Round and round she goes - Scroll Saw Woodworking & Crafts Message Board

Cutting Cathy · 12-11-2008, 04:43 AM

While preparing my Holiday card holder (SSWC Holiday issue) for the drill press I realized it was running way too slow! I read a post the other night about making sure your drill press was at high speed. What would be the correct speed to run it at?? Thanks for the help!!

Mick Walker · 12-11-2008, 04:59 PM

Cathy, depends on what you are drilling and what size bit you are using, usually the larger the bit the slower the speed. Tiny bits for scrolling can be run at a fairly fast speed. Assuming your drill press is belt driven with a number of different pulleys I would choose a medium speed for drilling most woods.

Bill Wilson · 12-11-2008, 05:54 PM

I have this chart hanging on the wall next to my drill press.

http://www.ibiblio.org/twa/info/drillSpeedChart.pdf

Cutting Cathy · 12-11-2008, 10:51 PM

Thanks so much for the the information Mick! Bill I have saved the chart and will print it out, I have just the spot for it!! Thanks again!!

Trout · 12-12-2008, 01:49 AM

I had to go check out my cheap bench top drill press. I knew it had different pulleys to change the speed but never really took a good luck to see what the speeds were...
between the 5 pulley the RPM's go from 766 to 3070.
It's been on the #2 pulley so I guess I've been running at 1150 RPM.

there's a lot of hole drilling to all those trucks and stuff that I have been building and there's been a couple times where I've had to make a piece 3 times because my hole was off.
I'm thinking about going to a brad tip drill hoping that will help me out..

Thanks Bill for posting the chart.

Trout

wood-n-things · 12-12-2008, 03:23 AM

Trout,
If i can intrude with a word of advice.

If you switch to the brad point bit, use a backer board I have found they are alot more aggressive and have a tendency to blow out the back side with all kinds of splintering....

Now back to your regularly scheduled yakking...LOL

SNAPPER · 12-12-2008, 07:24 AM

I have a 5sp bench top drill press and have it at the 2nd to the fastest speed pretty much all the time. The smallest bit I use in it is 1/16"
Dean

Ronc80 · 12-12-2008, 10:45 AM

I would like to thank you Bill for the chart . I use everything from a tiny .o69(?) all the way up to a 4" hole saw. I even use some drum sanders on it. I have a bench top drill press with 5 speeds. I do swith it a lot from slow to fast but this will give me a better idea of where to go with it.
I just want to say that my wife is the one who talked me into getting the drill press. I thought that I would never use it that much. Boy was I wrong. What a life saver wrist saver. I have done some scroll sawings that had almost 500 inside cuts I would not had a wrist or arm left had it not been for the drill press
Thanks again Bill and good post Cathy

Rolf · 12-12-2008, 01:26 PM

Trout,
depending on the size of the hole, brad point or Forstner bits are definitly better.
I also always use a spring loaded center punch to mark where my hole will be.
It helps prevent the drill from walking.
I don't like running my big drill press at high speed all the time so I bought this to drill all my small holes. Tools and Supplies for Building Scale Models | Micro-Mark: The Small Tool Specialists.
The also have a variable speed for about $20 more which is what I would buy now.
It is perfect for that #70 drill bit that I use on most of my ornaments.

minowevie · 12-12-2008, 01:34 PM

Cathy thank you for asking that quistion. I have my drill press at half speed also. but I never new what speed to run it at. and Mick just ansered it. thanks your friend Evie

12-11-2008, 04:43 AM	#1
Cutting Cathy Proud Grandma Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 565	Round and round she goes While preparing my Holiday card holder (SSWC Holiday issue) for the drill press I realized it was running way too slow! I read a post the other night about making sure your drill press was at high speed. What would be the correct speed to run it at?? Thanks for the help!! __________________ Cathy in NE "While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." - Anonymous

12-11-2008, 05:54 PM	#3
Bill Wilson Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Butler, PA Posts: 590	I have this chart hanging on the wall next to my drill press. http://www.ibiblio.org/twa/info/drillSpeedChart.pdf __________________ "I'm a white male, aged 18 to 49. Everyone listens to me! No matter how dumb my suggestions are."

12-11-2008, 10:51 PM	#4
Cutting Cathy Proud Grandma Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Central Nebraska Posts: 565	Thanks so much for the the information Mick! Bill I have saved the chart and will print it out, I have just the spot for it!! Thanks again!! __________________ Cathy in NE "While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." - Anonymous

12-12-2008, 01:49 AM	#5
Trout MrsTrout's Husband Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hayward Calif. Posts: 1,711	I had to go check out my cheap bench top drill press. I knew it had different pulleys to change the speed but never really took a good luck to see what the speeds were... between the 5 pulley the RPM's go from 766 to 3070. It's been on the #2 pulley so I guess I've been running at 1150 RPM. there's a lot of hole drilling to all those trucks and stuff that I have been building and there's been a couple times where I've had to make a piece 3 times because my hole was off. I'm thinking about going to a brad tip drill hoping that will help me out.. Thanks Bill for posting the chart. Trout __________________ Hawk G-4 *Jetcraft* Fish are food, not friends! Last edited by Trout; 12-12-2008 at 02:09 AM.

12-12-2008, 03:23 AM	#6
wood-n-things Behave Yourself..I can't. Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Right here ---silly Posts: 4,471 Blog Entries: 1	Trout, If i can intrude with a word of advice. If you switch to the brad point bit, use a backer board I have found they are alot more aggressive and have a tendency to blow out the back side with all kinds of splintering.... Now back to your regularly scheduled yakking...LOL __________________ The Mike One of them anyway. Don't be so open-minded. Your brains will fall out!

12-11-2008, 04:59 PM	#2
Mick Walker Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Janesville, WI Posts: 1,335	Cathy, depends on what you are drilling and what size bit you are using, usually the larger the bit the slower the speed. Tiny bits for scrolling can be run at a fairly fast speed. Assuming your drill press is belt driven with a number of different pulleys I would choose a medium speed for drilling most woods. __________________ Mick, - Delta P-20 The future ain't what it used to be.

12-12-2008, 07:24 AM	#7
SNAPPER Dino Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Fergus Falls,MN Posts: 821	I have a 5sp bench top drill press and have it at the 2nd to the fastest speed pretty much all the time. The smallest bit I use in it is 1/16" Dean

12-12-2008, 10:45 AM	#8
Ronc80 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Delhi NY Posts: 158	I would like to thank you Bill for the chart . I use everything from a tiny .o69(?) all the way up to a 4" hole saw. I even use some drum sanders on it. I have a bench top drill press with 5 speeds. I do swith it a lot from slow to fast but this will give me a better idea of where to go with it. I just want to say that my wife is the one who talked me into getting the drill press. I thought that I would never use it that much. Boy was I wrong. What a life saver wrist saver. I have done some scroll sawings that had almost 500 inside cuts I would not had a wrist or arm left had it not been for the drill press Thanks again Bill and good post Cathy __________________ I won,t tell you what I don't know http://www.scrollsawer.com/gallery/s...0/ppuser/13539

12-12-2008, 01:26 PM	#9
Rolf Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Bellport, LI New York Posts: 2,808	Trout, depending on the size of the hole, brad point or Forstner bits are definitly better. I also always use a spring loaded center punch to mark where my hole will be. It helps prevent the drill from walking. I don't like running my big drill press at high speed all the time so I bought this to drill all my small holes. Tools and Supplies for Building Scale Models \| Micro-Mark: The Small Tool Specialists. The also have a variable speed for about $20 more which is what I would buy now. It is perfect for that #70 drill bit that I use on most of my ornaments. __________________ Rolf RBI G4 Hawk, Delta SS350 Philosophy "I don't know that I can't, therefore I can" Last edited by Rolf; 12-12-2008 at 01:30 PM.

12-12-2008, 01:34 PM	#10
minowevie Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: california Posts: 6,398	Cathy thank you for asking that quistion. I have my drill press at half speed also. but I never new what speed to run it at. and Mick just ansered it. thanks your friend Evie

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