Drill press/table carriage lock woes

[Didgeridrew]

Is there some secret to get the carriage to stay locked in position when using the drill press?

I'm a few days into my first project using my grandfather's 510 and I've learned a lot about the machine through YouTube videos and forums like this one; but today was the first time using the drill press feature and the table would not stay put. At first I thought there was something wrong with the quill because my holes kept coming out shallower, but upon inspection I found that the table was being pushed down by the pressure of the drill. I finished out the day by dropping the table/carriage all the way down, but it was not comfortable and definitely not proper ergonomics for someone my height.

Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

[everettdavis]

I am sure JPG and others have better suggestions but I would test it in the horizontal position to insure the carriage lock that holds the table in place is gripping the way tubes properly and that it can't be moved.

Second, since it is a 510, add the telescoping legs to the table to add floor stability on the front once you take it vertical for drill press, especially if you are using exceptionally large or heavy stock. Both In and Out feed rollers can help if it is long stock.

Depending on the stock, you may can bore horizontally opposed to vertical, but the table height has to be rock solid there as well if using heavy stock.

Sharp drill bits obviously are going to require less quill down force, pushing the table (or fence if horizontal).

I have heard of this before, and these are the only work around solutions I know of.

Everett


Everett

[ERLover]

I feel your pain, been there on my dedicated, ER, just have to find an alternate lock down. Help is coming from here.

[JPG]

There is a nut on the back end of the carriage lock.

Tighten it a 1/4 turn and try again. Repeat if necessary.


Upon peer review, 1/4 turn is too much. So make it 1/16 turn.

[Ed in Tampa]

There is a nut on the back end of the carriage lock.

Tighten it a 1/4 turn and try again. Repeat if necessary.

Be careful you can and may dent the way tube if you tighten it too much.
This a common problem. I temporally solved it on my Shopsmith by taking the lock mechanism apart, cleaning everything and putting back together making all adjustments by the book.
The problem is, this will happen again when things get dirty or out of adjustment.

[JPG]

Make those '1/4 turn' adjustments with the lock 'unlocked'.

[richardrouse]

I had this problem after I waxed my tubes.

[ERLover]

I could not remember the word I needed to solve my similar problem on my ER dedicated DP but this am I am sharp as a tack. I put a split ring stop collar on both my way tubes underneath my table.

[jsburger]

Here is the solution I came up with before my dedicated MK V drill press. It is just two pieces of aluminum angle stock of an appropriate length for a comfortable table height. Set them around the way tubes on the pivot base and drop the table down on top. That and the telescoping legs and the table will not move.

I will say however I never really had a problem with the carriage moving during normal drilling. I used them mainly during hollow chisel mortising as extra insurance. I agree that the carriage locks need to be cleaned and properly adjusted.

[reible]

Interesting responses.

This is how I set up my machines and I do not have the slipping issue.

In this first photo the lever is in the unlocked position. The carriage moves freely and the handle has no pressure on it.

IMG_0105sc.jpg (112.32 KiB) Viewed 2490 times

This second photo shows where I start to feel resistance. While the carriage no longer moves freely it certainly would not lock or hold in this position.

IMG_0106sc.jpg (130.6 KiB) Viewed 2490 times

This third shot shows the lever in the locked position. It takes some effort to go this far but once here the carriage is not moving.

IMG_0107sc.jpg (113.87 KiB) Viewed 2490 times

The nut that controls this is on the opposite side and recessed. Socket might be your best bet.

IMG_0109sc.jpg (124.81 KiB) Viewed 2490 times

If you can't get the lever to the locked position then it is already too tight. If it moves to easily then it needs to be tighter....... but it would really have to be out of adjustment to have it need to be turned a quarter turn.

Keep in mind the lever goes from loose to tight in a quarter turn........... So just a slight turn makes a large difference. Often it takes a little fiddling to find the sweet spot but when you do you will feel the difference and it will work as intended. I find it easier to get it too tight then back off until I can lock the lever.

Ed