This drill press from Rockwell recently received a face-lift. The only noticeable change is the name on the front of this machine where the name Rockwell was proudly displayed. This has now changed to displaying only the Shop Series logo as this drill press has been included in the Shop Series range.
This range has been very successful for Rockwell and it made sense to include this popular drill press in that range. If you don’t have the space for a floor drill press, this model may be something to look at.
Contents
Review Of The Rockwell RK 7033
Shop Series Drill Press
Rockwell has been around for a long time and is a well known and trusted brand. This brand produces a wide range of quality products and the RK 7033 is their best competitor in the budget drill press market. This drill press is aimed at the home market which includes DIY use and home workshop applications, so this is not a tool you would expect to find in an industrial workshop.
Having said that, it doesn’t mean that this is not a quality drill press. It is very good for the purpose it was built to serve, a budget drill press that can handle the day to day tasks of the DIY enthusiast or hobby woodworker. Beginner woodworkers would require the use of a drill press at some point and the Rockwell is a good model to start with.
One very important point all aspiring woodworkers should always remember is, you get what you pay for. I know it is an old cliché, but it is so very true in the world of power tools. You will never find a cheap, budget model power tool that will stand up to heavy duty professional applications, it just doesn’t work like that.
The Rockwell is powered by a 6.2 amp motor, which is very reasonable for a drill press of this size. The motor provides adequate power for drilling into wood and mild steel and never feels like it is struggling. The overall construction and build quality are good for a drill press in this price range, although I would not call it top notch.
Functionality
All the functions on the Rockwell seem to work pretty well, speed changes are easy, table adjustment is no problem and the chuck works fine when inserting or removing drill bits. The one thing that I found disappointing is the stroke of this drill press.
It is definitely limiting when drilling into the thicker material, something to consider when buying this product. Apart from that everything is pretty much what you would expect from a drill press around the $200 mark.
Like most 12-inch drill presses, the Rockwell is fitted with a 1/2 inch steel chuck which works well. I haven’t noticed any bit retention problems and the runout is not too bad at all.
Features And Specifications
Let’s have a look at the specifications of the Rockwell and see how it stacks up against the competition.
- Weight: 48.3 lbs
- Motor: 6.2 amp electric motor
- Speed: 5-speed settings between 620 rpm and 3100 rpm
- Chuck: 1/2 inch steel chuck
- Swing: This drill press has a swing of 10 inches
- Spindle travel: The spindle travel of this model was measured at 2 inches. This can be an issue when working with larger pieces.
- Work Table: Cast iron table that can swivel 45 degrees to the left or right.
- Keyed safety switch to prevent accidental startup.
- Easy speed changes
- 2-year limited warranty included when purchasing this product from reputable dealers.
Consumer Reviews And Feedback
The Rockwell RK 7033 received a lot of good reviews from consumers. Most of these consumers bought this product for home or DIY use and are very happy with this machine.
This model has a rating of 3.8 stars on Amazon and 4.3 stars on another leading consumer forum. There is obviously the odd negative review, but once again it is a case of expecting more for your money.
The positives mentioned by consumers are that it is very easy to use this machine and that it does what it says on the box. It has enough power to get the job done and the motor operates quietly and smoothly without vibration. Drilling into aluminium, mild steel and oak present no problems for this drill.
So, let’s look at some of the negatives mentioned by consumers. Firstly the spindle travel seems to be a problem for some users. As I have mentioned before in this review, the 2-inch spindle travel can be a bit limiting when taking on bigger jobs.
Some consumers felt that the Rockwell lacked the power to be efficient at drilling into metal. I agree that the Shopseries struggle with the task of drilling into hard steel, but then it was never designed for that purpose.
Most of the reviews I have read agrees with my findings that this drill has a decent amount of power and definitely sufficient for the home workshop.
Conclusion And Our Verdict
In this article, we have presented you with all the facts, figures and specifications. The only thing left to do is give our verdict on the Rockwell Shop Series RK 7033, so here goes:
The RK 7033 from Rockwell is a budget 10-inch drill press made for home use. When used for this purpose, it is a very good product and presents good value for money. This model has enough power to satisfy the needs of the DIY-er and hobby woodworker. It is easy to operate and has above average functionality.
This model is not made for heavy duty use and will not meet the demands of the professional wood or metal shop. There are bigger, more expensive models like the JET JDP drill press is made for this type of use.
We recommend this drill press for someone looking for a budget drill press for home use. Visit our drill press reviews page to find all the best drill presses reviewed by our experts.
Our Rating
7/10
