First –
If there isn’t such a thing, why not? In every tool review I’ve read in the past, all drill presses geared to the weekend WW wannabe’s like me still have stepped pulleys for speed changes. What’s so hard about making a speed control for a drill press motor to make speed changes a little more convenient?
Or …. who makes them if they exist??
Inquiring minds need to know these things (grin)
Replies
Delta and Rockwell have them.. Variacmotor control... Big bucks.
The best for the buck are adjustable pulley mounted over the quill. Most every body has these.
Look for machine shop oriented instead of wood working.
Edit: http://wttool.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=WT&Category_Code=C01330
This is one place to start.
Saw a Delta taple top at Lowes. Speed control up front.
Edited 8/10/2003 1:50:25 PM ET by IMERC
Interesting point, Dennis, especially since (as I'm sure you know) some of the mid-sized lathes have this feature (so I've read, anywho). Guess they figure we don't need it, just like we don't need a tablesaw with an easily removed guard/splitter.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Takes me less than a minute to change the belts on my drill press. I think I change the speeds maybe once a month, maybe less. Even when I was heavily using a drill press it was left at pretty much the same speed for most of the time. Because of that I've never seen a huge need for a variable speed press. I do see the need for a good splitter/guard though ;)
Dennis,
You might want to look for a bargain on a used Shopsmith - the drill press/horizontal boring machine is about the only part of the machine that looks worthwhile to me; if it were available separately they might sell a few to the pickiest of us knotheads.
Good luck,
Paul
Dennis: VS drill Press ,Hmmm Gee what are you going to want the Whizz Kidds at the Major Power Tool Companys to come up with next?? LOL.. Hey we know it can be done as Jamie pointed out they do it on Lathes soo why not on a DP? as Mstens pointed out how often do you really change speeds on your belt driven DP anyways??if your like me probaly not to often ~ if your like SARGE & DENNIS you would probaly wear out the damn hinged cover..<G>.. Delta has a VS model in there bench line IM not a fan of that type too damn dinky lookin..I guess IM going to date myself with this but as memory recalls that ToolKraft had a VS DP they made in the late 70s early 80s.. Delta does make VS DPS but there Industrial models that cost Muchooo Buckaroos $$$ , maybe you can find a used Rockwell Industrial model cheap or a used Dayton or Wilton. or just be damn happy with what you have & not be stirin up the pot here..LOL oh no don't do that!!<G>...
ToolDoc
Dennis
I have a two part answer to your question.
# 1 Too simple....
# 2 They would have to re-design what they already have. This would drive the price up an could force them to have to go to China for in-expensive labor. An you know an American Co. would not consider that... Ask the folks at Hooker Furniture in N.C. who just closed a few days ago because they couldn't compete with Chinese labor.
In lieu of buying an industrial DP which already exist, I suggest "do it your-self". What other choice do you appear to have. ha..ha..
Have fun with the "Moose-Drool"...
sarge..jt
Delta makes a 10" bench model with variable speed for $169 and the 16-1/2" floor model is around $1,000. I'm sure these are imports. Another option is to use a 1 hp three phase motor and put an inverter on it. Baldor makes a small inverter for around $250 that will run a three phase motor of 1 hp or less. The unit will run off 110 volt current and give variable speed not to mention reverse, slow start and will double the motors highest speed. My local motor repair shop has one set up in their repair department. Often you can pick up used three phase machines for a lot less. I've even found working three phase motors in scrapyards.
Edited 8/11/2003 5:15:58 AM ET by Rick at Arch. Timber and Millwork
Dennis,
I have the aforementioned Delta table model and it is a fine machine, IMO. Attached is a photo with my homemade table attached.
BJ
Sorry, didn't load the pix first time. Trying again.
Bert, you must be using DSL for connection, right?! That 2MB file is way too big for us commoners to download quickly (took me maybe 3 minutes), so I've downsized it to 33% and cropped it just a bit. I think it now is about 37 KB. Now, if I could just figure out why the darned things display as bitmaps when they're listed as jpeg's!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 8/11/2003 1:46:56 AM ET by forestgirl
> Now, if I could just figure out why the darned things display as
bitmaps when they're listed as jpeg's!
Actually, Jamie, strickly speaking, .jpg is a bitmapped format. .jpg, .bmp, .tif, .tga, .... etc., these are all bitmapped (as opposed to vector) image formats. I see the image you attached as a .jpg file anyway.
Thanks for downsampling the file for us 'dial-up challenged' folks who live within a mile or so of the main Microsoft Campus but can't seem to access any broadband. (grin)
...........
Dennis in Bellevue WA
[email protected]
Zokay, Zokay, but why, if an attachment is labelled "attachment.jpg", does it "Save As" in bitmap (.bmp) form? This forum is the only place I have that happen.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Sorry about the size of the file. I forgot to check it before I attached it. Thanks for scaling it down for the forum.
And I have a REALLY fast connection--much faster than even DSL. (I own a broadband wireless Internet service in central Texas.)
BJ
To those of you who have the Delta variable speed drill press, DO NOT turn the speed control unless it is running. There is a part in the belt pulley adjusting system that can break and it is a pain in the axle to fix. I haven't had the pleasure of doing the repair but have heard the grumbles coming from a co-worker who has done a couple.
The same applies to the VS lathes from Jet, Grizzly, Harbor Frt etc. as I understand.
John
Can you run a few more cables out to the rest of us.What would be your rates? LOL OOps! Wireless, nevermind. Beam me up, Scotty!
Edited 8/11/2003 5:17:07 PM ET by Bob
a number of companies make them- but you're not gonna like the price ;-)
20" vs wiltons are easily over $2,000 last i bothered to look in an msc catalog
m
Here is the Delta 12" Model DP350 specs. It goes for around $220.00. Anyone know the principle behind the variable speed? How constant is the torque?? I'm thinking that it is a mechanical arrangement that changes the belts. Why not a DC motor with a speed controller??
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
Delta DP350 uses a mechanical reeves drive. Drive is visible on page 15 of pdf owners manual. Far cheaper way to go with import cheap labor. DC drive is much more. Inverter with three phase is cheaper than DC motor. Reeves drive is what has been used on variable speed lathes from PM and Delta for years. Also on drill presses from same companies. Low torque on low speed. Until DC motors are made overseas cost will be prohibitive.
My neighbor sells motorized wheel chairs. He occasionally trashes one and I have managed to salvage 4 high power DC motors. They're still setting here waiting for me to figure out a way to connect a pulley to their weird shaft. My first intent is to connect one to my drill press. I already have two 20 amp variac's.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
P W, describe the DC motor's shaft also voltage Perhaps you may be able to remove the armature and braze up the shaft and turn it on a lathe to a standard pully size? Also broach for a key? Stein.
http://www.dealerselectric.com/
For someone not able to scrounge DC motors I suggest the inverter route. My electrical sources tell me this is superior to DC drive and I notice a lot of equipment is coming with this option. Our $120,000 Wadkin moulder has one. I can often find three phase heavy duty industrial drill presses for a song and with the inverter technology I can put an inexpensive inverter on it and double the output speed, get soft start, reverse (handy for tapping) etc. A lot of the woodlathes are coming with inverters as well not to mention being able to convert a shaper to infinitely variable speed. As I mentioned before in an earlier post Baldor makes an inverter for 1 HP or less that will run a 220 volt three phase motor on 110 volt.
Bert,
I like your table and fence. I've got the same Delta DP as you and I have a couple of jigs for it, including a table/ fence for mortises but I might have to steal a couple ideas from your table and adjustable fence. Thanks for sharing the photo - I'm inspired.
Ed
Do you run yours slowly all the way through the speed range each day like the instructions say? I do sometimes but usually forget/ can't be bothered."Tractors are for work, not play." Mississippi State University Extensions Service
Ed,
No, I don't cycle it through the speeds every day. But I'm not in my shop every day, either. If figure that if I cycle it every time I turn on the DP, I'm still OK.
Bert
Its expensive to make a variable speed controller for a large induction motor. I think the delta 16 1/2 inch variable uses some kind of mechanical device to change the speed of the spindle. The smaller table top variable uses an electronic speed control.
Cool ...Thanks to all who have contributed to this question.
Jamie -
The variable speed lathes fall into two categories (that come to mind immediately after a few Moose Drools): True electronic control of 3ph motors via on board phase converters eg. the Powermatic that I own or a mechanical pulley setup that's hardly what I'd call true 'variable speed'.
Doc -
I only have one drill press. (Poor depraved person that I am). I use it for both metal working and wood working. Plus, for woodworking, I use anything from small to big, I mean BIG bits for boring out waste for turning things like bird houses. So yes, I find a frequent need for adjusting the speed of the thing. A 3/8" twist drill in mild steel takes a different RPM than a 1-1/2" forestner bit in walnut than a 3" (yes 3") forestner bit in birch. Then there's aluminum or whatever medium I decide to work in this week (grin)
Paul -
Good point about the shopsmith. I've seen these things demonstrated and the accuracy of each individual "tool" is pretty impressive. The cost of a used ShopSmith would be worth the value in having a truely variable speed drill press.
mstens ....
Of course, I can change the belt on my Cratsman (floor mounted) drill press in little time. But it would still be convenient to be able to simply 'dial in' the RPM than have to raise the belt cover, loosen the belt tension, locate the proper diameter in one or the other pulleys, move the belt and restore the previous elements to working posture. It just seems odd to me with all the advances in motor control technology these days that we still have to resort to such shinanigans. Actually, in thinking through the process, it's not all that instantanious at all! (hehehe)
Rick -
Thanks for the heads up on the Delta model.
I'm a ways from being able to afford a 'dedicated' woodworking drill press to suplant the drill press I currently have that endures double duty - metal & wood. I'll definitely look in to the true variable speed model(s) when the time comes. For the moment, I'm just testing the waters.
All -
To be sure, I appreciate bringing all the options to light.
Dennis in Bellevue WA
[email protected]
"But it would still be convenient to be able to simply 'dial in' the RPM"
The inverter will pretty much allow that. Down on the low speed you would want to put the belt on a lower speed pulley to keep the torque up but for the most part you could dial in a wide range of speeds. Inverters go up in price over the 1 hp rating but for your application it's a viable option. DC motors will do the same thing but are much more expensive.
The mechanical split pulleys that give variable speed you find on lathes and the more expensive drill presses are called reeves drives and also lose torque on the slow speeds.
I looked at the manual for that Delta DP250 variable speed 10" unit and it uses a reeves drive not electronics!!!
Edited 8/11/2003 5:12:21 AM ET by Rick at Arch. Timber and Millwork
Edited 8/11/2003 5:20:16 AM ET by Rick at Arch. Timber and Millwork
Reading all the post on this and a few others similar I'm forced to make an observation-
I'm old, no really!
I've been swinging a hammer since I was ten. Working with my dad and grandfather I was made aware of a rhythm. A poetic movement of purpose.
That being said, it seems to me to many people want things faster, more simple. Maybe a dialable speed drillpress would be a good thing?
I know I appreciate a lot of the improvements they've made in most of my tools now.
I just like the movement in my shop, the dance as it were. When I'm using the press removing the hood and slipping the belt and going back to drilling, memories of my grandfather watching him as a young boy.
I like the connection to the past with some tools, my dads planes and grandfathers saws.
Sure the drill press makes you slow down to change the speed but sometimes you need to slow down a bit.
Sometimes you need some tools that'll slow you down in the shop a bit so you can
Stop and smell the sawdust.
Sorry just starting my day with a little coffee and the smell of sawdust.
Bob, I love your phylosophy. You speak for the generations of craftmen/artisans and smiths of all trades.
What other endeaver gives you more satisfaction (And inner peace,) than following in your Dad's/Grand Dad's passion/pursuit or, pastime, than having, using and yes, cherishing his old tools.
What other room/can be your den,your inner sanctum,your hideout than your shop/shed/garage?
While photos and old letters bring back fond memories, Dad's old tools and equipment relate to you as a little child, a growing (And curious) boy, a teenager and a grown man?
His finest memories were often of times spent 'Shadowing' his Hero, his Idol his Dad.around Grandad's work shop too. I'll bet your Dad kept lot's of tools his Hero used.
My own tools are my friends and my best friends were once Dad's (and yes Grand Dad's.)
My sons have fond memories of helping dad in his garage (37 years, and nary a car)
Using the drill press, lathes, compressor, bandsaw even a tire changer bolted to the floor,led them to mechanical careers and now their sons are building memories too in 'The Shop'.
Hope I,ve reached all you Guys ang gals, Stein.
Thanks for the response. I tried to turn the conversation a little, didn't work. But it's nice to here from a fellow sawdustian.
sawdustian- definition
One who takes the time to stop and smell the sawdust.
J.ust A G.uy W.ith A H.ammer
formily a guy called BOB
Edited 8/25/2003 5:02:20 PM ET by JAGWAH
Actually, Rick, I've experienced the loss of torque on a 3ph/3hp motor operated at very very low RPM when the belt range was in the topmost rung of its three available speed ranges. So you're probably quite right in that one would still need to adjust belts & pulleys to get any kind of good torque with large bits that are ordinarily used at slow speeds in the first place.
Switching belts is certainly not a big deal. I just thought it odd that with all the variable speed equipment on the market we didn't have a variable speed drill press available. I think your observations are most likely the reason(s) why.
...........
Dennis in Bellevue WA
[email protected]
Dennis: Just wondern here if you decided which VS DP you going to get?? or you going to hold out for awhile & see if some major power tool mfg is going to grace there line with a new affordable one.. soo comeon tell us inquiring minds want to know.ha..
ToolDoc
Doc -
Not much chance of me buying a new drill press anytime in the near future. Variable speed, multi-speed or even single speed! (grin)
I've got one more major purchase left in my budget and that's a decent dust/chip control system.
But, on refection, I guess I'd have to agree with most of the opinions expressed here with respect to a variable speed 'feature' on such a machine: Not that much of a cost/benefit value.
...........
Dennis in Bellevue WA
[email protected]
Dennis: See I knew you were wearing out the hinges on the Belt cover on your Craftsman DP..Guess your just going to have to Grin & Bear with it there Old Buddy..
ToolDoc
There's a very simple solution to the hassle of changing the speed on stepped pulley drill presses; replace the standard v-belt with one of those red linked belts from Fenner Drives, they're readily available in many woodworking catalogs.
With a linked belt, a speed change takes only seconds and doesn't require any tools or adjustments. Linked belts have a little bit of stretch, to change speeds, you just "roll" the belt from one pulley groove to the next, you'll never have to fight with the belt tensioning mechanism again. As an added advantage, the belt will make the drill press run smoother with noticeably less vibration and no belt slippage.
By the way, you can't roll a regular v-belt, doing so will damage the belt and possibly bend the flanges on the pulleys.
Hope this helps, John W.
John, are you saying to roll the link belt over, reversing the face that is against the pulleys. Hope not, they are not reversible.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Forestgirl,
Rolling a belt, as I understand the term, is done by pushing one edge of the belt against the flange of the pulley and then rotating the drive by hand. This causes the belt to climb over the flange and drop into the next groove. The belt is still "right side out" when you are done.
John W.
Ahhhhhh, good! So that's the way to keep my fingers from being firmly seated between the belt and the pulley, eh!? Might be worth buying a link belt for, LOL!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I open just about everything in a new window, LOL. A running joke between me and Nick -- had to load up on RAM as a result.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Dennis: I found your new Drill Press!! Guess who has what your looking for??
NO its not Harbor Freight..LOL.. its Sears/Craftsman here are the specs~
15" craftsman Proffesional with Variable speed Control model # 00922935000
1HP ~ developed 2HP MAX! of course Sears always lies about there HP Ratings <G>..
5/8" chuck Speeds 300 ~ 3300 RPMS WT~440 LBS 70" High
Table Size is 16" X 13" Cast Iron Rack & Pinion up & Down
Depth of Throat is 7 1/2" The Best Part is its only $1.249.99 a Bargain IM Sure... you can go on line & check this puppy out..
http://www.craftsman.com
Soo when you going to order it there Buddy?? You might have to special order this Beast cause I Don't think your Local Sears has em in there Tool world..
ToolDoc
Edited 8/12/2003 12:26:25 PM ET by TOOLDOC
Dennis: OK scrap the craftsman idea I just Noticed that Delta has there New X5 model # 17-990x VS drill Press on sale for the unbeleavable price of only are you ready for this?? sit down first so your prepared..LOL .. on sale now for $749.00
plus you get your choice of one of 4 diffrent tools or $50.00 rebate plus lots of other goodies..check at a store near you plus take Gander over to there web site & check this out for yourself.. Boy hope you get back from your other home before you miss this Big Deal..
ToolDoc
I'd not worry so much about it. You mostly use one speed anyway, the slowest speed, for:
1. Big bits and fly cutters
2. Drilling metal
3. Mortising chisels
4. Small bits, although they specify fast speeds, they work lots better slow than big bits do fast!
5. Grinding wheels, sanding drums, strop wheels
You don't need to increase the speed often and moving a belt is no big deal (at least on my old Sears). If there's a problem, it's that the lowest speed on virtually all DPs is too FAST!
Dennis,
I asked this same question. Wanted one, but couldn't find a good drill press with electronic variable speed that was affordable, so I made one. I started with a good basic machine, a 1940s Atlas light industrial drill press. Then I found a new 3/4hp DC motor and a controller on ebay. Put everything together, and it works beautifully. I took out the idler pulley- no need for 14 pulley speeds- so I still have 4 or 5 mechanical speeds to select from. So far I haven't moved the belt. I have the speed controller adjusted to go from zero to 2500 RPM at the twist of a dial. It's nice to be able to use a big spade or forstner bit at slow speed, then switch to a 1/8" twist drill and speed it up by just turning the dial. I have even run a tap in plastic by turning the speed down really slow. Oh yeah, it has reverse also, so backing out the tap is a snap.
I think hobbyists in general don't put much value in electronic variable speed in a drill press, since the benefits are not as obvious as in a lathe, for example. If the perceived value isn't there, users won't be willing to pay the extra money, so manufacturers won't build it. So if you want one, you have to roll your own.
Rick
Trees, I'm proud of you for not going the import route You solved your problem and had fun doing it. I used to have trouble with raising and lowering my heavy drillpress table,.(No rack and pinion.)
After a little thought, I rigged up two small sheaves to the top of the column and with steel cable added a counter weight under the workbench(An old motor) when attached to each side of table's 'boss,'it counters the tendency to move
Now the table is easily moved and won't drop down any more. If you lived in Connecticut, You would win the Yankee ingenuity award. Ed
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