Grizzly G7943 Drill Press

Every shop needs a drill press. Not too long ago our trusty floor model Craftsman drill press started showing its age. After 40+ years of service, it was time for it to retire which meant we needed a new model to take its place. After some consideration, it was decided that another floor model wasn’t really necessary for the type of work we do in our woodshop. That made the decision to go with Grizzly’s G7943 pretty easy. Assembly is a breeze with basic hand tools but have someone else around to help you lift the head onto the spine. It has some weight to it and you don’t want to drop this on your foot. 

One of the most useful features for us is the quick-adjust table. It makes fine-tuning your set up a lot easier when you can just crank the table up and down instead of having to hold it in place while you clamp it like old models. Overall the performs quite well. It’s not noisy and the little light is brighter than you’d think it would be. I found changing the speed easy and quick with the help of the speed chart located under the hood. 

If you are thinking about a drill press for your home this one may be a little overkill. In terms of functionality is excellent and will last you for years but there are other models out there that would serve the average home shop worker and come in a little cheaper. All in the unit reached just shy of $500.00 shipped. However, if the price doesn’t bother you then I highly recommend this option. For a cheaper solution, you may want to consider the Shop Fox H0625. It’s a smaller unit but still very versatile. It has an adjustable table and also functions as an oscillating spindle sander. We also have one of these units and it has been a solid performer. While smaller than the G7943 it still handles anything we’ve thrown at it. The Shop Fox H0625 can be had for around $170.00