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

will8989 · 03-10-2008, 03:14 AM

Well, most of you remember the problems I was having with a drill press last year and ended up buying one. Had it for a while, had same problem - hole not drilled straight. Hubby called company, they sent him a new quill, told him to replace it and let them know if it worked. Well, first of all, good thing he has access to machine type tools, he said there was no way he could have gotten it out with the hammer like they told him. He used some sort of impact something or other they use at work. (Don't you all just like my technical terms?) It worked for awhile, until today. Well today I'm cutting a basket and was have such problems. I finally stuck a blade in the drilled hole and showed him the angle of the hole - way off. He stopped turning pens, came over to the drill press, adjusted it, leveled it, and all but turned it upside down. Still, drilling at an angle. Did it all again, had some fancy tool to level things, still no better. We switched drill bits, he laid the one down on the table, then just glared at me. The darn bit was bent! No wonder it wasn't working. Not bent much, just enough he noticed it didn't roll right when he laid it down. Moral of this story, make sure drill bits aren't bent!

Betty

Buzz · 03-10-2008, 04:19 AM

Funny the bit didn't break. I can break a small bit just by looking at it crookedly. Every time I put a different bit in the chuck, I turn on the drill and watch the bit just to make sure it's in the chuck correctly and not wobbling. Another thing to watch out for, is a bit that is sharpened incorrectly. If the point is off center the bit will do very strange things.

SNAPPER · 03-10-2008, 08:30 AM

It does not take much to throw it off. Before drilling I turn the unit on to be sure things are right.
Take Care
Dean

will8989 · 03-10-2008, 09:44 PM

BElieve it or not, I do all that. It was turning properly, going in the wood straight but still a crooked hole. It was bent about 1/32 of an inch. Just enough to roll funny on the table. And I even had my glasses on. Oh well, that's what husbands are for, right? LOL

Betty

lucky788scroller · 03-10-2008, 10:23 PM

So... why blame the drillpress? just cuz you can huh? lol You are great Betty!!!Dale

will8989 · 03-11-2008, 07:53 PM

YEP! Even my husband didn't think to check the drill bit until he noticed it didn't lay right on the table. But, the upside, my drill press now works great! LOL

Betty

Rick-H · 03-11-2008, 08:00 PM

If it is a small bit you can straighten it right in the drill press. Put the bit in the drill , start the drill, then hold a board against the side of the drill bit towards the tip and push. The drill running keeps the pressure for all sides or angles and normally will straighten the bit out. I have straightened out bits up to just over 1/8" this way.

Wood Dog · 03-12-2008, 02:02 AM

WoW Rick H .....thanks a bunch for that tip.

03-10-2008, 03:14 AM	#1
will8989 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 1,255	I hate drill presses! Well, most of you remember the problems I was having with a drill press last year and ended up buying one. Had it for a while, had same problem - hole not drilled straight. Hubby called company, they sent him a new quill, told him to replace it and let them know if it worked. Well, first of all, good thing he has access to machine type tools, he said there was no way he could have gotten it out with the hammer like they told him. He used some sort of impact something or other they use at work. (Don't you all just like my technical terms?) It worked for awhile, until today. Well today I'm cutting a basket and was have such problems. I finally stuck a blade in the drilled hole and showed him the angle of the hole - way off. He stopped turning pens, came over to the drill press, adjusted it, leveled it, and all but turned it upside down. Still, drilling at an angle. Did it all again, had some fancy tool to level things, still no better. We switched drill bits, he laid the one down on the table, then just glared at me. The darn bit was bent! No wonder it wasn't working. Not bent much, just enough he noticed it didn't roll right when he laid it down. Moral of this story, make sure drill bits aren't bent! Betty __________________ A woodworker never has too many clamps!!

03-10-2008, 04:19 AM	#2
Buzz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Racine, WI Posts: 321	Bent Drill Bits Funny the bit didn't break. I can break a small bit just by looking at it crookedly. Every time I put a different bit in the chuck, I turn on the drill and watch the bit just to make sure it's in the chuck correctly and not wobbling. Another thing to watch out for, is a bit that is sharpened incorrectly. If the point is off center the bit will do very strange things. __________________ Buzz We Danes are very even tempered. We're always mad about something!

03-10-2008, 09:44 PM	#4
will8989 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 1,255	BElieve it or not, I do all that. It was turning properly, going in the wood straight but still a crooked hole. It was bent about 1/32 of an inch. Just enough to roll funny on the table. And I even had my glasses on. Oh well, that's what husbands are for, right? LOL Betty __________________ A woodworker never has too many clamps!!

03-11-2008, 07:53 PM	#6
will8989 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Glen Burnie, MD Posts: 1,255	YEP! Even my husband didn't think to check the drill bit until he noticed it didn't lay right on the table. But, the upside, my drill press now works great! LOL Betty __________________ A woodworker never has too many clamps!!

03-11-2008, 08:00 PM	#7
Rick-H Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Grimes, Iowa Posts: 296	If it is a small bit you can straighten it right in the drill press. Put the bit in the drill , start the drill, then hold a board against the side of the drill bit towards the tip and push. The drill running keeps the pressure for all sides or angles and normally will straighten the bit out. I have straightened out bits up to just over 1/8" this way. __________________ Rick Hutcheson http://www.scrollsaws.com

03-10-2008, 08:30 AM	#3
SNAPPER Dino Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fergus Falls,MN Posts: 814	It does not take much to throw it off. Before drilling I turn the unit on to be sure things are right. Take Care Dean

03-10-2008, 10:23 PM	#5
lucky788scroller Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: wisconsin Posts: 6,354	So... why blame the drillpress? just cuz you can huh? lol You are great Betty!!!Dale

03-12-2008, 02:02 AM	#8
Wood Dog Senior member--Absolutely Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: MA USA Posts: 3,934	WoW Rick H .....thanks a bunch for that tip. __________________ WD

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