Shopsmith Forums

Got ready to drill a hole in a table leg in horizontal mode which was going to be so easy on my SS. Oops the table won't go down far enough! Switched to vertical position and had a perfectly centered hole in no time. Metal base in which I had previously drilled the table leg hole, plus top and base countersunk attachment holes. Now the metal part of the base has been welded and I needed to drill a matching hole thru a wood beam in the middle of the metal part of the base.

I do not like to drill metal with my SS, but that is the only drill press we have. It did quite well, although, about halfway thru the original 40+ holes I was wishing for the big industrial drill press that I grew up with where you could bring the handle down so far, squirt a little oil and walk away to let the weight of the handle do the work.

scollins wrote:Got ready to drill a hole in a table leg in horizontal mode which was going to be so easy on my SS. Oops the table won't go down far enough! Switched to vertical position and had a perfectly centered hole in no time. Metal base in which I had previously drilled the table leg hole, plus top and base countersunk attachment holes. Now the metal part of the base has been welded and I needed to drill a matching hole thru a wood beam in the middle of the metal part of the base.

I do not like to drill metal with my SS, but that is the only drill press we have. It did quite well, although, about halfway thru the original 40+ holes I was wishing for the big industrial drill press that I grew up with where you could bring the handle down so far, squirt a little oil and walk away to let the weight of the handle do the work.

So hang a weight on the handle!

Not certain JPG's idea is safe, but we actually did something like that when boring through 1/2" steel plate with old bits.
I found an old leg weight (fabric filled with lead shot). Had to using mechanical wire to loop over the handle, tighten so it would not slip off and then a loop through the leg weight. It was heavy enough to keep pressure but light enough to keep from jamming the flutes of the bit.

Probably neither safe nor sane, but it worked.

If I was to try something like that again, I'd probably try using a spring for tension attached to the handle, but since I'm not planning on ANYTHING like that again, it's pure old fart speculative ramblings!

Be well,
Ben

benush26 wrote:Not certain JPG's idea is safe, but we actually did something like that when boring through 1/2" steel plate with old bits.
. . .
Be well,
Ben

Hey it was 'his' idea!

Keep in mind work hardening while drilling. Cutting depends on the drill continuing to cut and not setting there spinning. I could go in to more detail but you all know how to use google so I'll let it go with the key word.

Ed

reible wrote:Keep in mind work hardening while drilling. Cutting depends on the drill continuing to cut and not setting there spinning. I could go in to more detail but you all know how to use google so I'll let it go with the key word.

Ed

Exactly! Bunish26 said "using old drill bits". To me old implies dull. Why would one do that. Dull drills in wood is one thing but in metal.

jsburger wrote:

reible wrote:Keep in mind work hardening while drilling. Cutting depends on the drill continuing to cut and not setting there spinning. I could go in to more detail but you all know how to use google so I'll let it go with the key word.

Ed

Exactly! Bunish26 said "using old drill bits". To me old implies dull. Why would one do that. Dull drills in wood is one thing but in metal.

Dull would have a step up!
We needed to drill four 5/8" holes times 8 pieces of 1/2" cold rolled. We used what we could find and really didn't have the money to buy a new bit. . I remember using 3in1 oil (the red can with the white plastic spout) as a lubricant, thinking more oil made for better cutting!! Huge mess all over the table. . My new 1980 500 did eventually get it done but then I fired up the bandsaw to cut aluminum blocks. Finished some of those cuts with an aging hack saw.

Yes, I turned my Shopsmith into a metal working machine. I think we used the belt sander to take some of the sharp edges off the aluminum after it was cut out. But we did get the project done with what we had. Can't say that alcohol made any stupid decisions..... We made enough of those on our own.

Sometimes I look back at those days and wonder "How in the world did I survive?"

Be well,
Ben

Step drill bit!! HF sells em cheap.

ERLover wrote:Step drill bit!! HF sells em cheap.

1/2" cr steel? 'maybe'.

step bits are for sheet metal less than 1/16"
drilling any hole in metal I start with 1/8" drill bit, then 1/4", then 3/8", then 1/2" etc. up to 1".
my drill bit last longer that way.
for drilling metal of any type I go to my old post drill (blacksmith)