Replies

1. 
   MarkRD | Mar 25, 2005 01:10am | #1

   Great idea. Love to see the results. I'll be cutting some mortises soon. I was looking at the forstner bit method.

   I've been wanting to get an x-y vice anyway for my drill press. Can you recommend a good supplier? (I don't ever remember seeing one in my wood working catalogs).

   As far as the side load? Sounds to me like a lot of hooey. The DP bearings already have a side load; it comes from the drive belt.

   Thanks,
   Mark

   Measure it with a micrometer, mark it with chalk, cut it with an ax.

2. 
   JohnSprung | Mar 25, 2005 02:11am | #2

   You've just invented the vertical mill.  I have an old Benchmaster for that kind of thing, the bearings are good enough for metal work, so wood is no problem on it.

    

   -- J.S.

    

3. 
   lwj2 | Mar 25, 2005 04:18am | #3

   I'd say it depends on the make and type of your drill press.

   I'd not risk it for long term with some of the light weight drill presses on the market now.

   Mine is an old Boice-Crane 15 inch that was designed for light metal work and heavy woodwork, si I'd probably be ok with it.

   YMMV.

   Leon Jester
4. 
   UncleDunc | Mar 25, 2005 08:17am | #4

   >> Or is that just a story made up to sell oscillating spindle sanders?

   Probably not, since I've seen the caution against side loading drill presses in books from before the oscillating spindle sanders were invented.

   >> Do you think this will hurt my drill press?

   It will wear the bearings out sooner than if you don't. Whether that happens in your lifetime depends on lots of variables, the original quality of the bearings, what wood you're cutting, speeds and feeds, how often you sharpen your bits, how long the bit is, how far the spindle is extended, etc. Those last two will make more difference than you might expect. Short bits and short spindle extension will definitely reduce the side load on the bearings. Move the table up as far as you can instead of running the spindle down.

5. 
   Kent_F | Mar 25, 2005 08:34am | #5

   As far as I'm concerned, the "side loading will hurt your drill press bearings" thing is a myth. Maybe it was true years ago, when drill presses used Babbitt or bronze bearings, but modern DPs use standard ball bearings, which can handle a radial load just fine. Case in point, I once looked up the parts diagrams for some Grizzly machines, and found they use the exact same bearing in their OSS and several of their DPs.

   I use my DP for drum sanding without fear. If I'm wrong, the worst-case scenario is that I'll  replacing 10 bucks worth of bearings.

1. 
   Alphonse | Mar 25, 2005 11:42am | #6

   Did you ever hear that old nostrum."Never drill with a mill,or mill with a drill" ?Like a lot of old sayings,there's some truth to it.

   I tend to agree with you that attempting any side loading operation (sanding drums,milling cutters,etc.) will probably elicit other limitations long before bearing wear is noticed,i.e.,tapers falling out,vibration,or if using a long projection,a bent spindle.

   Having repaired several milling machines it's a fact that they aren't the same animal when it comes to bearings.

   Given the cost of some drill presses these days,they're almost disposable.

1. 
   chills1994 | Mar 26, 2005 07:42am | #7

   Thanks for all the info everyone.

   I gues what I could do is get out the mag base and dial indicator and see what kinda runout I have on it now.  It is a General Int'l 17" floor model.  Made in China.

   If I do some mortising on the DP like that, I could always take readings later and see if the runout has gotten worse.

   I'm wondering if I could cobble something up for the lathe.  I have a 3 jaw scroll chuck.  I could put an endmill or spiral router bit in that chuck and see what happens.

   I figure a lathe should be able to take that kind of side loading.

   Never did hear a nostrum like that.  Didn't take any shop classes in high school.  Wish I did now.  Maybe through  the community college next semester.