Drill Press Mod / DIY Mill - How crazy am I?

[Taz]

" I know this is all probably sounding like a bunch of crazy talk, but I think it'd be a heck of a fun project, if nothing else I bet I learn a ton. I'm not looking for a piece of equipment I can machine billet wheels for tractors with, but something I save a few trips to store "X" to hear "No sir, we don't have anything like that, and I wouldn't know who would" one more time with."


You said it right there, it would be a fun project. Sure, it can be built.

Rebuilding old machinery all these years, has taught me that.

Plan out all your moves and go at it. You'll learn a lot about mechanics/physics, in the process.

Just about everything....can be done in the Machining Industry.

Another reasons I love this Magnificent Trade.)

I actually got started in the trades as a young boy when I found a couple of old hand planes at an antique store, and found out later what a pitted sled and chipped up blade did to a nice piece of wood. I went to the library and learned how to fix them. My mother still uses the first table I built, using no power tools.

Thanks for the encouragement! There's a lot to learn yet.

 

[DMS]

I would keep the DP as a DP. That's nothing to sneeze at, a DP is a very useful machine, especially if can drill a straight hole. My old cheapo unit struggled with this, which is why I put it out of it's misery a while back. If you make, you're gonna end up spending a ton unless you go the Gingery route. It will teach you a ton though. Small used machines come up pretty often, and usually don't break the bank. If you're limited on space, keep an eye out for one of the SIEG X2 clones like Grizzly/Harbor Freight/Little Machine Shop sells.

 

[Taz]

I would keep the DP as a DP. That's nothing to sneeze at, a DP is a very useful machine, especially if can drill a straight hole. My old cheapo unit struggled with this, which is why I put it out of it's misery a while back. If you make, you're gonna end up spending a ton unless you go the Gingery route. It will teach you a ton though. Small used machines come up pretty often, and usually don't break the bank. If you're limited on space, keep an eye out for one of the SIEG X2 clones like Grizzly/Harbor Freight/Little Machine Shop sells.

I have actually been looking at the X2/X3 mills. I don't know why, but I just can't seem to drop the hammer! I think I have a hangup, not knowing much about them yet. I have many examples in my life of under-buying, and regreting later. I have exactly zero examples of the opposite. Maybe that's why. In the meantime, if this gives any indication of what draws me to a hobby... I'm having a blast scraping the ways of my cheap HF slide vise! <- Laughing a little as I'm sure this is supposed to be a dreaded task.

I'm sort of leaning the way you reccommend at the moment. It is a wonderful DP so far, love watching the long curls spin out. I did however find both an MT2 and R8 arbor/bearing I can fit in the quill... tempting, but I'm attracted to the idea that though my spindle is dis-continued, I can easily turn one from easy to find stock.

 

[Taz]

Did it with my old Walker-Turner, havn't been disappointed at all. I have used it for many years as my primary vertical mill. I use it on all materials as well, not just aluminum. You just have to learn how to work within the limitations of any machine you're using. A less rigid mill just takes longer. I did change out my spindle for an ER16 collet chuck with double ball bearings. I did use it for a while just using an endmill holder on the original JT33 spindle with a locking ring. For those mentioning the looseness of the quill, you always need to lock down the quill when milling.

I have no play in my quill, i keep it all the way up, and locked, and lower the entire head down over the foot. I also pushed the column down through the foot and into the bench, and mounted it to the inside of one of the walls. I'm convinced, that it's more possible than most are inclined to admit, for now though I can see my projects getting bigger, and quickly outgrowing it. I just found out there is a wholesale tool showroom down the street, I'm going to go take a look later today. Maybe touching the stuff will help me decide.

+1 For converting yours and being happy with the result!

 

[David S]

HI Taz,

I repair old clocks and often need to mill small parts, mostly brass. I have a very sturdy DP that has a runout of 0.001", one inch from the chuck. I bought an X-Y table so that I could do light milling. And for sure you are not supposed to chuck milling cutters in three jaw chucks... I do it anyway. I did have to take one gib screw out of each of the x and y slides and replace with a longer one with appropriate head so I could lock the table depending on which direction I was milling. I have made some pretty nice parts with this set up. I did have to modify the DP so that I could advance the quil down as I was making milling passes. My DP had a stop to limit the down travel, but I had to make a mod so that I could easily lock it down to a certain height for each pass.

If I have to do steel then it is really a labor of love.. very shallow cuts and lots of time.

Good luck.

David

 

[Taz]

Oh I'm in trouble now! I did it, I went and touched a full-sized milling machine, and now im hooked!

This one was an off brand I think, but based on a round column like a drill press.

http://www.wttool.com/index/page/pr...ll+Machine+(WT)&update_continue_shopping=true

Im sure this still is not the best route to go, BUT, there's almost no comparison to a drill press outside of the round column. It's very clear after touching one, and seeing all the details that duplicating one would be a very long process. I think I will stick with beefing up the drill press I have, to be a good drill press.

This is the machine I liked. Not too bad on $$, seems to be well built, ways even have faux scraping patterns in them. Warranty and parts are 2miles from my house. <- lucky there, nobody in town sells parts for my RC Heli! I have and will always love old iron first, but I haven't seen a lot of examples of older bench mount machines.

http://www.wttool.com/index/page/pr...ail+Column+(WT)&update_continue_shopping=true

Verdict: Thank you all for your input, I probably wouldn't have made the same choice without it. I know my DP CAN mill, but it's going to do what it was made to do.. Drill. I'm going to buy a new toy!

 

[Pacer]

Ahhh... a wise decision grasshopper.

That dovetail mill has become very popular with the home shoppers - and is getting good reviews! The one grumble about it is the crank to raise/lower the column, having to reach over to the back of the machine is awkward. (I'm trying to talk a buddy into getting that same mill)

The round column mill is also a decent HS mill, but does have the drawback of that round column.

 

[Taz]

Ahhh... a wise decision grasshopper.

I didn't think anyone was going to fight me on that one! It was good to get some feedback from both those who'd tried successfully, and those that had not. I don't like to do things twice if I don't have to though.

The one grumble about it is the crank to raise/lower the column, having to reach over to the back of the machine is awkward

I don't suspect it would be too difficult to rig up a belt/chain and a couple of pulleys/gears to add another crank to the front of the machine if its really that big an issue. Although I can see its probably a safety violation to leave a mill that isn't milling, on at ANY time, it still seems an additional concern to have to reach across a cutting area to access ANY part of a tool. I wouldn't have allowed such a tool in the field when I was in the trades.

Glad to know its got good reviews, and good taste is still good taste no matter where you apply it.

One thing I'm curious about on these is the noise. Are the geared drives much louder than the belts?

 

[Pacer]

too difficult to rig up a belt/chain and a couple of pulleys/gears to a

I seem to recall reading a bit about guys adapting a gear motor rigging up to the lift...

One thing I'm curious about on these is the noise. Are the geared drives much louder than the belts?

I do recall some grumbling about gear noise ... but that, along with the crank grumble, is no doubt subjective. There seems to always be a grumble about the noise in gear head lathes, but I have owned 3 different gear models along with that many belt driven and I never give it a thought - I figure its a machine, its gonna make some noise.

Do a google search on them, there should be a wealth of write up now on them.