and refunds. I'm glad that you got it sorted out, even if you did have to drive the extra distance. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your experience.
Thanks a lot for the video. I just bought this drill and like a lot of people I researched the heck out of it before buying. I was so glad you did this setup video as it helped a lot. I actually saw your review video first and that helped with my purchase decision.
Glad that you found the videos to be useful. If you are interested, you might want to check out the drill press table build on the channel. I've done a modification to the drill press that you might find useful in the future. Thanks for tuning in and for the kind words.
I finally got mine, ordered it several months ago. Went together incredibly easy and I'm happy to report the lasers were spot on from the factory. I've been impressed with all three of the Rikon tools I have purchased, the new 3061 10" bandsaw, the 70-150 vsr lathe and now the drill press. Keep it up Rikon.
Glad that you are enjoying the drill press Bill. Thanks for tuning in to the show and for chiming in with your Rikon experience.
Thank you for this video. It made my assembly so easy. The manual was not so easy so this helped a lot.
I'm glad that you found the video to be helpful Dechu. Thank you for tuning in and taking the time to leave the kind words.
Nice job. I really liked your video. Thank you for putting it together.
Glad that you liked it. Thanks for tuning in to the show.
Thanks, excellent video. Would have like to see how the two ranges of VS worked.
Sorry about that Steve but I'm glad that you liked the rest of the video. I guess I can't think of everything but now that you mention it, I wish I would have included it in the video. Thanks for tuning in.
Just picked one up, was just wondering how to best set it up. What a wonderful guide with extra tips instead of a boring manual. Thank you sir.
You are very welcome. I'm glad that you found the show to be useful. Thanks for tuning in and for taking the time to leave a comment. I appreciate the support.
Lots of simple logical and valuable tips using stuff I already have around the shop. Keep up the good work please :)
@@MintStiles As long as I'm having fun producing the show, the show will continue. Thanks for being part of the audience.
Thank you Kenny,I have just bought A Rikon drill press myself
You're very welcome. Good luck with the new drill press. I'm pretty sure that you are going to love it. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'd be more than happy to help if I can. Thank you for tuning in to the show.
Very nice drill press Kenny, like the features on it but like you said 'if you use them' but at least you have them. A nice pair up with your Rikon Bandsaw as well so that's 2 cracking tools you have there.
Good job your wife was there helping you as when you were lifting it up, it started to topple towards her then her right hand came up and stopped it, well done Mrs Kenny ha ha ha and well done to you on the purchase of your new toy, so jealous now ha ha ha.
Barry (ENG)
I've been using the features more and more Barry and I have really gotten attached to them. I agree that Mrs Kenny did a great job helping and there was no way that I would be able to do that by myself. I would strongly suggest getting someone to help when it comes to putting something like this together. I have gotten to really like the Rikon line and thus far, they haven't let me down. Time will tell though. Thanks for tuning in to the show as always. I truly appreciate the support.
Appreciate your video on the Rikon. I'm in need of a drill press for mostly metal work & this is one tool at a reasonable price point that'll run at lower (below 200 RPM) speeds needed for metal. All the best to you & yours & stay well. Again thanks !!!
You're very welcome Stan. I'm glad that you found this video to be useful. Thanks for tuning in to the show.
Hi Kenny, I have had to drill out and re-tap all my drill arms. I got it second hand and the arms were always loose, eventually I got fed up with them dropping off and got some thicker bar and threaded them. I used thread lock on the new arms and I have had 15 years without any problems. My only wish is that I had done this upgrade earlier. My drill press is not as fancy as yours but it does seem to be quieter, I have to move belts around to change speeds but I don't use that very often.
The thread locker is a life saver with these sorts of thing. I honestly can't stand it when drill press handle come loose but the thread locker makes a huge difference. This drill press is a little louder than my other one and it will have an effect on my review when it gets posted. The noise level doesn't bother me too much though. After all, it's a drill press in a wood working shop so what's a little noise matter? Fancy, doesn't necessarily equate to good, but in this case, I have been enjoying the press and like the way it works. Thus far, it seems like a solid machine. Thanks for tuning in to the show John. It's very much appreciated.
Great looking drill press loads of theachard on it , a nice addition to the workshop Kenny.
I have been enjoying it so far Raymond. Although I wasn't sure about the laser feature, I have been enjoying and using that as well. Thanks for tuning in sir.
Awesome Video, keep up the great work. Really helped with the assembly of my new drill press. Better than reading the Manual. LOL.
Note-this video helped me make the decision to purchase this drill press as well. Thanks again.
@@glenstickelmier1535 Glad to hear that you found the video useful. Thanks for tuning in and for taking the time to chime in with your kind words. It's very much appreciated.
Ken, that is a really nice drill press. You are missing the boat, you need to contact Rikon and get them to sponsor your channel. If nothing else you should send them the link to your setup videos, maybe they will link them on their website. Hey, views are views. Nice job explaining the setup and features of the drill press. It is an impressive tool.
Thanks Paul. I like the way you think. I may just have to send them a link in order to get it put out there. So far, I like this drill press and it's work well since I purchased it. Thanks for the kind words on the show and for tuning in this week. I truly appreciate it.
@ kennyearrings, I really like your methodical manner of speaking and extremely clear explanations. You're a good teacher. Thanks for the video.
Thanks for the kind words. I truly appreciate you tuning in. If you have any questions along the way, please don't hesitate to ask.
I got my self some 70 buck press. Not fancy, belt driven (I never change the speed), but like you said; It does it's job...holes. Congrats on the new tool man...always feels like Christmas when you get one. You might wanna think about putting something up to keep them dogs outta the glass :). Take care.
Darned dog has a mind of his own. LOL. Sometimes, all you need is a $70 drill press Dale. thanks for tuning in to the show again sir.
Thank you Kenny, I have just bought a rikon drill press
Well I hope you found the video helpful Henryk. Thank you for tuning in to the show and good luck with your new drill press.
@@acutabove_woodworkings thanks Kenny
@@henryk405 You're very welcome.
Kenny I rec'd my Rikon 30-212 VS today & will be unboxing it shortly. Feel like a little kid on Christmas morning LOL !!! Few dents in the packaging so I hope nothing's damaged. I think I'll use your video as the guide to assemble my unit. I do have a quick question to ask if I may. I plan to use this occasionally for light duty milling with a cross slide drill press vise... poor man's milling machine if you will. As you have great workshop advice is there any particular cross slide vise & mounting you'd recommend for this purpose that would fit this drill press. Thanks again for sharing your videos with us. All the best to you & yours & always stay well !!!
Glad to hear that you got your drill Stan and I hope you enjoy it. As for the cross slide vise recommendation, this is not a process that I really use in my shop so I really have no recommendations for the vise to perform the task. I'm sorry that I can't help more on this one. Thanks for tuning in and good luck with your assembly.
Thanks for the video!
I just bought the machine. The table on mine has an off-center hole in it. Is this normal?
The hole in the drill press table is normally centred on the table. I've never heard of one that is off centre. How badly is it out of centre. I haven't heard of them changing their specifications on this unit so I would think that the hole should be in the middle of the drill press table. If you'd like, you can send me a picture of it at kennye@acutabovewoodworkings.com and I can give you a more educated answer but as it stands right now, it doesn't sound right to me. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in to the show.
@@acutabove_woodworkings l have finally had a chance to continue with the assembly and it turned out the off-centre hole is internal in the shaft of the table, but what actually matters is its external centering once you stick the table into its place. And then it is well centered. Thanks for trying to help!
@@ataleph1 I'm glad that everything was okay.
Good day sir
Can you do a demo on changing the speed belts under the hood in order to be able to switch to the higher speed setting?
I will add that suggestion to my filming schedule and get it on the show Ronnie. Unfortunately, with the show being pre-recorded, it wont air until mid August. If you need information about it immediately, you can contact me at the channel's Facebook page or send me an email. Check the channel's "about" tab for the address of both. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in and for the show suggestion. I appreciate it.
Why remove the protective grease and then apply another protectant? What product was it that you used?
The protective grease that I removed is for shipping and storage purposes only. It prevents the cast iron from rusting, prior to being in the possession of the customer. It needs to be removed because it is thick, sticky and will ruin every piece of wood that it touches. The second protectant doesn't have those qualities. It's a thing coating that protects the surface from rust and it doesn't soak into wood. It also doesn't rub off on your clothes when you touch it. The protective coating that I apply is called Auto-Sol Metal Polish. It's a great product that cleans, shines and leaves behind a protective coating that lasts a really long time. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in.
Thank you for the explanation. That helps. I’m picking up this drill press today.
Thank You for the assembly video. I plan to purchase this drill press but have a concern I am hoping you can shed light on. I plan to place the drill press on a very small cabinet, 20 x 20 inches and probably 30 inches in height. How top heavy is the drill press? Should I weight down the cabinet for stability? My gut tells me yes especially being I plan on making the table for it that you built as well. Any thoughts you may have would be appreciated. Thank again.
Drill presses are always top heavy for the most part and should be bolted down to a solid surface. If this were me mounting the drill press on the small cabinet, I would mount it, test for stability and if I had any doubts what-so-ever, I would wet the bottom or bolt the cabinet to the floor. If your gut is telling you to add weight, always follow your gut. Thanks for tuning in Michael.
@@acutabove_woodworkings Thanks for your reply. I believe I will be building a cabinet and securing it to the wall for stability. On Rikons web site it states that from Chuck to Base is 19.5 inches. My assumption is that they are referring to the distance from the bottom of the chuck to the base. Can you confirm the distance from the bottom of the chuck to the cabinet top. I'm trying to determine the proper height to build the cabinet. Thanks again for your time. Metric measurement is fine... :)
@@michaelrotondi2232 I measured it today when I was out there in the shop and it is approximately 22" from the bottom of the chuck to the bottom of the base. I also measured my cabinet height and it is 31" from the floor which makes it a great height for me to work from. I hope this helps Mike.
Good video Ken. Thanks.
You're very welcome. Thanks for the kind words and for tuning in to the show.
G’day mate, very cool review on a Rikon product, I viewed there range at last years Woodworking show in Melbourne & they look to have an impressive range of machines, I to like the autosol & was interested in the newspaper article on Tesla you had at the start of the video lol, I’m sure you’ll get plenty of use from it 🍻👍👍👍👍👍
Just pause the show and you can zoom in and read the article if you want. LOL. Maybe I will turn the page and put it on next week's show so that you don't miss out. LOL. thanks for the kind words on the show and for tuning in. I appreciate it.
Hey Kenny - I picked up one of these presses at LV this weekend. Works great, well packaged and easy to assemble. Wonder if you find this unit vibrates too much and whether you have done anything about it .. Brian
I don't find any vibration in the unit at all Brian. If you are having vibration, there may be an issue with either your setup, or the tool itself. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in.
kenny .. thanks for the reply. I called Rikon and reported the problem. They are sending me new parts; centre pulley, belts, chuck and spindle. They were very helpful and professional. Hopefully this will fix the issue.
@@brianyee7840 I have heard great things about the Rikon customer service. Even new babies get sick sometimes. Hopefully your new parts will correct your problem. Please let me know how you make out with the repair.
Always enjoy your videos, Kenny! Thanks for posting this. I've been using my old Delta benchtop drill press for more than 15 years. It performs well but could use an upgrade sometime in the future. Based on your vid on the Rikon I will definitely consider the Rikon. It would be a welcomed addition to my shop. Also, based on your recommendation of the Autosol product in one of your previous videos I purchased this and used it on one of the beds on my jointer. It worked great. I look forward to using it on all of the cast iron beds on the remainder of my equipment. Thanks for that recommendation.
Glad to hear that like the Autosol. I love the stuff and although it's a little messy to use, it does a great job and really protects the tools. Look for a review of the Rikon Drill press in the coming months on the show. Thanks for the kind words and thanks for tuning in.
What is the metal handle on the right side, just above the set screws for the head to post connection? I bought one today that’s identical but it’s a store brand for Menards, the only difference I see is that handle and the location of the of the chuck key holder, oh and the table connection.
That metal handle that you are referring to is the belt tensioning handle Colin. It allows you to apply tension to the belts with one hand while you tighten it with the other. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in.
kennyearrings1 oh ok, that makes sense. The manual for mine states that the tension is preset and if you touch it it will cut your finger off... or void the warranty, maybe both :)
@@eizzle78 Neither one would be a good thing. LOL
I just received and assembled this drill press. I have issues with it. First, that lever that adjusts the speed is very stiff and difficult to move. Their tech support said it should loosen up with use. We will see. But now I've discovered a much more serious problem. This drill came from the factory with the belts set for the slower or the two speed ranges. It is supposed to be a snap, to move the belt. Loosen two little locking knobs, make sure a nut is turned all the way over to rest against the motor housing and move another lever forward which moves the motor forward, giving slack in the rear belt. Well, this doesn't provide anywhere near enough slack to move the belt. I couldn't even walk the belt off the pulley. It's Saturday. I've sent pictures to the manufacturer's tech support and to Lee Valley Tools where I bought it. I have a very bad feeling this is going to have to be exchanged which isn't funny given the weight of this machine and the fact that the box it came in is sitting outside where it snowed all night! This should be a good machine but I'm not a happy camper yet!! By the way, out of the box I had to adjust the laser. One of the lines was off-center.
Well, I will start off my response with reminding you that new babies get sick too Craig and while I fully understand your frustration and you not being a happy camper, your issues don't seem that serious to me. (easy for me to say, I know). The stiffness of the variable speed lever is normal and I wouldn't be too concerned about it. If you had a look under the hood of this drill press you would have seen what a beast of a belt that speed changer is. The spring on the split pulley that changes the speed is still new and stiff and will loosen up over usage. I am assuming that you are changing the speed with the drill press running of course. Trying to change it while the drill press is turned off will not work. As for the laser, seeing the way that courier companies (UPS is the worst for this) abuse our packages, having the laser be off is easily fixable and I would consider that as part of calibrating the tool. At least it is only a couple of Allen key adjustments to align the laser to your liking. I'm a little confused though on the belt being so tight that you can't change the pulley speed. You should be able to loosen the two thumbscrews at the back of the post, which will loosen the motor assembly. This should give you enough slack to ride the belt from the larger pulley to the smaller pulley on wheel and then do the same process on the other wheel. (I'm pretty sure that you have plenty of experience in this matter but I am also adding information for those who might not know and read this comment later) The belt is never loose enough to just drop it out and change it to a smaller pulley so it has to be "walked" (as you stated) from the larger pulley to the smaller one. When you loosen the thumbscrews, does your motor move at all on its rods? If so, how much does it move? I am going out to the shop again tomorrow and will check mine to see how much the pulleys move and report back to you. I'm sure there has to be a logical explanation for this and if things are defective, I know that Rikon stands behind their product from what I have heard from others. I hope this helps a little Craig and I hope that you have your drill press set up the way you like it and running smoothly in no time. Thanks for tuning in to the show.
@@acutabove_woodworkings Thanks for that detailed reply Ken. I agree with the issue about the speed changer being stiff and will likely loosen up with use. I also agree with your statement regarding UPS. That is the company Lee Valley uses and I really wish they wouldn't. Now, the rear belt issue. I can't tell you how much I hope you are right. I would be happy if it was shown that I was a complete bone head and this is all going to be fixed easily. I can't see it though. You ask the key question and I have the answer. How much movement do I get from the motor when I pull the lever forward? 1/8". That is as far as it moves before that nut resting snug against the motor is up against the drill case. I really don't want to have to drive 6 hours to exchange this machine which is what will happen because I don't want to hand it off to UPS. I want this situation to be resolved one way or another.
I should also have said that they got those belts on somehow at the factory. I would really like to know how?
@@craigmouldey2339 You said that you only get the pulley to move about 1/8" before the "nut" hits the drill casing. That "nut" is the motor levelling bolt and in order to get more travel on the motor, you will need to tighten that bolt in until it bottoms out against the plate that it is mounted into. Once you get that bolt threaded in, you should get about 1/4"-1/2" travel along the rods which will give you more than enough room to walk the belt from the large pulley at the back of the drill press, to the smaller pulley underneath. Once you get that belt moved and have walked the belt to the larger pulley in the middle of the drill press, you can re-tension and re-tighten the motor. From there, you will need to loosen the motor levelling bolt in order to get the motor back level with the casing. If you are interested in what page of the manual you can find this information, you can find it on page 14 of the drill press's manual. I hope this helps sir. Let me know how you make out with it.
@@acutabove_woodworkings The leveling nut is all the way over to that metal plate. There is no 1/2" to be seen here. I should hear from their tech department tomorrow. I do have 4 pictures I sent them
Kenny, have you tested the run out? Does it drill accurate clean holes? Is a 1/2" hole 1/2" or is it 1/2" plus a little bit?
I have checked the runout on this drill press John and it as close to perfect as you can get. I can't remember the exact measurement on the dial indicator but it wasn't even worth mentioning. I've been quite happy with this machine so far and it has served me well. No problems whatsoever John. Thanks for tuning in and taking the time to ask your question. It's very much appreciated.
Enjoy your new tools 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
Thanks Tomas. So far, I have been enjoying this one. I works like a charm. Thanks for tuning in.
Hi Kenny, are you still happy with this drill press? I'm considering it as a potential upgrade now as my 20 year old delta is about done. Still debating on bench top vs full size, but bench top is probably adequate, more mobile, and cheaper.
So far Chris, I have been quite happy with the Rikon drill press. Two features have been extremely helpful and those would be the laser guides and the variable speed. If you are interested, you can check out my review of the drill press here. ua-cam.com/video/a_napF0Lfgk/v-deo.html
In the months that I have used it, I would recommend it as a great addition to any shop. I hope this helps but if not, feel free to ask any questions that you may have. I'd be more than happy to help out if I can. Thanks for tuning in
I see your wearing a Lee Valley apron, is that were u bought the Rikon drill press?
As a matter of fact Brian, that is where I purchased the drill press. My children bought me the apron though. LOL. Thanks for tuning in to the show.
Fantastic, Kenny. Thanks for that. Rikon and/or Lee Valley should licence your video!
I know what you mean about the price. 600 CAD seems like an awful lot of cash for a drill press. But I still haven't seen any other VS that goes down to 150 RPM. I'm sure you've looked at the King Canada 13". But having to futz with step pulleys is a pain. First world problem, right?
I couldn't agree with you more about the step pulleys Jim. I fussed around with those things for year and I eventually, just picked an RPM that was about 1/2 of the the maximum speed of the press was and left it there. I've been enjoying the ability to shift a lever and adjust the speed. Although the price was a little much, I don't regret the purchase thus far. I did consider the King 13" but there were several more features on the Rikon that I liked. thanks or tuning in to the show sir. I appreciate it.
Hi. Out of curiosity, what is your runout? Mine is about 0.008" and I was wondering it is within specs or not
Hey there Alain. My runout on this machine is less than .003". It was much higher at .006+" but I was able to correct that. I would suggest removing your chuck, polishing the shaft and cleaning the inside of your chuck jaws and then reinstalling your chuck onto its morse taper. You should be able to reduce your runout considerably by doing that. (for the record, .008" isn't that bad....I've seen and used a lot worse.). Thanks for tuning in. I hope this helps.
kennyearrings1 ikust did a conversion and 0.008” is sbout 0.2mm. A 0.5” hole has do much play that it is unusable. I got it at lee valley so i can always return it, but i hope i can just return the top asse,bly simce i domt feel like repacking everything and reassemblimg everything twice!
@@AlainPilon Removing the chuck and reinstalling it should improve this immensely. I've got mine down to less than .003". If you do the conversion on that, it is about .07mm. These drill presses take a beating during shipping. Removing your chuck, polishing the morse taper and then reinstalling will help. Give it a try. If it doesn't work, then return it or get a new chuck from Rikon.
Nice drill press and the led speed display is a great feature. When I bought mine (Clarke CDP102B) I sent it back for a replacement as it sounded like a bag of spanners. I did not know they pretty much all sounded like that as the new one is the same, at least all I've heard sound similar due to belt and pulleys. Say hi to your dog ;O)
This drill press is much louder than my older one and I am in the process of trouble shooting as to why. I don't think it is something that is a fault of the machine, but rather I think it is the vibration of some of the parts and I am hoping that they can be adjusted, or padded to dampen sound. If not, I'm not concerned as the drill press functions as it should. Thanks for tuning in to the show. It's very much appreciated.
@@acutabove_woodworkings Hi Kenny, I don't know if you have seen this guy's review of the same machine. He had (and fixed) a manufacturing problem with his that was causing all kinds of noise and vibration. ua-cam.com/video/0kZrf-d1cf8/v-deo.html
A bit of bummer on Rikon's supposed QC though.
I somehow missed this comment Jim. Thanks for the info. I will check it out.
how many years under the warranty kenny and how is rikon service??? ı dont know ricon .. it is not a famous company...
Rikon has been around for quite some time but have only really gained popularity recently. Their tools carry a 5 year warranty and from everything that I have researched about their customer service, it is top notch. I have heard only good things about them to be honest. I hope this answers your questions. Thanks for tuning in to the show and for taking the time to ask your question.
thank you so much for your answer ..kenny..
You're very welcome @@dilaramichel4163
I purchased one from Amazon. When I received it it look like they just drag it behind the delivery truck by the chain. It was a total wreck. If it were a boxer it would’ve been beat the hell up. It was also a pain in the ass to return it. Multiple stops and poor customer service all the way. I did end up buying one directly from a retailer but I had to travel 40 miles to pick it up. It’s a nice machine but it’s too bad it came damaged from my first retailer.
Replacing or returning anything with Amazon is a complete joke. They are absolutely horrible when it comes to returns and refunds. I'm glad that you got it sorted out, even if you did have to drive the extra distance. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your experience.