Swing: 13-3⁄8″
HP/Amps: 1/2; 8
Speed Range (RPM): 280-3000
Table Size: 11-3⁄8″ Dia.
Spindle Travel: 3-1⁄8″; Chuck: 5/8″
2011 Price: $299.99; Weight: 105 lbs.
General International’s 14″ benchtop was a tall, smooth operator in testing. It showed excellent fit and finish in its castings and milling and has a silky feed action. The round table was slightly cupped in the center but locked solidly; so did the support arm to the machine’s rack-and-pinion column.
One feature of the General International 75-030 is an onboard clip for storing the chuck key, a feature the author thinks more tools should have.
General provides plentiful features: a 40-watt task light socket in the head, a clip to stow the chuck key (every press should have this!), 5/8″ chuck and twin lasers to help zero in on centerpoints. Due to Canadian safety regulations, there’s a plastic guard around the chuck that flips up for bit changes. You also need to lift a hinged kill button to turn on the power.
The spring-loaded chuck guard on the 75-030, provides added safety for users and is not difficult to work around.
While I like the pair of tool-free collars that set drilling depth, they allowed the press to creep about 1/16″ deeper over 100 holes during testing. The 75-030 seems a bit pricey at $299 as of 2011, but it was a sturdy and apt performer overall.
