A Closer Look at the Delta Drill Press Model 11 985

The Delta drill press model 11-985 is the little one in the family, a 10-inch bench press that Delta sold as an affordable entry machine. It is smaller and lighter than the 11-950 and 11-990, with a quarter-horsepower motor instead of a third, and that changes what it is for. A closer look at the 11-985, its real specs, where it fits, and what to check, tells you whether this compact press is a smart used buy or a machine you will quickly outgrow.

The Delta 11-985 is a 10-inch benchtop drill press with a 1/4 HP induction motor on 115V (a 1,720 RPM motor), belt-driven speeds off a stepped pulley, a small cast-iron table, a quill diameter around 1-1/2 inches, and a short quill stroke of roughly 2-1/4 inches, giving a maximum hole of about 3/8 inch in steel. It uses a keyed chuck. It is discontinued, so support comes from archived manuals, used parts, and standard consumables.

Straight take: the 11-985 is an honest, compact light-duty press. Its cast-iron build gives it more precision and longevity than a disposable modern budget machine, but its 1/4 HP motor and short stroke put it firmly in the small-holes-in-soft-materials category. Worth a closer look if your work is genuinely light, and worth passing on if it is not.

What the specs really mean

The two numbers that define this press are the 1/4 HP motor and the roughly 2-1/4-inch quill stroke. A quarter horsepower is modest, enough for small bits in wood, plastic, and thin metal, and honest sources put its capacity around 3/8 inch in steel. Push a large bit or a hole saw and it will bog. The short stroke caps hole depth, so deeper holes need staged plunges. The 10-inch swing reaches the center of a 10-inch board, more than an 8-inch press but on a notably small table.

What you get in exchange is a cast-iron table and head on a compact machine that runs on a smooth induction motor. For small, careful work, that combination is genuinely pleasant and accurate, which is why these presses have lasted.

Where it fits in the Delta family

Seen next to its siblings, the 11-985 is the smallest and lightest. The 8-inch 11-950 and 12-inch 11-990 both use a stronger 1/3 HP motor and offer a bit more capability, so the 11-985 is the entry point rather than the do-more option. If your work is truly minimal, small holes, hobby parts, light repair, the 11-985 covers it in the least space. If you expect to grow into wider stock, deeper holes, or light metal beyond thin stock, one of the 1/3 HP presses is the better long-term choice. The 11-985 rewards buyers who know their work stays small.

What to check on a used one

Before buying, run through the basics. Confirm the quill travels smoothly with little runout, that the induction motor starts promptly and runs quietly, and that the small cast table is flat and un-cracked with a column clamp that locks solid. Check the belt and pulleys, and make sure the chuck grips. Consumables are the easy part: measure the old belt and match it, replace a worn chuck with one sized to the small spindle, and keep a universal ratcheting chuck key on hand. A compact drill press vise makes the small table safer for the small parts this press favors. Because the 11-985 is discontinued, structural parts are scarce, so completeness matters most.

The honest flaws

The flaws are all consequences of size and power. The 1/4 HP motor is the weakest in the Delta bench range and bogs easily in demanding cuts. The short quill stroke limits hole depth. The small table is cramped for anything but small parts. And as a discontinued machine, model-specific parts are hard to find, so a missing casting or a broken return spring can be a real problem. None of this makes the 11-985 a bad press, it makes it a specialized light-duty one, and buying it for heavier work is the mistake to avoid.

Who should buy it, and who should skip it

Buy an 11-985 if your work is genuinely light, small holes in soft materials, and you value a compact cast-iron press in minimal space, and you find a complete, smooth-running example.

Skip it if you drill steel beyond thin stock, need larger or deeper holes, or expect to take on bigger projects; the 1/3 HP 11-950 or 11-990, or a modern variable-speed press, serves better. Do not buy an incomplete 11-985, since its small-run parts are the hardest to replace.

Conclusion: a small, honest light-duty press

The Delta model 11-985 is the compact entry point in Delta’s bench line, and it succeeds when your work stays small.

• 10-inch swing, 1/4 HP induction motor, belt-driven speeds, ~2-1/4-inch stroke, ~3/8-inch capacity in steel.
• Cast-iron build gives real precision for a small press; the 1/4 HP motor is the limit.
• Best for small holes in wood, plastic, and thin metal on a compact bench.
• Step up to the 1/3 HP 11-950 or 11-990 for wider, deeper, or heavier work.

FAQ

What size is the Delta 11-985? A 10-inch benchtop drill press, reaching the center of a 10-inch-wide board on a small cast table.

What motor does it have? A 1/4 HP induction motor on 115V, the smallest in Delta’s bench range, suited to light work.

What can it drill? Small holes in wood, plastic, and thin metal, with a capacity around 3/8 inch in steel. Larger bits will bog it.

How deep can it drill in one pull? A short stroke of roughly 2-1/4 inches, so deeper holes need staged plunges.

How does it compare to the 11-950 and 11-990? It is smaller and uses a weaker 1/4 HP motor, versus the 1/3 HP motors on those presses, making it the entry-level option.

Is it still made? No. It is discontinued, so parts come from archived manuals, used donors, and standard consumables.

Should I buy a used one? Yes if it is complete and runs smoothly and your work is light. Avoid incomplete machines, since parts are scarce.

References

• Delta 11-985 10-inch Bench Drill Press Manual (PDF): https://www.mikestools.com/download/Delta_Drill_Press_Owners_Manuals/Delta_11-985.pdf
• Delta 11-985 Drill Press overview, Journal of Light Construction: https://www.jlconline.com/tools/fastening-tools/power-tools/delta-drill-press_o
• Delta 11-985 Type 1 Drill Press Parts, M&M Tool Parts: https://www.mmtoolparts.com/tool-parts/delta-parts/delta-drill-press-parts/delta-11-985-type-1-drill-press-parts