The usual question: is this tool from HF any good?

A long time ago, in a galaxy far away, I had one of these, from my grandfather: 

Weirdly, it was painted baby blue, but it was the same thing. Wow, the stuff I did on it!

I didn't need one for about two decades, so I sold it. Now, I wish I had a drill press.

Not one like this, but something smaller and much more crapy.

Any input on this?: https://www.harborfreight.com/heavy-duty-16-speed-floor-drill-press-38144.html

Believe me, I understand it won't be anything near what I had, but is the HF one "Ok?"

I just downgraded from the exact same drill press to gain back shop space. Skip the Harbor Freight benchtop. It is a flaming pile of E36 M3 compared to that old craftsman. Find you an older benchtop on Craigslist for the same money and have a better piece of equipment

In reply to Dusterbd13-michael :

The smallest benchtop harbor frieght frequently stalls when I'm trying to use it to ream holes in aluminum. It is a flaming pile of garbage and I hope it dies as soon as possible.

Ok, the two reviews so far include the terms "flaming pile" to describe the drill press. My question has very likely been answered...

And, that's what I figured anyway... It's not something to cheap out on.

There's a decent one at Home Depot for a little more, or used to be. Ryobi green and black bench top, LED and laser site. I've used it for mixing things, drilling wood, aluminum, and steel. The table could be tighter, but the only time I stalled it was drilling a hole in black iron pipe and pushing a little to hard to fast. 

OK a lot more, it was only $120 when I bought mine. 

Yea, keep an eye on craigslist for an old one instead of dropping 150+ on a modern plastic thing. 

I've spent some time behind the HF benchtop and it was "fine." There's some runout(more than my 80s craftsman) but for the work I do it's fine.

I just dragged home a 1970s Rockwell  floor standing drill press for  $120.00

I would take that $300 and keep an eye on FB Marketplace or Craigslist.

Any rebuilt or still serviceable vintage machine will be less than or equally worn as that new one from HF.

I have a HF benchtop unit and it works just fine as long as you work within its limits.

Ive used it on steel, aluminum, wood and plastic without issue up to 1/2".  A drum sander, etc. also works well in it.

Leveraging the different speeds available is critical.

No, you're not gonna use it for lightweight milling or production work, but for the typical accuracy a home hobbyist needs, it's fine.

If you need something more than that, track down an old school unit or even a small vertical mill.

I have this one from Harbor Fright, https://www.harborfreight.com/16-speed-floor-drill-press-43389.html or at least it looks the same/similiar,

but I bought mine probably 10+ years ago.  It works, it drills holes, has plenty of power, doesn't kill itself when it stalls.

The one issue I've had with it is the bolt that keeps that head unit in place on the upright

stripped out, so I've always had to deal with that for years, but last year I noticed there is a second threaded hole, so just moved the bolt to that one, and now its all good again.  duh!   I was thinking of replacing because of that issue, now I don't need to.   

So I'd say buy it.  If you can find an old-school one, sure it would be better, and now at $400, these chinese ones are not cheap anymore.