A drillpress is nothing more than a fixture to rigidly hold a drill, with a method to feed the bit into the work. Most common are vertical with a lever feed arm. More accurate ones use feed screws. The most critical factors are minimum horizontal play to keep the bit on center and alignment of angle to work surface. Most of the various designs have a rough hight adjustment by moving either the table or head vertically. The only other general requirement is that the quill movement is sufficient to drill the deepest hole desired. Since most have a return spring, this should not interfere with the feel of the cutting feed. Too much pressure can break the bit, while too little permits cutting lip to slide over work and dull bit by abrasion. With experience sound is an excellent guide.
Since power drilling is quite a bit faster than twisting a pinvice, there is normally no rush, unless you are doing assembly line work. According to machinist's tables, the small bits used can be run at very high RPM; but much slower is better. This is epecially true when drilling plastics, to avoid gumming. More time is used by setup than drilling. A good speed control is demanded.
With smaller bits, often work is finger held, but larger bits require clamping; else work can be forced free, if bit grabs, creating damage or injury. Since both hands are frequently occupied, a foot switch is highly recommended. Even better, the inclusion of a speed control permits variation to fit conditions, hands free.
Although Dremel has a drillpress accessory, we have found that most of their friction bearing tools have too much wobble or runout to be useful for small bits or reasonable accuracy.
To date the best combination found for driiling holes as fine as #80, is the Maxicraft small drill and Minicraft drilpress. Although not precision, the total play is excellent for drilling handhold holes. Feel is fairly sensitive compared to other and it fits under the shelf at the end of my modelling desk.
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
MAXICRAFT SMALL DRILL w/ MINICRAFT DRILLPRESS
On both versions, rough adjustment is by moving radial arm vertical on the column and locking it with the thumb screw.
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
MAXICRAFT LARGE DRILL PRESS ACCESSORY
The larger combination handles larger bits almost as well, but is less sensitive and has alittle more play. The left guide bar has a screw collar stop for drilling blind holes, while the right one is spring loaded. Head can be rotated on arm for angle drilling. For best use all horizontal play must be minimized with shims. This is small enough to keep on the assembly bench for drilling coupler mounting, mounting lug and other quick, but not too accurate holes.
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
MINITOOL DRILL PRESS ACCESSORY
W/Power Drill mounted.
With one guide bar and rough locking clamp this press has almost no horizontal play and is fed by a large wheel with no stop adjustment. This feels a little awkward to me. A keyway and two tabs hold and align square motor housings with a matching key. The Power Dill fits well; but even though the Plunge Router has a key, it does not fit. An adapter with key is required to hold high speed Rotary Tool. A very simple and flimsey plastic arm switches on motor when wheel lowers unit. A wire clamp secures base to bench.
BACK TO ROTARY TOOLS
Probably the best and most accuate drill press I have used is the Unimat.
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
UNIMAT DB SETUP FOR DRILLING AND MILLING
Rather than sell this unit, which was bought in the early 60's, complete with accessories for less than $100.00, it is now relegated to delicate, accurate drilling and milling operations. Very precise location of holes can be accomplished with the feed screws, but requires metric conversion. Before pocket calculators and digital calipers, it kept my slide rule very busy. Use is normally with bits 1/8" and below, while larger work is passed to the more cumbersome C-5 Mill.
Rough vertical adjustment is by moving headstock clamp on column. Feed is through a removable rack and pinion key lever. Quill is spring loaded and head can be rotated for angle drilling. A small machinist's vise mounted on milling table is very handy for quick jobs.
Note: Adjust brightness and contrast for optimum viewing.
C-5 MILL USED FOR DRILLING AND MILLING LARGER WORK
Of very similar design, but with a dedicated milling table, this unit can handle up to 3/8" bits. Located in the garage, a floor model drill press handles the really big jobs.
BACK TO METHODS
BACK TO DRILLING DRILL PRESSES
BACK TO ROTARY HAND TOOLS
BACK TO TOOLS INDEX
