I want to drill out a stock for pillars. Recommend a good drill press.
Thanks. Now, after looking at the above link, just curious why you recommend a 17" vs a 12"? I have never owned a drill press before, always used someone else's, so I may not appreciate the size difference. But yes, this is very helpful.As is always good advice, buy the best you can afford/justify. The more you expect to use it, the greater the investment is justified. I'm not much for Harbor Freight crap, but Grizzly makes fairly good machine tools at reasonable prices. I'd say the average hobbyist could be quite happy with Grizzly tools.
This is similar to my Craftsman:
https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-17-floor-drill-press/g7947
IMO, the same drill press that would be best for drilling your pillars would be the same drill press that is best for almost everything else. Good quality, stable/heavy, large table. For drilling pillar bores that get glued in with epoxy bedding compound, you'll need a chuck capable of using 1/2" shanks to use the larger drills needed.
For precision work, a vertical mill is by far the best device, but a heavy drill press with an adjustable vise can do most actual drilling to a "close enough" degree. I have an older Craftsman 17-speed, 1-1/2 HP free-standing/floor drill press, and often use it with a small machinist's vise mounted on an adjustable table for more demanding work. For coarse/heavy stuff, like drilling boards or bigger pieces of metal, I'll usually clamp the work directly to the drill press table.
Mandatory cautionary declaration: Do not use a drill press to mill horizontally. Most larger drill presses use a ('Morse') tapered connection between the drive shaft and the chuck, and any side pressure can cause these to disengage while running, throwing sharp, heavy stuff around the shop and possibly causing injury.
This, ^^^ + Agree that a drill press is a great tool for any shop. Sometimes carful hand drilling is all thats required.If drilling out a stock for pillars is your only need for the drill press, this can easily be done (carefully!) using a regular hand drill. If you are going to use a drill press, you will likely also need some sort of table clamp/vise to hold the stock. Unless you have this, it will add $ to the budget.
That said, I wouldn't want to be without a drill press . . .
The immediate need is to drill pillars for multiple rifles where it makes sense to do so. Having a drill press for other projects that come up is also a plus.If drilling out a stock for pillars is your only need for the drill press, this can easily be done (carefully!) using a regular hand drill. If you are going to use a drill press, you will likely also need some sort of table clamp/vise to hold the stock. Unless you have this, it will add $ to the budget.
That said, I wouldn't want to be without a drill press . . .
Not so much recommending, but showing an example similar to mine.Thanks. Now, after looking at the above link, just curious why you recommend a 17" vs a 12"? I have never owned a drill press before, always used someone else's, so I may not appreciate the size difference. But yes, this is very helpful.
This is very true, but remember that we are drilling holes that are larger than 1/2" and using existing 1/4" pilot holes - gonna be tough to do a good job with a hand drill, and maybe a little dangerous. Clamp the hell out of your work.This, ^^^ + Agree that a drill press is a great tool for any shop. Sometimes carful hand drilling is all thats required.
I LOVE these "Kant-Twist" clamps and have a selection of them up to 6":The immediate need is to drill pillars for multiple rifles where it makes sense to do so. Having a drill press for other projects that come up is also a plus.
Thanks for that bit of info; I need to research what kind of clamp I need.
I do have a dremel. But if I use a drill press to bore out the hole, why do I need the Dremel for? I have not done pillars before.For stock/pillar work, a Dremel (or Dremel-like) tool is almost(?) a necessity. If you don't already have one, apologies for budget busting again.
Home Depot carries the grizzly product, which means I can pick up locally w/o the S&H.As is always good advice, buy the best you can afford/justify. The more you expect to use it, the greater the investment is justified. I'm not much for Harbor Freight crap, but Grizzly makes fairly good machine tools at reasonable prices. I'd say the average hobbyist could be quite happy with Grizzly tools.
This is similar to my Craftsman:
https://www.grizzly.com/products/grizzly-17-floor-drill-press/g7947
IMO, the same drill press that would be best for drilling your pillars would be the same drill press that is best for almost everything else. Good quality, stable/heavy, large table. For drilling pillar bores that get glued in with epoxy bedding compound, you'll need a chuck capable of using 1/2" shanks to use the larger drills needed.
For precision work, a vertical mill is by far the best device, but a heavy drill press with an adjustable vise can do most actual drilling to a "close enough" degree. I have an older Craftsman 17-speed, 1-1/2 HP free-standing/floor drill press, and often use it with a small machinist's vise mounted on an adjustable table for more demanding work. For coarse/heavy stuff, like drilling boards or bigger pieces of metal, I'll usually clamp the work directly to the drill press table.
Mandatory cautionary declaration: Do not use a drill press to mill horizontally. Most larger drill presses use a ('Morse') tapered connection between the drive shaft and the chuck, and any side pressure can cause these to disengage while running, throwing sharp, heavy stuff around the shop and possibly causing injury.
Radial drill presses are pretty bad. Too many points that can flex or become e loose.What do you think of a radial arm drill press like this Grizzly?
Grizzly Industrial 5 Speed Floor Radial Drill Press G7946 - The Home Depot
The G7946 34" Floor Radial Drill Press boasts a 1/2 HP motor that smoothly powers the five spindle speeds ranging from 550 - 3000 RPM. The headstock can be tilted 45° left, 90° right, and slid forwardwww.homedepot.com
[EDIT] Oh - this is a floor press. It's huge.
(In my best Crocodile Dundee voice)What do you think of a radial arm drill press like this Grizzly?