3 Lever Drill Press Handles

sunset22 · Post by **sunset22** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:34 pm

Hello

I purchased a 3 lever drill press handles a number of years ago. It really buged me not being able to secure all three handles and having two stick out. I left the two that were not completly tapped completly out it buged me so much. I am currently getting back into using my shopsmith and getting it cleaned and tuned up from a few years of not having any time. I finished tapping two of the handles so now all three lock onto the shaft. It is great. Now all three handles stick out the same length. The handles lock onto the shaft from three points instead of one. Shop Smith customer service says that it is not necessary. I was wondering how others felt on this subject. From those that have one do you think all three should be tapped, or are you fine like it is?

Sunset22

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:51 pm

sunset22 wrote:Hello

I purchased a 3 lever drill press handles a number of years ago. It really buged me not being able to secure all three handles and having two stick out. I left the two that were not completly tapped completly out it buged me so much. I am currently getting back into using my shopsmith and getting it cleaned and tuned up from a few years of not having any time. I finished tapping two of the handles so now all three lock onto the shaft. It is great. Now all three handles stick out the same length. The handles lock onto the shaft from three points instead of one. Shop Smith customer service says that it is not necessary. I was wondering how others felt on this subject. From those that have one do you think all three should be tapped, or are you fine like it is?

Sunset22

Truth be told, none of them should be tapped through!

The single tapped through handle hole was a cost/convenience change from the Model 10 set screw secured version. Tapping through one handle hole eliminated the fourth hole for the set screw and allowed one handle to be manually adjusted to secure it to the quill feed shaft without needing the set screw wrench.

Now there is no doubt the three handle securing provided by tapping all three holes results in a much more secure attachment of the hub to the quill feed shaft. Only disadvantage is the need to manually tighten all three handles.

Interesting 'alteration'!:)

billmayo · Post by **billmayo** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:52 am

The 3 Lever Drill Press Handle #555491 allows all 3 handles to tighten in the 3 indents in the quill Feed Shaft end. I have not had a handle loosen even when millling metal with the drill press.

robinson46176 · Post by **robinson46176** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 6:22 am

I always liked having mine only tighten at one point because I often took it off to use the single handle at times when I felt that it was in the way or to use it on another one of the Shopsmiths. It originally annoyed me checking to see which handle to loosen and I was going to mark it. Then it hit me to just change the locking one out with a red one (they were all three black).
It currently resides on the PM / PM double drill press and I could change it back to all black ones. I would sometime like to pick up another one for the other headstock on it.

.

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 1:40 am

robinson46176 wrote:I always liked having mine only tighten at one point because I often took it off to use the single handle at times when I felt that it was in the way or to use it on another one of the Shopsmiths. It originally annoyed me checking to see which handle to loosen and I was going to mark it. Then it hit me to just change the locking one out with a red one (they were all three black).
It currently resides on the PM / PM double drill press and I could change it back to all black ones. I would sometime like to pick up another one for the other headstock on it.
.

Brilliant, I never thought of doing this.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 5:39 am

My single handle is (was) longer than the handles in the three handled one. Now the long handle resides in the locking position on the three handled one.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 11:48 am

Another way to 'distinguish' the handle is to place jam nuts(thin) on the other two.

Or drill a small hole in the end of the handle.

Or apply paint to the end of the handle.

IMHO the length difference is a minimal 'issue'.

Or make your own handles with different length.

Or get a 10E/ER hub and insert a 3/4" to 5/8" bushing with a clearance hole for the set screw. But then you would need a 3/16" allen wrench.

'Trivial Pursuit' for some reason is in my mind!:rolleyes:

sunset22 · Post by **sunset22** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:31 pm

Thanks for the replies. It seems 50/50. I will admit that it is not neccessay, but I do like having all three locked in. If your taking it off alot then I could see that just one might be preferable. It does get in the way of the table saw and then I just take out the handle that is in the way. Having the locking one color coded would be nice. Maybe SS could sell two versions. I do think shopsmith should let buyers know that only one is locking. I thought they had sent out a defective part.

Thanks again for the comments.

Sunset22

paulmcohen · Post by **paulmcohen** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 12:56 am

billmayo wrote:The 3 Lever Drill Press Handle #555491 allows all 3 handles to tighten in the 3 indents in the quill Feed Shaft end. I have not had a handle loosen even when millling metal with the drill press.

Are you saying there are two different models of the hub, the one I have only has one tapped through hole. It now has one red handle thanks to robinson46176.

JPG · Post by **JPG** » Thu Mar 15, 2012 1:51 am

paulmcohen wrote:Are you saying there are two different models of the hub, the one I have only has one tapped through hole. It now has one red handle thanks to robinson46176.

If Bill has one like that, I think that there are two like that!;)