Depth control on drill press

[dickg1]

Dusty,

Give me a rap on the head if I don't have this right. But, if the headstock was slipping wouldn't this make successive holes deeper?

dickg1

[ldh]

Blackace,
With the Mark V 500 you can use the SS #555627 support legs with your table. I will post a pic of using them on my 500 along with a simple jig that will
address any creep in your carriage as well as preventing any creep in your fence when drilling tough material.
ldh

[dusty]

Dusty,

Give me a rap on the head if I don't have this right. But, if the headstock was slipping wouldn't this make successive holes deeper?

dickg1

Yup, it sure would. I must have had too much mince meat pie for lunch. That rum is good stuff.

Thanks, dickg1, for letting me down so easy!

[charlese]

Dusty,

Give me a rap on the head if I don't have this right. But, if the headstock was slipping wouldn't this make successive holes deeper?

dickg1

Not necessarily! Could be your headstock is tight enough to hold in position when in vertical position (never slip down by gravity), but loose enough to be pushed up by pressure of an extending quill - then the holes would get shallower. Wouldn't doubt that I have done this also!

Sorry! read dickg1's post before reviewing the rest of the thread. Never the less - the headstock CAN creep up! Hardly ever creeps down, because this is too noticeable and is fixed immediately.

Happy New Year!!!

[oldforester2000]

Are you using the telescoping legs to support the table? If not, you may be getting enough deflection on the table to give you the change in depth. Or with bigger bits, you may have enought down pressure to change the height of the table even if it seems tight. Hope this helps.

[Nick]

Far be it from me to point out the obvious, but if the holes are getting progressively shallower with each hole and I'm sure both the carriage lock and headstock lock are engaged, the next place I'd look is the chuck. The drill bit could be slipping. The most common reasons for this are:
1. The chuck has not been properly tightened. You must insert the chuck key in at least two of the holes and turn it, preferably all three, for the pressure to be even on all three jaws and the bit to be secure in the chuck.
2. There is fine sawdust in the chuck or on the drill shank.
3. The drill shank is scratched or gauled. The clamping surfaces of the jaws will not engage it properly.

I'd check this before I start investing in accessories or jerry-rig the machine.

With all good wishes,

[john]

I've had this happen to me as well on a few occasions and could never figure it out. Though the table slipping is a good possiblity, in each case I reset the bit and and depth and this seemed to work so Nick's suggestion was probably the problem in my case.

I will in future ensure the table in locked down tight to cover all my bases.

John

[Bruce]

Far be it from me to point out the obvious, but if the holes are getting progressively shallower with each hole and I'm sure both the carriage lock and headstock lock are engaged, the next place I'd look is the chuck. The drill bit could be slipping. The most common reasons for this are:
1. The chuck has not been properly tightened. You must insert the chuck key in at least two of the holes and turn it, preferably all three, for the pressure to be even on all three jaws and the bit to be secure in the chuck.
2. There is fine sawdust in the chuck or on the drill shank.
3. The drill shank is scratched or gauled. The clamping surfaces of the jaws will not engage it properly.

I'd check this before I start investing in accessories or jerry-rig the machine.

With all good wishes,

Thanks Nick, for clearing up our tunnel vision. Sometimes we can't see the forest for the trees.

[ldh]

Hi Folks,
Having read all the posts on the hole depth problem it is clear that many have experienced the tricky little problem and have quickly solved it with tightening or cleaning some adjustment on the Shopsmith. I find that my inattentiveness or lapse in thought process created the same problem many times. I think the Shopsmith is just about the best all-around woodworking tool that money can buy. The attached pics are of a simple jig I use to keep any possible creep out of my table and fence when I am using the machine in the horizontal boring position. The use of the Shopsmith #555627 legs are of great help also.
ldh

[DC Ross]

I had the same problem. It turned out to be the table carriage slipping slightly due to the pressure of drilling. I tightened up the carriage lock, and no more slippage!