It starts out simply enough, with a six-inch distance between chuck center and column, letting you drill the center of a 12-inch board. The quill travel is a decent 2-3/8 inches, plenty for any drilling or sanding job. There's a wide range of spindle speeds to use for whatever material you're drilling, be it wood, metal or plastic, from 620 rpm all the way up to 3,100 rpm, all accessed by slipping the belt onto the appropriate set of pulleys under the top cover.

The table is a reasonable 8-1/2 by 9-7/8 inches, and it tilts easy for angled drilling. But what we like most about the table is the accommodation for a C-clamp along the edge, something most drills in this class have overlooked. In addition to the table, there's an auxiliary table mounted to the column that holds an array of bits and other supplies, quite a nice feature on a drill this size. The table travels up and down the column via a very precise rack-and-pinion system like the floor-stand drills, and the locking mechanism is solid.

Lighting's always been a bit of a problem on drill presses we've used, but this one's got an integrated gooseneck lamp that moves and tilts and shines light exactly where you want it. But that's not the only light on this drill press: It's got two lasers that project a bright red crosshair on the work surface showing exactly where the bit will contact the material. It's powered by a 9-volt battery (not included, so pick one up beforehand) and has a rocker-style power switch on what Delta calls the pod. Calibration is a relatively simple process, and the results are outstanding. Rather than running the bit down to the workpiece for an approximation of the contact point, you just turn on the beams and pinpoint where the bit will cut. We think the lasers will be particularly useful when drilling into cylinders like PVC pipe or dowels and pilot holes in intricate scroll-saw patterns.

It's a nice, sturdy press that really doesn't need to be bolted down to your workbench but can be if you prefer. We're really pleased with the innovations on this press and glad to see Delta maintained quality while adding the bells and whistles. Bravo!--Kris Jensen-Van Heste