The main function of a drill press is the drilling into wood and various other materials. Because of the ease of speed changes and the range of speeds, additional tasks can be performed. A lower speed allows for drilling into metals, plastics, aluminum, etc. Higher speeds permit sanding drums to be used. There're common styles available bench and floor drill press. Most bench units are five speeds, with larger bench and floor units having anywhere from five to sixteen speeds.

Because of the necessity for accuracy, drilling holes far dowels is a function not easily done with a hand held drill. Angle direction and depth of the hole can be quickly checked and controlled with a drill press throughout the entire drilling operation.

Using A Drill Press
Be sure that the drill runs true. Scored or marred drill shanks will not cut a true hole. When drilling hard material with a large drill, use a lower speed. Small drills should be run at higher speeds and should be fed into the work with care. It is very desirable to have two sets of drill bits - one set for drilling steel and other hard materials and one set for drilling brass, aluminum, wood and other soft materials.

Using Center Finder
A center finder is useful for setting the spindle of a drill press or mill accurately over a known point. A center finder is made of two searate pieces spring loaded together. The center finder is used by installing it in the chuck, placing the pointed end into a centerpunch mark, and pressing down lightly on the quill. At first, the two parts will probably not be concentric.
The bed of the drill or mill can then be adjusted to until the two halves are concentric. Check for concentriccity by running your fingers up and down the center finder. You should detect no steps. You should be able to locate the desired position to within .001 inches using this technique. Now the hole is ready to be drilled.

Drilling a Hole
First, a center drill should be used. A center drill has a thick shaft and very short flutes. It is therefore very stiff and won't walk as the hole is getting started. It doesn't cut as easily as a drill bit, so you should use cutting fliud.
Now the hole can be drilled. If the hole is large, its a good idea to drill a smaller pilot hole before drilling the final one. Your hole will be more accurately positioned, rounder, and the bits will last longer. If the hole is deeper than it is wide. use coolant and back off occaisionally to clear the chips. As you step up in drill size, you will need to reduce the spindle speed. If drilling a through hole, ensure that the bit will not drill the table after moving through your work. To set a desired depth of hole, there is a depth stop on the quill.

Deburring a Hole
Usually, the top edge of the hole will be fairly clean, but the bottom edge will have substantial burrs. To remove them, insert a deburring tool into the hole and run the tool about the edge of the hole with moderate pressure.

Reaming a Hole
A drilled hole will be accurate to about two thousandths of an inch in diameter. If greataer precision is required for slip fits or interference fits, a reamer must be used. The straight flutes of a reamer cannat drill a hole. You must drill a hole slightly udersize to start. Be sure to drive the reamer down with a constant, slow speed.

Most bench or floor model drill presses use a 1/2" or 5/8" chuck size rather then a 1/4" or 5/'8" found on hand held units. This larger size allows the use of larger diameter bits or accessories. Most Forstner or wood boring bits have 3/8" or 1/2" shanks.
The drill press motors, similar to the Scroll Saw, have lower horsepower ratings than Table Saws. Motors of 1/4 H.P. are normally found on bench units utilizing 1/2" chucks and 1/2 to 3/4 H.P. on floor units utilizing 5/8" chucks. The R.P.M. is about 1725 with a V-belt/pulley system used to increase or decrease the spindle speed.

Author: Carl Robinson
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