It’s been four months since the last round of layoffs, so we finally went ahead and bought an inexpensive drill press. I wasn’t thrilled with DH’s decision to buy a Delta ShopMaster (model DP350), but it got some decent reviews.
It seems to work fine, but one thing concerns me: I can see the slightest irregularity in the curved surface of the chuck when it spins. I turned it on again and saw that the flat top of the chuck was also moving a tad (up and down).
I figure that the chuck didn’t seat perfectly when I tapped it in (using a block of wood and a regular hammer). More tapping has not leveled it out.
Is this just a matter of applying more force (i.e., handing the hammer to my husband), or should we remove the chuck and start over? Or is the wobble totally irrelevant?–maybe the drill bit is perfectly centered, although I don’t know how to verify it.
Janet
Replies
Test the chuck by tightening it on a smooth rod or a steel bit inserted reversed, then rotating it by hand. Place a block alongside it for reference and watch for eccentricity or wobble. Usually the outside of the chuck is a good reference surface. Assuming the chuck is seated on a #33 taper, I'd remove it and reseat it if runout was greater than .001" to .002"
John
The outer surface of the chuck could be slightly off center without affecting the jaws of the chuck. A simple test would be to install a 1/2 inch drill bit in the chuck, preferably a brand new one so you know it isn't bent, and see if it runs without a wobble.
If the bit does wobble, you should remove the chuck, the machines manual should tell you how, and carefully clean both the male and female halves of the taper assembly and then reinstall the chuck. Even a small bit of dirt between the taper surfaces can cause a noticeable wobble. Trying to correct the problem with a bigger hammer, or a stronger arm, is not recommended.
John W.
It sounds like the chuck is not seated properly.
Try this. Put a piece of wood on the table, say a 1x4, and then lower the spinning chuck (fully retracted) onto the board.
Light pressure at first.. and then a bit more until the chuck registers a nice even imprint on the board.
Please be sure to clamp the board to the table before you attempt this.
This will fully seat the chuck and should remove any wobble.
You should then check the run out at the bottom of the chuck to make sure it's within reasonable tolerance.
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