Subject: drill press

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Date: Fri, 2 Aug 1996 00:00:29 -0400

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Subject: drill press

Does anyone know much about a Craftsman drill press?  I'm looking at (besides
the swage block that everyone has so generously spoken to me about tonight)
  a small one--8 inch--three speed.  It slows down to 620.  Has a 1/3 horse
motor.  Is this enough guts for me to drill metal?  I'm worried about being
able to drill stock steel--1/2  round .  Work?  Or not?

Thanks 

Cynthia

PS  Thanks all for the info on forges and swages....will be building a forge
and am still thinking about the swage.

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From: Bob Bigelow <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 02 Aug 1996 11:00:13 -0700

Cynthia, 
   I have a Harbor Freight drill press, and have noticed two weaknesses.
First, the press doesn't have a lot a power (more on this later) and it
won't do a straight shank bit much above 3/8".  The power problem may 
also be a safety factory, since drilling thin material, a large bit will
snag if fed too strongly.  A powerful press will jerk the material out
of your hand...damage or injury...this little press just stalls, giving
you the opportunity to shut it off, free the bit and start again, but
you need to have a good hold on the material anyway, just in case.  Might
also buy a small drill press vise for little parts.
  I always have a can of Rapid Tap close, it's a great lubricant/bit 
cooler, and the new formulation doesn't make you dizzy!
  As for larger bits, buy "reduced Shank" bits of the size you need. I
normally and easily drill 1/2" holes with such a bit, if slowly due to 
the power problem mentioned above.  In all, the HF press does ok for my
small scale shop, and as mentioned, costs half as much as the Craftsman,
(I'd bet they are made by the same outfit, different paint, different 
label.) :-)
  Bob

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From: "Steven O. Smith" <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 2 Aug 96 10:46:51 MDT

> able to drill stock steel--1/2  round .  Work?  Or not?

Personally I would find an 8" drill press almost useless. 620 rpm is
too fast for any of the larger bits (3/8" and up?) in steel, which is
most of what I do. So it depends on what you will be using it for. 

Do buy some kind of a drill press vise. The little (3"x3"x6"?) ones
are about $15 I think. I finally got one and was amazed at how useful
the cheap ones are. Clean it, grease it, and keep the bolt holding the
moveable jaw snug.

--
Steven O. Smith
[email-masked]

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From: [email-masked] (Frost, Jerry)
Date: Fri, 02 Aug 1996 16:49:25 -0800

>   Bob

Bob, Cynthia and all:

An underpowered drill press is NOT a safety factor, proper operation is. 
I don't want to climb on your case here but hand holding work in a drill 
press is a bad practice. Drill presses are more dangerous than they look 
and hurt lots of people every year. No MIGHT about it, buy a vise and an 
assortment of clamps. 

First and foremost, it takes very little power to slice flesh, lop off 
fingers and poke out eyes and a piece of spinning sheet metal is just a 
crude saw blade looking for YOU.

Second, it's hard to get a good quality hole unless the work is held 
solidly, the bit will jam less frequently too.

Third, clamps free up a hand to use the oil can and shut it off with in 
an emergency.

One last note, if you have long hair, KEEP IT TIED UP. One of the worst 
things I've ever seen was a hand sized chunk of bloody scalp being 
triumphantly swung around by a drill press. The guy's hair got tangled 
in the bit and before he could let out a peep it had slammed his head 
off the drill press and scalped him. Fractured his skull, broke some 
fingers and as an added bonus he got about 130 stitches.

No loose clothing either!

Sorry about the rant but I don't have so many friends I can afford to 
lose any if I can help it.

Have fun, play safe,
	Frosty
-- 
If it ain't forged
It ain't real
wrought iron is
The FROSTWORKS

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From: "Albin F. Drzewianowski" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 3 Aug 1996 23:07:42 -0400 (EDT)

I have a small bench top drill press, It of Taiwan manufacture and 
distributed by ATM, a PA tool supplier. For the most part it has served 
my blacksmith hobby needs very well.  However,  every time I use it, I have 
one regret: that I did not get a model with a rack and pinion height control 
for the table.  The one I have simply has a collar which is tightened 
with a screw and holds the table in place by compression.

Every time I change  the height of the table, I have to fuss to make sure 
that the central hole of the table is properly lined up with the 
drillbit.  Also, if you do not tighten the compression fixture tight 
enough, sometimes the table slips. 

 I bet I loose 30 seconds or more every other time I use my drill press. Now
on the surface that may not seem like much time, but day, in day out, week 
in, week out, it adds up to time that I could use forging or doing other 
more productive "stuff". 

Some kind of a drill press vise is an absolute must, otherwise you are 
asking for bruised knuckles (if you are lucky).  I spent the extra $$ and 
got vise which has 2 cranks which allow your to adjust the vise according 
to the x and y axis (the exact name of this device escapes me at the 
moment, but you see bigger versions on machine tools, milling machines 
etc.). Comes in very handy for EXACTLY lining up your work.

 Also, with the right bits this type of vise allows you to do some VERY 
LIGHT duty milling.  Just remember, the shaft to which the drill chuck is 
attached was not made to deal with any significant lateral pressure. 

Albin Drzewianowski
BGCM Editor
Westminster, MD

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From: "Steven O. Smith" <[email-masked]>
Date: Mon, 5 Aug 96 8:26:43 MDT

Milling in a drill press can be a real problem. If your chuck is held
in with a morse taper, the side pressure can make it loosen.

Mills have a tapered spindle AND a screw draw bar. If you really want
to mill in your drill press, fit it with a draw bar.

--
Steven O. Smith
[email-masked]