QUOTE(bgray @ May 19 2008, 06:54 PM) [snapback]616165[/snapback]
If the only reason for buying the drill press is to drill pen blanks, then pass on it.
My two cents and experience is that drilling pen blanks should always be done on the lathe.
You are drilling into endgrain. Because of this, when the drill exits the blank, the grain of the wood is more likely to grab the flutes, and pull the quill of the drill press down, leading to blowout.
On a lathe, the tailstock will not budge, eliminating the blowout.
Drilling on the lathe is more time consuming, but you will save all your expensive materials.
A blank CAN pull a Jacobs chuck and bit out of a tail stock while drilling(DAMHIKT).
If a draw bar is used it defeats the purpose of using the advancing feature of the tail stock.
That being said I find drilling on the lathe far more accurate than an inexpensive DP.(I have a Ryobi bench top with a 3&1/4" travel.)
For drilling most pen blanks accuracy is not an issue until you getinto segmented or patterend blanks.
The reason I would not buy a bench top DP agaiin is the fact the name implies it can be stored when not in use.(Yeah, right)
It is top heavy,unwieldly and needs a space to store it in the same size as when it is in use.
This is not to say a DP doesn't have use in a shop.I would get a floor model because storage space as in a cabinet can be made to fit under the DP table.
If you have a small shop sstorage space is always at a premium.
AS far as alignment issues witha Jet Mini (10-14) I have never read that is a problem.
Even if it were lateral adjustment is relatively easy.
I have a Jet mini manual speed and 2 Rikons.
I would buy either of them again.
$200.00 for a used lathe is not that great of a deal.
The turning tools can be bought for a song at Harbor freight($40.00 for a set of Windsor Design which used to sell at Wood Craft)
You can pick up a "mini set for pens for around $20.00 which is just about all I use.
The Jet min new sells for around $200.00 on sale.Even if it were $250.00 with that you get a 2 year warranty.
These prices are based on a 5 speed manual.
Jet also has had a VS model with an indexing head sell for $300.00.
I would look very closely at this "Deal"