drill press?

[Mark Cramer]

Hi Mary,

for the shop here at B.U. I purchased a fairly in-expensive radial-arm,
bench-top press. Although I waffle back and forth on methods of drilling
pin-blocks, my favourite is in the piano, and second is with the pin-block
fastened to the frame, on a cart. The reach of the radial-arm allows both,
however the base must be securely mounted, and must not allow flex.

If you don't trust yourself with a portable drill; pin-block dowel and
around-the-rim plate bolt holes can be drilled with this press as well. Just
depends how much time you want to fuss with table height,
removing/re-installing bits to re-locate, etc.

Another advantage to this design is the ability to pivot/swivel the
headstock, you can drill straight up in the air, if you wish. The downside
is just one more adjustment you must double-check before precise work. I do
a lot of hammers, you can imagine the drama if the table was square, but the
arm adjustment wasn't, etc.

Whatever unit you buy should have minimal run-out (side-play when extended
to full depth)in the quill, as mentioned, however even the cheapest units
most always feature an adjustment screw for this.

Finally, I wouldn't limit your purchase based on what your perceived use of
it may be now. You will be surprised at the variety of tasks you can use it
for i.e.:

small diameter buffing wheel - polish keys, aggraffes, etc.

drum sander - thickness leather for key-bushing

to "lathe" custom tools from brass rod - Susan Graham's damper guide-rail
bushing-easer

Someone already mentioned the rotary planer

good luck,

Mark Cramer,
Brandon University




-----Original Message-----
From: owner-caut@ptg.org [mailto:owner-caut@ptg.org]On Behalf Of Ed
Guerra
Sent: Wednesday, June 13, 2001 2:27 PM
To: caut@ptg.org
Subject: Re: drill press?


Mary,

I have a table model and I have found it to take care of almost anything I
need.  I have used it to re drill pedal lyers and put in new dowels.

Ed Guerra



At 03:56 PM 6/12/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>Dear List,
>
>I am finally going to break down and buy a drill press of my very own, and
>would like to get people's opinions/experiences with them. I have a fairly
>small shop, so I've been considering a tabletop model, but am concerned
>that it might be too light weight. I would be using it mostly for
>releading keys, but I'm sure I would find lots of other things to do with
>one once I got it! Thanks in advance...
>
>Mary