New drill press

[fw707]

Well, I got me a brand new drill press for an early birthday present from my wifie dear. :winking:
It's a pretty neat gadget for a poor ole country boy who grew up with a worn-out file and a screwdriver filed to fit (with the worn-out file). :haha:
Now, if I can just figger out where to stick the drilling thing, I'm gonna make a bunch of holes in stuff, just for practice, before I start drilling stuff like barrel pins, flash holes, and them little pins for trigger guards and such. :rotf:

 

[davy]

Well, I got me a brand new drill press for an early birthday present from my wifie dear. :winking:
It's a pretty neat gadget for a poor ole country boy who grew up with a worn-out file and a screwdriver filed to fit (with the worn-out file). :haha:
Now, if I can just figger out where to stick the drilling thing, I'm gonna make a bunch of holes in stuff, just for practice, before I start drilling stuff like barrel pins, flash holes, and them little pins for trigger guards and such. :rotf:

Keerful with all that heavy duty thinkin .. ya mite bust sumthin! :hmm: :rotf:

Davy

 

[fw707]

Well, I got me a brand new drill press for an early birthday present from my wifie dear. :winking:
It's a pretty neat gadget for a poor ole country boy who grew up with a worn-out file and a screwdriver filed to fit (with the worn-out file). :haha:
Now, if I can just figger out where to stick the drilling thing, I'm gonna make a bunch of holes in stuff, just for practice, before I start drilling stuff like barrel pins, flash holes, and them little pins for trigger guards and such. :rotf:

Keerful with all that heavy duty thinkin .. ya mite bust sumthin! :hmm: :rotf:

Davy

Yep, it ain't easy being a mental heavyweight. :grin:

 

[CoyoteJoe]

A drill press is a wonderful tool, I know I got along without one for years but now I don't know how! Your first accessory should be a good drill press vise. I have one of the cross feed sort which allows very precise alignment of the work but even the simplest vise is a great help. Do not attempt to hold the work by hand as that is inviting disaster if the bit grabs, or I should say "when" the bit grabs! You also can do a lot with sanding disks and wire wheels in the press. If I had to settle for just one power tool I'd keep my drill press.

 

[fw707]

Thanks Joe!
Lowe's only has a basic one, but I'm gonna look around and find one with the cross feed. :thumbsup:

 

[davy]

Thanks Joe!
Lowe's only has a basic one, but I'm gonna look around and find one with the cross feed. :thumbsup:

Harbor Freight sells all kinds for the discriminating buyer! :rotf:
[url] http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=106[/url]

Davy

 

[Vaino]

I normally don't use a vise in the drill press...want the drill bit to pick up the center punch unhindered so the piece is floating until the vertical alignment is correct. From then on the piece is held firmly until the drilling is complete. Brass is more difficult to drill because of it's tendency to grab....this can be eliminated by properly sharpening the drill bit for brass. Drilling thin sheet stock can be very dangerous so it's a good idea to use wood backing and use nails to fixture the sheet or part. Happy drilling......Fred

 

[MSW]

my cross feed was made by General up in the CFN (Canadian Frozen North) ... a nice piece of gear- and i wouldn't be without it.

you might also want to check out Peter Alexander's gadget which will allow you to precisely align the bottom and the top. picture in your mind a bit of 1/2 inch threaded rod. now sharpen one end and bolt the bottom of the rod to the table of the drill press. now align the bit with the point of the rod, so that the rod and the drill bit just barely meet when the chuck is completely lowered. wherever the pointed end sticks is one side of your hole, and wherever the bit starts is the other. makes drilling the holes for sideplates really straightfoward. ^&*%, if i can figure it out, it must be pretty easy. i got mine from R.E. Davis, but you could just as easily make one.

congrats on your new gadget.

(the one who dies with the most toys is the winner)

MSW

 

[fw707]

Davy, I guess that "discriminating buyer" thing leaves me plum out! :grin:

flehto, I see your point about letting the piece "float" so you won't miss the punch mark. :thumbsup:

MSW, I saw that gadget you mentioned---slicker than socks on a rooster for sure! That's really what convinced me that I needed a drill press. :winking:

Thanks y'all!

 

[Henry]

Drill press ! You got one ! :bow:

Fantastic tool !

So many things you can do with it.

Let me tell you one of the most crazy one

A friend did it ( I am not crazy enough , )

In the afternoon he smashed his left thumb
with a hammer while building something .
It was painfull enough but in the midle of the night it was just plain unbearable , the blood pressure under the nail was ... well .. you get the idea . So he got out of bed and on to the workshop , placed the smallest drill bit he had
in the drill press , placed his left thumb under the drill and lowered the drill with his right hand . As soon the drill made a hole through the nail the blood sprayed everywhere , the pressure went off and the pain disapeared like magic .
Just a band-aid and he went back to bed .

Weird is'nt it ?

My doctor 's way is simpler , he heats a paper clip red hot with a lighter and burns a hole through the nail , as soon as the blood spills out
it cools the paper clip and prevent any further
burning . A band-aid later you are driving home .

I forgot to tell you : I live in Canada
( Québec ) ....