Drill Press for BIY projects

[patrick_g]

Patrick G:

Thanks for the motor info.

Just think of it as a tax rebate and use it wisely.

Pat

 

[RedDirt]

I have found a 4:1 reduction gear that I may try. I'll post if I go that route.

DC motors and controllers (besides expensive) seem too complex for my limited electrical knowledge; I gravitate toward mechanical methods I understand. That said, the DC motor from a treadmill may be a slick fix.

 

[gemini5362]

The last time I was in HF I noticed that they had a drill press that not only did the table move up and down the drill head moved in and out. That looked like a pretty handy option to me. My wife had just bought me a new ridgid drill press for my birthday so I did not have a chance to try out the HF unit. I might also add that although they are a bit higher priced Most Ridgid tools have a life time warranty to the original purchaser. On the 4 tools tool set I bought this included the battery charger and the batteries.

 

[flusher]

My $25 farm sale over-seas bench drill press died in the middle of my latest project. I don't do lots of projects, so I don't need an industrial model. Just need something to drill holes in thick metal now and then. I stopped by Sears and they have their 12" bench top and 15" floor models on sell. Are there advantages to having a big floor model? What would be a good setup for the types of projects found here?

Thanks,

I bought a $350 Rigid floor drill from Home Depot in 2006 because it has 3-3/4" vertical travel on the quill so I can drill 4x4s in one plunge. It's a good general purpose drill.

 

[texbaylea]

I have that old '50's vintage Craftsman floor model that everybody's father and grandfather had. They must have built millions of them; I still see them all over the place. It has primarily wood working speeds with 750RPM being the slowest. I've used it over 30 years (yikes! I'M that grandfather!). I have always wanted to rig a way to slow it down.

A friend took one and built an auxiliary jackshaft with another 4 step pulley on it but he had to cut away part of the casting to get the belts to fit. Too radical for me. Anybody have other ideas?

I'm doing more metalworking these days and lately I've thought of a 2:1 or 3:1 gear reduction and re-mount the motor lower. Ive also thought of trying to mount my big vari-speed Milwaukee drill motor on the drill press. Now that my house construction is done that hand drill does not see much work.

One of the features I'd look for in a new press (besides slow speeds for metalworking) is a good, easy-to-use depth adjuster. The old Craftsman has a superior one and I'm now spoiled.

I had one of the old Craftsman DPs, from my father and now passed on to my son (bought a new Delta). The Craftsman has a multi - speed kit with the intermediate pulley mounted excentricly on a plug in the top of the column. That made it easy to adjust for the necessary movement as you changed the belts.

Vernon

 

[RedDirt]

I had one of the old Craftsman DPs, from my father and now passed on to my son (bought a new Delta). The Craftsman has a multi - speed kit with the intermediate pulley mounted excentricly on a plug in the top of the column. That made it easy to adjust for the necessary movement as you changed the belts.

Vernon

WOW! Just what I need. Anyone have one of these attachments lying around unused or know where to get one?

I saw a non-Craftsman model on ebay like this but probably '30's or '40's vintage. I have a Delta mortise press of that vintage (1938) but no auxiliary shaft/pulley.

 

[czechsonofagun]

My $25 farm sale over-seas bench drill press died in the middle of my latest project. I don't do lots of projects, so I don't need an industrial model. Just need something to drill holes in thick metal now and then. I stopped by Sears and they have their 12" bench top and 15" floor models on sell. Are there advantages to having a big floor model? What would be a good setup for the types of projects found here?

Thanks,

I bought floor model at TSC few years ago and love it. If you have the space for it, the permanently floor mounted drill press is way to go.

 

[patrick_g]

I bought floor model at TSC few years ago and love it. If you have the space for it, the permanently floor mounted drill press is way to go.

There is often value in having the ability to move a drill press but sacrificing stability is potentially hazardous. A free large truck rim makes a portable but stable base. IF you want more ballast, fill it with concrete but you'll struggle more moving it.

Pat

 

[john_bud]

I like this idea Schmism...any suggestions on where to get such a motor, and any of the other doodads (e.g. transformers, etc) to make it work?

I'm not Schmism, but in about 2 months there will be a fair amount of garage sales, yard sales and ads in the paper selling excersize equipment. The DC motors in treadmills are high hp and variable speed.


Hmmmmm

jb

 

[patrick_g]

The DC motors in treadmills are high hp and variable speed.


Hmmmmm

jb

John, Any idea why they use DC motors in treadmills?

Do you know if they have brushes?

Pat