I hate drill presses part 4 - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

will8989 · 02-27-2009, 03:09 AM

Those of you that have been in here a few years, have heard me complain over and over again about my drill press not drilling straight. It was just off "a little bit" . No matter what we did, got a new quill, bought a new drill press (3 to be exact) nothing ever ever work. Hubby finally decided it was "operator error." (me), That was until.....he was drilling pen blanks and noticed they were "off" even though he had them in a jig to keep everything straight. Then he came across this article in a newsletter from Wood Magazine. Seems he made this jig from a hanger. Bent one end, put it in the drill press and bent the other end so it touched the table top, kind of like an "L" on each end, then he spun it around by hand and guess what? My table is level right to left but NOT front to back, it is off 1/16 of an inch!!! Imagine that!!!

So if any of you are having problems with your drill press, check front to back level. It may be off. Now I drill nice straight holes!!

Betty

paul44224 · 02-27-2009, 08:37 AM

Just bought a new drill press. I am going to set it up today. Thanks for the tip, Betty. Might as well check that!

Paul

GRAYBEARDSTL · 02-27-2009, 12:14 PM

should arrive today also!
That particular problem never occurred to me.
Thanks very much for the 'heads up'!

GraybeardStl

sawdustus · 02-27-2009, 01:33 PM

Great googleeeemoogleeee! Who'd a thunk of checking front to back. I am not even sure there is an adjustment on my drill press for that direction. But I will look and check anyhow. Thanks Betty.

george

turningnut · 02-27-2009, 11:18 PM

Thanks for the tip Betty, I'm on my way to check mine right now....

JohnB · 02-27-2009, 11:40 PM

Great tip Betty,
When I first got mine, I spent quite awhile with a square and a long bit going around and around the table making small adjustments until I got it all right.

A great idea the coat hanger, I'll file that away. it would have saved me heaps of time.

Haggard3230 · 02-28-2009, 12:14 AM

Mine is a cheap table top and I know it is not square front to back. I usually have to shim my work a little bit to get it square. I especially need it for drilling dowels on this road grader project.

jim_mex · 02-28-2009, 12:43 AM

Great tip Betty - I'll be checking mine first thing tomorrow !

will8989 · 02-28-2009, 01:00 AM

Mine didn't have a front to back adjustment so he made me this quite involved table top and tilted it back with a wedge in the front so it is all level. I'll take a pic tomorrow when I'm in my shop so you can see it.

Betty

GRAYBEARDSTL · 02-28-2009, 01:22 AM

this morning and got it assembled.
IMMEDIATELY got the long bit and the square!
Right out of the box it was as close as needs to be, HOORAY!
It is a reconditioned model so maybe the factory did the job for me....

Thanks for the tip and I will pass it along to several friends who are not scrollers but do use drill presses.

GraybeardStl

02-27-2009, 03:09 AM	#1
will8989 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 1,255	I hate drill presses part 4 Those of you that have been in here a few years, have heard me complain over and over again about my drill press not drilling straight. It was just off "a little bit" . No matter what we did, got a new quill, bought a new drill press (3 to be exact) nothing ever ever work. Hubby finally decided it was "operator error." (me), That was until.....he was drilling pen blanks and noticed they were "off" even though he had them in a jig to keep everything straight. Then he came across this article in a newsletter from Wood Magazine. Seems he made this jig from a hanger. Bent one end, put it in the drill press and bent the other end so it touched the table top, kind of like an "L" on each end, then he spun it around by hand and guess what? My table is level right to left but NOT front to back, it is off 1/16 of an inch!!! Imagine that!!! So if any of you are having problems with your drill press, check front to back level. It may be off. Now I drill nice straight holes!! Betty __________________ A woodworker never has too many clamps!!

02-27-2009, 12:14 PM	#3
GRAYBEARDSTL Just a good ol' boy! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St. Peters, MO, USA Posts: 101	MY new one ..... should arrive today also! That particular problem never occurred to me. Thanks very much for the 'heads up'! GraybeardStl __________________ Remember! "Never squat with yer spurs on!"

02-27-2009, 01:33 PM	#4
sawdustus Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Jersey Posts: 2,257	Great googleeeemoogleeee! Who'd a thunk of checking front to back. I am not even sure there is an adjustment on my drill press for that direction. But I will look and check anyhow. Thanks Betty. george __________________ A day without sawdust is a day without sunshine. George delta 650, hawk G426

02-27-2009, 11:18 PM	#5
turningnut Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Ft. Worth, Texas Posts: 626	Thanks for the tip Betty, I'm on my way to check mine right now.... __________________ Mike...Ft. Worth, TX EX-21 with Bandaids by Curaid

02-27-2009, 11:40 PM	#6
JohnB 1 Tin Soldier Rides Away Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kalgoorlie, Western Australia Posts: 5,202	Great tip Betty, When I first got mine, I spent quite awhile with a square and a long bit going around and around the table making small adjustments until I got it all right. A great idea the coat hanger, I'll file that away. it would have saved me heaps of time. __________________ Regards John "The Golden Mile" Clowns to the left of me, Jokers to the right, here I am, Stuck in the middle with you. Some of my Stuff Retired Medically Unfit WA Police Officers

02-27-2009, 08:37 AM	#2
paul44224 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Stow,Oh Posts: 231	Just bought a new drill press. I am going to set it up today. Thanks for the tip, Betty. Might as well check that! Paul

02-28-2009, 12:14 AM	#7
Haggard3230 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Riverton, KS on Route 66 Posts: 3,578	Mine is a cheap table top and I know it is not square front to back. I usually have to shim my work a little bit to get it square. I especially need it for drilling dowels on this road grader project. __________________ Merle SSG US Army Retired. merlehobbs@yahoo.com

02-28-2009, 12:43 AM	#8
jim_mex 'Senior' member - no way! Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Pachuca, Mexico Posts: 2,396	Great tip Betty - I'll be checking mine first thing tomorrow ! __________________ Jim in Mexico “Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former.” -Albert Einstein

02-28-2009, 01:00 AM	#9
will8989 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 1,255	Mine didn't have a front to back adjustment so he made me this quite involved table top and tilted it back with a wedge in the front so it is all level. I'll take a pic tomorrow when I'm in my shop so you can see it. Betty __________________ A woodworker never has too many clamps!!

02-28-2009, 01:22 AM	#10
GRAYBEARDSTL Just a good ol' boy! Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: St. Peters, MO, USA Posts: 101	Rec'd my drill press.... this morning and got it assembled. IMMEDIATELY got the long bit and the square! Right out of the box it was as close as needs to be, HOORAY! It is a reconditioned model so maybe the factory did the job for me.... Thanks for the tip and I will pass it along to several friends who are not scrollers but do use drill presses. GraybeardStl __________________ Remember! "Never squat with yer spurs on!"

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