Drill Press question

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jleiwig

Member
Joined
Jan 10, 2007
Messages
1,860
Location
Monroe, Ohio, USA.
I have a small clarke metal worker drill press that I got a good deal on. However with a full length drill bit in it, I cannot drill anything more than 6" or so in length. The head does not swivel, and is bolted to the base with 4 bolts. I was thinking about taking it off the base and making a 4" riser out of wood or aluminum. Sound like an ok idea? Any other ideas?
 
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Typically the head doesn't swivel - the table does. Is yours missing its table?

As far as drilling anything longer than 6 inches - the travel on these small drill presses is usually only just 2 inches anyway, so you can barely drill a pen blank with them.
 
The problem is I was trying to drill out a tool handle I had made. It was almost 9" long, and with the table swiveled out of the way, the base was still too close for me to fit the handle under the drill.

I think I'm just going to either sell it and buy the stuff to drill on the lathe, or find a bigger one.
 
The problem is I was trying to drill out a tool handle I had made. It was almost 9" long, and with the table swiveled out of the way, the base was still too close for me to fit the handle under the drill.

I think I'm just going to either sell it and buy the stuff to drill on the lathe, or find a bigger one.


Justin

I don't know what type of lathe you have, but can't you drill the tool handle on the the lathe?

Here is how I do it. I chuck the drill in the headstock and place the back end of the tool handle into the tailstock without the drive. Then I line everything up turn on the lathe (make sure it is at the proper speed for drilling). While holding the tool handle in my left hand I turn the handle on the tail stock with my right hand until I reach the desired depth.

Yes it is safe.
 
Justin

I don't know what type of lathe you have, but can't you drill the tool handle on the the lathe?

Not yet!

I have no chuck nor drill chuck yet. Right now the toy fund is depleted beyond extremes! I just listed the drill press on craigslist, hopefully I'll get enough to replenish the fund a bit, and next weekend purchase a drill chuck and stuff when I get paid.
 
Remove the base and check the wall thickness of the tube. Most drive shaft shops can match the tube and sell it fairly reasonable. I have did this on a few drill presses to get more clearance.
Mark
 
Remove the base and check the wall thickness of the tube. Most drive shaft shops can match the tube and sell it fairly reasonable. I have did this on a few drill presses to get more clearance.
Mark

Too late..sold it Friday night for $10 bucks more than I paid for it.
 
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