Genesis GDP1005A 10 in 5 Speed 4.1 Amp Benchtop Drill Press, Integrated LED Work Light, and 360° Table with 0-45° Tilt

I struggled to decide which drill press, of the many offered, to purchase. I chose this press based on features relative to cost and the reviews of the press. I was not disappointed. I've drilled aluminum blocks for precision shooting and 1/4" steel for ammunition reloading equipment. The press has performed well; I've drilled every hole I've needed to quickly, easily, and accurately. Set up was simple with the included instructions. Aligning the lasers required a few iterations. Overall, the value received far exceeds the price of this press. I recommend this drill press!

I searched throughly for a sub $200 wood working and light metal work drill press. I have a background in Mechanical Engineering and Quality Assurance which may sound great but I scrutinize every design aspect of whatever I purchase. That said I chose this over the Wen and other comparably priced units. I barely glanced at the HF due to less than stellar reviews. This Skil DP had the largest adjustable table, was ground flat to less than 0.0005”, or at least no visible gaps with an engineers square, it has laser sights, a relatively smooth quill and generous 10” capacity. I wanted more than 8” capacity to allow for a drill press vise in the future. The sheaves are plastic but machined well, the column is plated and substantial. The column mounting collar appears to be powder coated steel and the base is cast iron. It came with a serviceable, tapered chuck. I was careful to thoroughly clean the spindle and interior of the chuck before I installed the chuck as minute amounts of protective grease can increase the radial runout. No, I did not measure the runout. But eccentricity should be under 0.005” more than acceptable for wood work. The front to back alignment was out by 0.050” but I addressed that by shimming out the pivot boss at the 6 o”clock position with a 0.025” shim pack (your alignment and shim requirements may be different). The front to back alignment is now less than 0.001” off at 90 degrees. More than acceptable for wood work. The side to side zero center was off by 1.5 degrees but I marked the error on the graduated band. The side pivot calibration is rarely dead 90 degrees and you must check it with an engineers square, adjust it and calibrate it at least once before you drill. I've only test run the DP, no real work as yet. But drilling through medium MDF with a 3/8” drill bit yielded a clean straight bore. The DP did not bog down. The only plastic parts are the knobs, switches and knob for the top cover. This is a sturdy, well engineered, easy to assemble DP. The DP runs quietly and with authority. Yes, it's made in China but I can tell there was Quality oversight and process controls during manufacture. Everything from the generous plating on the handles to the smooth quill operation lead me to believe that you can pay more for a 10” DP but you'll likely not find a more robust and well engineered DP at the sub $200.00 class. Moreover, is has a 2.14 HP motor and a 2 year warranty. I dare you to find a sub $200.00 DP with a 2 year warranty. I could not. My advice, decide what your needs are. If you need a drill press for woodwork and some light to medium metal work this unit will serve you well. I do recommend that you check and adjust alignment. It is after all, a sub $200.00 DP. If you want a perfectly aligned DP then expect to pay considerably more. There are several YouTube videos that can guide you through the alignment process. It's really not that difficult. I was able to align this DP in less than 20 minutes. I've read some reviews commenting about the drill end sheave slipping or the drill bit stopping. My advise would be to tighten the belts for minimum 1/2” deflection at the center to ameliorate belt slippage as that is the likely cause for those conditions. If this DP ticks all the boxes as it did for me then, purchase with confidence. No, I don't work for Skil, nor did I receive any incentive or discount and I was not compensated for this review. I'm just overwhelming satisfied with the build quality, finish and engineering of this DP at this price range. Pull the pin. Cheers! AR