12 Speed Drill Press

[freedhardwoods]

I have had a small 5 speed drill press for 20 or 30 years. The slowest it will go is 620 rpm. That seems to work fine for 1/4" or smaller, but I have burned the tips on several drill bits, and that gets expensive when you are trying to use a one inch bit.

I am been watching fb marketplace for a long time looking at 12 speed drill presses. They were either too much, too far away, or I didn't have time.
A week ago I saw one for $50 that was about 20 miles from my house, but I was at work and wasn't going to be home for 2 days. From the wording in the post, i could tell it was a lady, and I suspected that her husband was either sick or had passed away. I messaged her and said I would pay seventy dollars if she would hold it until I got home. It turns out my guess was right. Her husband had passed away.

Anyhow, I now have a 12 speed drill press with the lowest speed being 280 rpm. Maybe I'll stop burning drill bits now.

 

[ricky racer]

Good for you! The larger the bit, the slower it needs to turn. Good luck!!

 

[tst]

watch out for big bits cutting stuck when drilling metal

 

[freedhardwoods]

watch out for big bits cutting stuck when drilling metal

I have had pieces of metal yanked out of my hand before on a drill press. The best part is when it comes around and smacks your hand.

 

[Board shortener Tom]

I have had pieces of metal yanked out of my hand before on a drill press. The best part is when it comes around and smacks your hand.

Clamps help or even a bolt sticking up through the table to prevent a piece from spinning if the bit grabs.

 

[freedhardwoods]

Clamps help or even a bolt sticking up through the table to prevent a piece from spinning if the bit grabs.

I use clamps on little pieces. It's the bigger ones where I think " I've got this" that get me.

 

[Board shortener Tom]

I hear that!! I was taught to put the larger pieces against the post of the drill press and if they were not long enough to put a pin, bolt or clamp on the table to rest the workpiece against. I watched my brother try to drill out a wire terminal. It grabbed, the wire wrapped around his finger and tied it to the small drill bit. It made a nice cut lengthwise on his finger that went to the bone.... in an instant.