Homemade Tools, Precision Drill Press

[Tom Wesenberg]

Yesterday I finished my latest homemade tool, a precision drill press. Pictured on the left is a small antique looking drill press that I found at a swap meet years ago. I mounted it to a board, and used an antique sewing machine motor to drive it. I couldn't find any miniature V belts to drive it, and had to settle for a couple large O-rings. This works OK for larger bits, like 1/16" to 1/8", but for the small carbide circuit board drill bits it was not precision enough and also not high enough RPM. This caused me to break more carbide bits than I care to mention, so I decided to make my own small precision drill press.

The small 12 volt drill motor and 0.8 mm bit came from ebay and the precision ball bearing slide came from a local surplus store that takes apart lab equipment. I don't like a heavy transformer on the end of the cord and it also wastes electricity, since it's always on when plugged in, so I mounted the transformer to the base and used a small rocker switch to switch the AC coming in. It's a 12 VDC 500 ma transformer that I had laying around, but it could have been as low as 350 ma and worked fine. I made protectors for the 110 volt terminals from clear plastic tubing. I used my Dremel to drill a small hole where the wire comes out the side, then used a razor to slit the tubing from the bottom to the hole. This way it snaps in place and stays there.

I use a microswitch to turn on the drill motor as soon as I press the lever down, so it only runs as needed and I don't have to be constantly flipping a switch. I did the same thing on the older small drill press I have pictured. I mounted two 12 volt LED's to light up the area to be drilled.

This project took longer just thinking about each step and what part to use and how to mount it, than to actually make it, so the next one I make should go much quicker. After getting some hours into the project it becomes more important to not make a mistake and have to start over. My first though was to used a Dremel mounted to the slide block, but when I felt the collet of the Dremel, it had too much end play and radial play, and the Dremel was a bit too bulky and powerful for what I needed.

Hopefully this tool will make the drilling go quicker and cut my carbide drill bits cost.

[luckyal]

You are obviously a very talented and gifted individual.
Al

[hefty lefty]

I saw a setup like this at a home-shop-machinist show a while back. Guy was making miniature carbs and magnetos for model gas engines.

Ever seen the books and videos Dave Gingery did of his homemade machine tools?

http://gingerybookstore.com/index.html

[Tom Wesenberg]

Thanks Al.

I saw Dave Gingery mentioned in Lindsey publications a number of times. I bought some books from Lindsey publications years ago, but haven't recieved any of their information lately. Guess I was dropped from the list due to lack of sales to me.

[hefty lefty]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Thanks Al.

I saw Dave Gingery mentioned in Lindsey publications a number of times. I bought some books from Lindsey publications years ago, but haven't recieved any of their information lately. Guess I was dropped from the list due to lack of sales to me.

Lindsay shut up shop earlier this year. He was very difficult to deal with and much of what he sold was public domain reprints which are now widely available on line. I met Gingery a few years before he died. Quite a fellow in terms of what he accomplished.

[BILL WILLIAMSON]

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Amazing, Tom!! I'm just barely learnin' to master the "keyless" chuck & how to "shift" gears on my $25.00 Harbor Freight drill press. Bill W.

[Terry, NJ]

Very Nice! And I like the finish on the wooden base. For small belts, Try Belting Industries IIRC someplace in NJ. or a sewing machine parts supplier. Great Job!
P.S. You don't watch much TV, do you?
Terry

[d.j. moordigian]

Tom,

Here is a tool I made for my lathe....I don't trust the cross slide dial.
This made the lathe very accurate for turning. I guess were OK for
"home made tools"?

Dudley

[Tom Wesenberg]

Originally Posted by d.j. moordigian

Tom,

Here is a tool I made for my lathe....I don't trust the cross slide dial.
This made the lathe very accurate for turning. I guess were OK for
"home made tools"?

Dudley

Excellent idea Dudley, Thanks

Now, if I could find a more accurate 3 jaw for my 1932 South Bend. I wound up with an odd thread size of 1 3/8 x 10 as I recall, and my 3 jaw has one broken tooth.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by Tom Wesenberg

Excellent idea Dudley, Thanks

Now, if I could find a more accurate 3 jaw for my 1932 South Bend. I wound up with an odd thread size of 1 3/8 x 10 as I recall, and my 3 jaw has one broken tooth.

Check out Buck chucks. With their 2 piece construction, they can be adapted to just about any spindle.

[Terry, NJ]

Tom, Most chucks come with out a face plate. You can get one and fit it to your spindle nose, Then machine a small shoulder on it to locate the chuck. The spot the holes, drill and tap them and presto! A new true chuck!
Terry