Which Palmgren Drill Press Belongs in Your Shop?

Palmgren is a name metalworkers know well, largely through its vises and work-holding, and the same company builds drill presses aimed at the serious shop. If you have run across a Palmgren drill press and wondered where it fits, the answer starts with recognizing what the brand is about: solid, work-holding-focused machines for people who take drilling seriously. If you are deciding which Palmgren drill press belongs in your shop, here is how to sort the range and match one to your work.

What Palmgren drill presses are

Palmgren (part of C.H. Hanson) makes stationary drill presses along with the vises and work-holding the brand is famous for. Its drill presses use the standard layout, a motor driving a belt for multiple speeds, a spindle with a keyed chuck, a quill with travel and a return spring, and a cast table that tilts, but they carry the brand’s emphasis on solid build and secure work-holding. The range spans benchtop machines for smaller shops and larger presses for more capacity. What sets Palmgren apart is the work-holding pedigree: the company understands clamping and vises, which matters because holding the work securely is half of drilling well.

How to choose within the range

Match the machine to your work and space:

• Benchtop models. Compact presses for smaller shops that still want Palmgren’s solid build and work-holding focus.
• Larger presses. Machines with more swing, spindle travel, and power for heavier and wider work.
• Work-holding pairing. Consider matching a Palmgren press with a Palmgren drill press vise, since the brand’s vises are a genuine strength and secure work-holding improves accuracy and safety.

Across the range, judge the specific machine by swing (spindle centerline to column, doubled), speed range, spindle travel, motor rating, and build, since those decide capability. And think about the vise from the start, because it is central to how well the machine performs.

Where Palmgren fits

Let me be honest about the fit. A Palmgren drill press is a good choice for a shop that values solid build and takes work-holding seriously, especially a metalworking or mixed shop where secure clamping matters. The brand’s strength in vises and work-holding makes it a natural pick when you want the whole setup, press and vise, to work together. It is more of a serious-shop brand than a bargain home-DIY name, so match it to work that justifies that focus. For casual light-duty drilling, a simpler home-shop press may be all you need; for a shop that drills and clamps a lot, Palmgren makes real sense.

Parts, service, and common issues

Because it is a Palmgren machine, support runs through Palmgren and C.H. Hanson’s parts and manual service, and the everyday wear items are standard. Common service points mirror any press: a worn chuck, a stretched belt, a lost key, and a tired quill return spring, plus the safety guard, which some owners replace or upgrade. Keep the model number handy, use Palmgren’s documentation for model-specific parts like the guard or spring, and match generic consumables by measurement.

Tooling and accessories

A Palmgren press pairs naturally with good work-holding. Add a Palmgren drill press vise or a heavy drill press machine vise to use the brand’s work-holding strength, fit a quality keyed drill chuck with the matching arbor if the original wears, and keep a fresh drill press V-belt on hand. A spare drill press chuck key saves a stalled job. Confirm the taper before ordering an arbor.

The verdict

The Palmgren drill press that belongs in your shop depends on your work and space: a benchtop model for a smaller shop that still wants solid build, or a larger press for more swing, travel, and power. What makes Palmgren distinctive is its work-holding pedigree, so pair the press with a Palmgren vise to get the whole setup working together, which is central to accurate, safe drilling. Judge the specific machine by swing, speed range, spindle travel, motor, and build, and keep the model number for parts like the guard and return spring. It is a serious-shop brand, so match it to work that values solid build and secure clamping. For casual light-duty drilling, a simpler home press may suffice instead.

Takeaways:

• Palmgren (part of C.H. Hanson) makes solid drill presses alongside the vises and work-holding it is known for.
• The range spans benchtop machines and larger presses; its work-holding pedigree is the distinctive strength.
• Judge each by swing, speed range, spindle travel, motor, and build, and pair it with a good vise.
• It is a serious-shop brand; match it to work that values solid build and secure clamping.

FAQ

Who makes Palmgren drill presses? Palmgren, part of C.H. Hanson, which is well known for vises and work-holding as well as stationary drill presses.

Are Palmgren drill presses good? For a shop that values solid build and secure work-holding, yes. The brand’s strength in vises makes it a natural pick for metalworking and mixed shops.

Which Palmgren drill press should I choose? A benchtop model for a smaller shop, or a larger press for more swing, travel, and power. Judge by swing, speed range, spindle travel, motor, and build.

Why pair a Palmgren press with a Palmgren vise? The brand’s work-holding is a genuine strength, and secure clamping improves accuracy and safety. Matching the press and vise gets the whole setup working together.

Where do I get Palmgren drill press parts? Through Palmgren and C.H. Hanson’s parts and manual service. Wear items (chuck, belt, key, spring) are standard; match the guard and spring by model number.

What are common Palmgren service points? A worn chuck, a stretched belt, a lost key, a tired quill return spring, and the safety guard, which some owners replace or upgrade.

What chuck and taper does it use? A keyed chuck on a standard taper (often MT2 on larger machines). Confirm the taper by removing the chuck before ordering an arbor.

References

• Palmgren (C.H. Hanson), drill press and work-holding product line: https://www.palmgren.com/
• Palmgren, drill press manuals, parts, and support: https://www.palmgren.com/support
• C.H. Hanson, Palmgren vise and drill press documentation: https://www.chhanson.com/