Jem
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Post by Jem on Sept 26, 2023 21:32:39 GMT
Can anybody help me with this question please?
Looking at a used bench drill. It's 'only' 1/3hp.
With a decent/sharp drill bit, what thickness mild steel would it reasonably be expected to deal with do you think? (I'm not concerned about how long it would take , but wouldn't want to overload it and burn it out)
Thanks
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Post by wheelson on Sept 26, 2023 23:14:53 GMT
Can’t give you an absolute answer off the top of my head but that’s the size motor my drill press has. There are a few variables to consider.
Feed and speed is a big one. You mentioned feed. Does the press have any means of controlling speed as a variable stack of pulleys? There’s a lot of charts on line for “printable drill speed charts for metal”.
Liberal use of a good cutting oil is important. Any light machine oil should work.
Titanium nitride drill bits will cut better, stay sharper, and last longer than plain high speed steel. If by chance you happen across some solid carbide bits (and that happens sometimes if you buy bits on line from machine shop surplus), be very careful to not over feed and put a side load on the bit. Carbide is very hard but quite brittle and can snap and take off like a rocket. You can tell a solid carbide bit by its weight, much more than HSS or coated bits.
Sorry but this off the top of my head. I spent 27 years in the metal cutting industry, but I’ve been retired since 2009.
Best,
John “wheelson”
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 27, 2023 4:28:51 GMT
Can anybody help me with this question please? Looking at a used bench drill. It's 'only' 1/3hp. With a decent/sharp drill bit, what thickness mild steel would it reasonably be expected to deal with do you think? (I'm not concerned about how long it would take , but wouldn't want to overload it and burn it out) Thanks This video is a review of the little 1/3 HP, 5 speed, bench mount drill press like I use; I hope it is helpful.
Cheers Jim
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,390
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Post by Jem on Sept 27, 2023 10:13:32 GMT
Thanks John and Jim, much appreciated, thanks for info. Yes, it's a 5 speed belt.
That will be fine for me. I can't think I ever have anything more than about 4mm and with some good lubricant, I should be good for any jobs I do. Just this morning been offered a 0.456 HP too. Both at £40, so can't go far wrong with either I think.. Just need to calculate which is the nearer/easier drive.
This has been on my list for a few years , but I never had room. This is the pay-off for selling off a few bikes over the summer.
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Jem
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Posts: 3,390
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Post by Jem on Sept 27, 2023 10:15:33 GMT
This video is a review of the little 1/3 HP, 5 speed
That is a handy size Jim! |
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,390
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Post by Jem on Sept 27, 2023 10:16:21 GMT
Can’t give you an absolute answer off the top of my head but that’s the size motor my drill press has. There are a few variables to consider. Feed and speed is a big one. You mentioned feed. Does the press have any means of controlling speed as a variable stack of pulleys? There’s a lot of charts on line for “printable drill speed charts for metal”. Liberal use of a good cutting oil is important. Any light machine oil should work. Titanium nitride drill bits will cut better, stay sharper, and last longer than plain high speed steel. If by chance you happen across some solid carbide bits (and that happens sometimes if you buy bits on line from machine shop surplus), be very careful to not over feed and put a side load on the bit. Carbide is very hard but quite brittle and can snap and take off like a rocket. You can tell a solid carbide bit by its weight, much more than HSS or coated bits. Sorry but this off the top of my head. I spent 27 years in the metal cutting industry, but I’ve been retired since 2009. Best, John “wheelson” Hugely helpful John. Thanks |
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Post by brianbutler on Sept 27, 2023 12:51:55 GMT
Good thread. I have been doing without a drill press for decades for no good reason.
Brian
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 27, 2023 13:42:39 GMT
A used Drill Press may lack documentation. If so, the image below may be useful.
Cheers Jim
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Post by brianbutler on Sept 27, 2023 14:07:00 GMT
I noticed that this exact drill press is sold under a wide range of brand names (Craftsman, WEN, among others.) Harbor Freight has the best price by far. Maybe the Harbor Freight version (currently Bauer, previously Central Machinery) requires more customer assembly. I don't know.
Brian
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Post by wheelson on Sept 27, 2023 16:55:00 GMT
There’s a Harbor Freight bench top press at the shop that seems to work fine, only comment is the need for an x-y axis drill press vice. I have an old radial arm drill press with said vise in my garage that used to work great but needs a tuneup. I got the press as a free takeaway from a friend of a friend. I had visions of turning it into a pseudo mill. Still might.
Best,
John “wheelson”
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Post by oldroadietehachapi on Sept 27, 2023 20:02:40 GMT
There’s a Harbor Freight bench top press at the shop that seems to work fine, only comment is the need for an x-y axis drill press vice. I have an old radial arm drill press with said vise in my garage that used to work great but needs a tuneup. I got the press as a free takeaway from a friend of a friend. I had visions of turning it into a pseudo mill. Still might. Best, John “wheelson” I agree, a drill press vise is a necessity. An X-Y vise is even better, a sliding table X-Y vise is better yet.
Cheers Jim
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Jem
Viscount
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Posts: 3,390
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Post by Jem on Sept 28, 2023 7:55:20 GMT
There’s a Harbor Freight bench top press at the shop that seems to work fine, only comment is the need for an x-y axis drill press vice. I have an old radial arm drill press with said vise in my garage that used to work great but needs a tuneup. I got the press as a free takeaway from a friend of a friend. I had visions of turning it into a pseudo mill. Still might. Best, John “wheelson” I agree, a drill press vise is a necessity. An X-Y vise is even better, a sliding table X-Y vise is better yet.
Cheers Jim
Does the x-y vice need a certain kind of attachment to be held on, or it just attaches to the drills regular 'deck'? ie can you retro-fit to any drill press? I just Goolged it and my mind opened up to possibilities of what could be done with one of those, and I got interested |
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Post by wheelson on Sept 28, 2023 12:32:40 GMT
I think most press tables have slots for bolting down a vise. My x-y is rather cheap but really handy. This conversation really awoke my need to do some maintenance on my press. It’s out in my unheated garage/shed. Good news, the motor runs, the spindle turns, but the press downward is sluggish. Another project!
Best,
John “wheelson”
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