DRILL PRESSES

DRILL PRESSES

The SCW Wood Workers club has 3 Drill Presses. Their basic function is to make perpendicular holes.

Drill Press #77
Drill Press #16
Drill Press #70

 All three are similar. There are 3 major components.

  • A head which contains the motor and a chuck to hold a drill bit.
  • An adjustable bed to hold material.
  • A “Down Feed” handle to lower the drill bit into the wood.  

Forstner bits may only be used on Drill Press #70. The reason is that drill press #70 is speed controlled for Forstner bits which require lower RPMs . Never use Forstner bits on drill press #16 or #77. These bits have cutting teeth on the outer edge. 

You should always use a spoil board to protect the bed and your drill bit (see Drill Press #70).

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OPERATING

 

  • Be sure the bed surface is clean.
  • Select the type and size of your drill bit. Small chunks can through off the angle of the hole.
  • Secure the bit in the chuck. The Chuck has a tubular shape with vertical flutes on the side and a ring of teeth at the below and three jaws on the bottom to hold the bit. 
    •  Grab the chuck drive shaft with one hand and the flute sides with the other and twist the chuck counterclockwise (looking down on the chuck) to open the chuck.
    • When the jaws have open wide enough slide the bit up into the chuck. The lower shaft of the drill is a helix or spiral, this should not go inside the chuck The smooth upper section of the drill gives the best gripping surface for the jaws. Now turn the chuck clockwise, while holding the drive shaft, to tighten the jaws on the chuck. The chuck key is usually on the left side of the drill press head. 
    • To thoroughly tighten the jaws the is usually a chuck key which is sort of “t” shaped with teeth that will match the teeth on the top ring of the chuck.
    • Keep your hand back from the chuck and turn the motor on for a few seconds to see if the bit spins without wobble, etc. It should look like a straight line pointing straight down.
  • Next place your work on the bed using the spoil board. Use the crank on the bed mount on the drill press pedestal. There is a lever on the back of the mount to lock the bed in place. Release that lever to move the bed then lock it in place. Move your work to just under the drill bit (about an inch or two). Then move your work aside and lower the drill bit to be sure it will go into the spoil board.
  • Put your work back and lower the drill bit and center the work under the bit where you want to drill. 
  • If you don’t want your hole completely through the material, you can set a stop for the drill at the proper depth. This is handy if you need multiple holes at the same depth.