Drilled off center!

[Woodchipper]

I drilled two synthetic (have no idea what they are) blanks a few days ago; the holes started in the center of the blank. Exit hole was off center. Drilled as low speed and slowly ran the bit into the blank. Drilled on drill press instead of lathe. Took extra pains to make sure the blank was 90 degrees to the bit. Hmm. TIA

 

[bugradx2]

Put a long bit in your drill press and see if it's perpendicular to your table. After you check that slowly rotate the drill chuck and see if it moves away from square. It could be that you have a wobble in your press someplace.

Mine has a wobble so I drill everything on my lathe. I've not wanted to upgrade my drill press just yet.

 

[Woodchipper]

No wobble with the DP. Just got in a hurry and didn't put the pen jaws on the chuck. I can see why many woodturners have a sackful of chucks. I would like to have a couple that are dedicated to one function...one for drilling pen blanks, for instance.

 

[Mortalis]

No wobble with the DP. Just got in a hurry and didn't put the pen jaws on the chuck. I can see why many woodturners have a sackful of chucks. I would like to have a couple that are dedicated to one function...one for drilling pen blanks, for instance.

Yeah, many woodturners either get them (chucks) from suppliers for free or they have a small fortune hanging on their walls. I got my third one a few weeks ago (paid out of pocket) and still want one more. Notice I didnt say 'need' one more. I changed jaws many times on the one or two I had. Now with three I have the basics covered.
I have a pen jaw chuck (less than $60 on ebay) that threads onto the spindle and works a charm for drilling blanks. A lot easier than changing jaw sets.