Hello
Recently I used my floor drill press (a used Ridgid I got good deal on) for drilling huge mortises. 7cm deep or so.
The project turned out well, I used a wooden block with the chiseling to ensure the mortise walls are perpendicular to the faces.
But before I discovered that trick I was really worried about whether the drill bit in my drill press is perfectly perpendicular to its table.
I could not figure out whether it is or not.
First I discovered that I don’t own any perfeclt straight drill bits. Which makes measuring this hard.
Then I used a super-long drill bit with my biggest machinist square to try and eyeball the measurement, but couldn’t figure it out. It looked almost like the table is conical, descending towards the centre. But a straight edge didn’t reveal any significant table flatness problem.
All that to say that I don’t know whether the bit is perpendicular to the table or not.
Does anyone have a trick for testing whether it is, and/or for adjusting it to be?
Thanks in advance.
Replies
A piece of braizing rod, thick wire or coat hanger shaped like an open "z". Insert one end into the chuck with the other end just touching the table. As you rotate the chuck by hand the touch-point at the table should remain consistent.
Hmm, can't find the series of a pics I used to use to demonstrate this. Here's a quick SketchUp. If your table is the typical round metal-working table you will have good side to side tilt but, clumsy adjustment for front to back. A snapshot of the underside of your table may get you some better suggestions.
Update: I tool a look at the Home Depot Ridgid 15" machine manual. This particular manual offers no adjustment for front to back on the table. Most of us add an aftermarket or shop made table to these types of drill presses to make them more woodworking friendly. If you do that you can take care of any front to back or flatness problems (via shims) during that build.
A drill blank and a machinist square should do the job. https://www.amazon.com/5000-HSS-Drill-Blank/dp/B005TJM5L4?ref_=s9_apbd_obs_hd_bw_bN0oXb&pf_rd_r=MH4JXP6D5EKWAC78Z0WG&pf_rd_p=f38fa092-3223-574c-90b6-4a3755fa6224&pf_rd_s=merchandised-search-10&pf_rd_t=BROWSE&pf_rd_i=340050011
Thanks for the advice!
"Most of us add an aftermarket or shop made table to these types of drill presses to make them more woodworking friendly. If you do that you can take care of any front to back or flatness problems (via shimms) during that build."
That sounds like a great idea, I'm sure I'll find some ideas in the FW archive.
"A drill blank and a machinist square should do the job."
I tried to find one in Canada, I don't understand what they're selling. For example what size is this one? https://www.amazon.ca/Viking-Drill-Tool-03729-240-DB/dp/B01BV1IIYQ/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=drill+blank&qid=1590602681&sr=8-6
It reads 0,3 cm , I would go at least 1/4 inch : https://www.amazon.ca/Drill-America-DWDBL1-Uncoated-Bright/dp/B00AYZRLT4/ref=sr_1_5?dchild=1&keywords=drill+blank&qid=1590608326&sr=8-5
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