Tall Drilling Advise

[intrepid]

I'm looking for advise on drilling the end of the ram on my arbor press. The ram is 2" square and 27" long. I want to drill a 1/2" hole 1.25" deep in the end of the ram for holding tooling. I was hoping to mount it in my drill press. However after lowering the table, I only have 24" between the table top and the chuck. Add a short bit and down to 22". How would you go about drilling this hole. I can move the table to the side and use the base but but then the ram would have to be raised closer to the chuck, and then figure out how to securely hold it steady for drilling. I also have available in my shop a 10" SB Lathe but don't think I have a way to spin it to drill. All ideas and suggestions considered.

 

[ChazzC]

Raise the table and swing it so you can clamp the ram on the side of the table. Will take some fiddling to get the ram vertical and aligned under the spindle but it can be done.

Alternatively, clamp the ram to the side of your bench, swing the head of the drill press around over the ram and clamp the base of the drill press to the bench so it doesn’t fall over.

I’d mock something up and take a picture but I gave up my bench drill press when I got my Mini-Mill (one if the issues when you have a small shop).

 

[woodchucker]

I drilled mine on my mill. I swung the head to the side and used an angle plate to secure and keep it straight.
if your SB 10 has a big enough throat you could hold it in a 4 jaw.

For your drill press you could flip your table 90 degrees and secure it using all thread / washers and a cross bar.
OR if you have a Palmgren or similar drill press vise that has a flat side you can hold the shaft in the vise on the edge of the table.
I have a Palmgren / actually 2 one with square sides, and one for angles.. great for my drill press needs.

There are always lots of ways. While you have it out, make sure you put a set screw in to hold your pressing tools, I use mine with tools mostly. if I need a shaft pressed out, I have some necked down or up shafts to press shafts out of bearings or press fits. I use it for stamping numbers.

 

[woodchucker]

one more way... if you have Hand Screws, you can use 2 to square it up on the edge of the table.
you orient them 90 to each other and it holds them square.
then you can put them on the edge of your table.

 

[IHinIN]

Could you clamp it to the tool post or compound on your lathe and spin the drill in the chuck? Might have to remove the tailstock to make room depending on the length of your lathe.

 

[Ed ke6bnl]

I was able to drill on my mill with a right angle adaptor.

 

[intrepid]

WOW! Thanks guys. All great ideas. Sometimes my mind just goes blank. I think the easiest and securest way for me is to turn my table 90*, use my vise to hold it. I will also use additional clamps to secure it to the table. I suppose now when I do it I will need to take a photo and post it. Thanks again all for the great ideas!

 

[ChazzC]

Could you clamp it to the tool post or compound on your lathe and spin the drill in the chuck? Might have to remove the tailstock to make room depending on the length of your lathe.

I really like this idea: I've been meaning to drill the bottom of the ram on my 1T press, and was figuring on having to do it by hand (a HF press so can't make it any worse than it already is ), but I can take the TS off my 7x16 and make it work.

Gives me a good excuse to finally fit the T-Slot Compound that's been sitting around since January!

 

[ChazzC]

WOW! Thanks guys. All great ideas. Sometimes my mind just goes blank. I think the easiest and securest way for me is to turn my table 90*, use my vise to hold it. I will also use additional clamps to secure it to the table. I suppose now when I do it I will need to take a photo and post it. Thanks again all for the great ideas!

Forgot that some of the bench drill presses have tables that rotate

 

[ltlvt]

I drilled mine on my mill. I swung the head to the side and used an angle plate to secure and keep it straight.
if your SB 10 has a big enough throat you could hold it in a 4 jaw.

For your drill press you could flip your table 90 degrees and secure it using all thread / washers and a cross bar.
OR if you have a Palmgren or similar drill press vise that has a flat side you can hold the shaft in the vise on the edge of the table.
I have a Palmgren / actually 2 one with square sides, and one for angles.. great for my drill press needs.

There are always lots of ways. While you have it out, make sure you put a set screw in to hold your pressing tools, I use mine with tools mostly. if I need a shaft pressed out, I have some necked down or up shafts to press shafts out of bearings or press fits. I use it for stamping numbers.

ZACKLY