moke
Member
I have seen numerous threads recently on drilling on the lathe. I have a similar problem to those mentioned. Here is my tale of woe...
I have a Delta Midi. I started drilling with a One-way Chuck with pin jaws. I put the drill chuck in the tail stock and tighten it down, then tighten the side tightener until I can barely turn the drill into the piece..so there is no play. I use a starter drill...a number 3..I believe. I got a good, well centered hole, but often the other side would be off center. I don't understand that..if the bit was bad wouldn't I just get a bigger hole. I saw a thread about a month ago where I thought the answer he got was the drill bits, but I failed to point out earlier that I have always turned my blanks round. He was not......SO I thought it must be the chuck. I waited until PSI collet chucks were back in stock and got one of those. I still have some of the same problem....but not always. My 60 degree centers line up, so I don't think it is the lathe....now there issome play in my talistock before I tighten it down, but I assume that is normal. Any one got any ideas, obviously I am doing something wrong?
Secondly, it sounds like some of the people here buy a complete set of drill bits and just use them. Are you buying them in a 1/64 increment set and miking the tube and picking the closest bit? Who makes a good set? It seems to me buying a good set of bits will pay for itself by ruining less blanks. I have always just bought the bit and a set of bushings with a different style kit. So I have a huge hodge-podge of drill bits
HELP!!
Mike
I have a Delta Midi. I started drilling with a One-way Chuck with pin jaws. I put the drill chuck in the tail stock and tighten it down, then tighten the side tightener until I can barely turn the drill into the piece..so there is no play. I use a starter drill...a number 3..I believe. I got a good, well centered hole, but often the other side would be off center. I don't understand that..if the bit was bad wouldn't I just get a bigger hole. I saw a thread about a month ago where I thought the answer he got was the drill bits, but I failed to point out earlier that I have always turned my blanks round. He was not......SO I thought it must be the chuck. I waited until PSI collet chucks were back in stock and got one of those. I still have some of the same problem....but not always. My 60 degree centers line up, so I don't think it is the lathe....now there issome play in my talistock before I tighten it down, but I assume that is normal. Any one got any ideas, obviously I am doing something wrong?
Secondly, it sounds like some of the people here buy a complete set of drill bits and just use them. Are you buying them in a 1/64 increment set and miking the tube and picking the closest bit? Who makes a good set? It seems to me buying a good set of bits will pay for itself by ruining less blanks. I have always just bought the bit and a set of bushings with a different style kit. So I have a huge hodge-podge of drill bits
HELP!!
Mike
Last edited: