Delta Drill Press 11 900 Cost: How Size, Condition, and Parts Support Matter

Anyone pricing a Delta 11-900 drill press quickly runs into the same reality: it is discontinued, so there is no sticker to check. Every 11-900 you find is a used machine, and its worth is set not by a catalog but by the specific press in front of you. That makes the real question less about a number and more about judgment, how much machine you need, what condition this example is in, and whether the parts it will need are still available. Get those three cost drivers right and you will know whether an 11-900 is a smart buy or a money pit.

The Delta 11-900 is an 8-inch benchtop drill press with a 1/3 HP induction motor on 115V, five spindle speeds (620, 1,100, 1,720, 2,340, and 3,100 RPM), a keyed chuck, and a small cast table. It is discontinued, so its cost is set entirely by the used market and by the condition and completeness of each machine.

Straight answer: the worth of an 11-900 depends far more on its mechanical health and completeness than on its age or name. A complete, smooth-running example with a sound motor, quill, and pulleys is worth pursuing; one that is incomplete or mechanically rough is a parts donor, no matter how appealing the asking figure. Judge the specific machine.

Size and capability: are you paying for the right machine?

The 11-900 is an 8-inch bench press, the compact, small-parts end of the range. Its value to you depends on whether that size matches your work. If you drill small parts on a bench, the 11-900 delivers exactly what you need, and it is worth pursuing. If you regularly work wider stock or need deeper holes, you would be buying a machine you will outgrow, and a 12-inch press like the 11-990 or a floor press represents better value. The first cost question, then, is honest: is an 8-inch, 1/3 HP press actually the right size for what you do? Paying for the wrong size is the most common way to overspend.

Condition: the biggest variable

Condition moves the worth of a used 11-900 more than anything else. Inspect these before you commit:

• Spindle and quill: Check for runout and rough travel. A smooth, tight quill is essential and costly to fix if worn.
• Motor: It should start promptly, run quietly, and hold speed. A hesitant or noisy motor is a serious mark against value.
• Pulleys and belt: Cracked pulleys are hard to replace; a glazed or cracked belt is cheap and expected.
• Table and column: Look for a flat, un-cracked table and a straight column with a clamp that locks solidly.
• Completeness: A missing chuck, guard, or table-raising hardware each lowers the machine’s worth.

An example that passes these is worth real money; one that fails several is worth only what its good parts are.

Parts support and ongoing cost

Because the 11-900 is discontinued, factor in what it will cost to keep running. The routine wear items are cheap and available: an aging belt is replaced with a matching K26-size drill press V-belt once you confirm the length, a worn chuck is swapped for a 5/8-inch keyed chuck with MT2 arbor after checking the spindle taper, and a missing key is a universal ratcheting chuck key. A drill press vise is an inexpensive accuracy upgrade. What is not cheap or easy is anything model-specific and structural, so base your offer on whether those parts are present and sound.

The honest flaws that affect value

Two honest points. First, discontinuation means no warranty and no guaranteed factory spares, so a used 11-900 carries the risk that a structural part could fail with no easy fix, which should temper what you pay. Second, the 8-inch, 1/3 HP, five-speed design is capable but dated next to a modern variable-speed press, so you are paying for cast-iron durability rather than convenience. Value it on that basis.

Who should buy one, and who should skip it

Pursue an 11-900 if you want a compact cast-iron bench press for small work, you have inspected a complete, smooth-running example, and durability matters more to you than features. That machine can be a long-serving keeper.

Skip it if the press is incomplete or rough, if you need more reach or power, or if you want warranty-backed convenience and easy parts; a current variable-speed benchtop press is the better value there. Do not let a low asking figure pull you into a machine that needs parts you cannot get.

Conclusion: the machine decides the price, not the label

The worth of a Delta 11-900 is set by the specific press, not by its name.

• 8-inch swing, 1/3 HP induction motor, five speeds, keyed chuck, discontinued.
• Value it only for the size you actually need; an 8-inch press suits small work.
• Condition of the spindle, motor, pulleys, and castings is the biggest value driver.
• Consumables are cheap and available; structural parts are not, so inspect before buying.

FAQ

Is the Delta 11-900 still sold new? No. It is discontinued, so its cost is set by the used market and the condition of each example.

What determines a used 11-900’s worth? Mechanical health and completeness above all, then whether an 8-inch bench press is the right size for your work.

What should I inspect before buying? Spindle and quill smoothness, motor start and noise, pulley and belt condition, a flat table, and completeness.

What parts are easy to get? The V-belt (a K26 size is common), a keyed chuck matched to the spindle taper, and a chuck key, all standard consumables.

What parts are hard to get? Model-specific structural parts like castings, the quill, and pulleys, which is why completeness drives value.

How does it compare to the 11-990? The 11-900 is an 8-inch press; the 11-990 offers 12-inch reach and a larger table if your work needs it.

Is it powerful enough for steel? Light metal only. The 1/3 HP motor is not built for heavy steel or large bits, regardless of condition.

References

• Delta 11-900 8-inch Bench Drill Press Manual (PDF): https://www.mikestools.com/download/Delta_Drill_Press_Owners_Manuals/Delta_11-900.pdf
• PartSelect, Delta 11-900 Type 1 drill press parts: https://www.partselect.com/Models/11-900/
• Delta Machinery, manuals and parts support: https://www.deltamachinery.com/support/manuals