'Milling' with a drill press

[sleake]

Hi all.

The books make it pretty clear that a drill press is a vital bit of machinery, ive got all the usual woodwork gear and once had an ancient press that had so much runout in the spindle it was worthless so i ditched it.

Now looking at a new press, and was hoping to get away with a 'budget' generic pedestal drill for around 400 bucks.

In addition to drilling, i was wondering if anyone has had success with using a basic press and a 2 axis vice for simple timber milling operations, such as saddle slots, slotted headstocks, truss rod slots etc.

I can see that low rpm and sideway bearing play might be potentially problematic, but perhaps light passed and slow feed rates can overcome this?

Hoping there might be some success stories, or perhaps tales of woe.

Cheers steve.

[nkforster]

You can "mill" on a drill press with a Saftey planer. Stewmac sell a version of it. Though it has to be said, the results from this are not great, neither is is all that safe. I've used one for thicknessing heads but I have to say its a faff to set up and the results were not as clean as I'd hoped. A tablesaw is easier. and better.

A drill press doesn't run fast enough to mill slots for saddles or to rout slots. You need a router or spindle moulder for this.

A drill press is good for drilling holes. That's what I use mine for. With a small buff you can polish nuts and saddles. Thats about all you can do with them.

[Allen]

You'd be better off buying a small milling machine if that is what you plan on using it for. I have a full size knee mill that is a kick ass drill, as well as full on milling anything from timber to steel. Works a treat for thicknessing bone for nuts and saddles.

[kiwigeo]

"In addition to drilling, i was wondering if anyone has had success with using a basic press and a 2 axis vice for simple timber milling operations, such as saddle slots, slotted headstocks, truss rod slots etc."

I use a router or router table for all of these operations. For cutting saddle slots I use a Dremel and a Stewmac jig.

[sleake]

You'd be better off buying a small milling machine if that is what you plan on using it for. I have a full size knee mill that is a kick ass drill, as well as full on milling anything from timber to steel. Works a treat for thicknessing bone for nuts and saddles.

Thanks Allen.

Yes thats the decision I'm currently tossing up, as a proper metalworking mill has so much versatility when compared to just a drill press, albeit at a higher price, but i can think of a million and one uses for it.

[blackalex1952]

I have seen a small combination lathe/milling machine/drill press on a Facebook ad, made in China for under $400. If I was flash.... ($400 is luthier wood or food to me). There may be an Aussie importer of similar machines, possibly worth checking out for build quality...?
I have a safety planer, and I think they are a bit scary, although I use it for certain jobs...I also use a cross slide vice and milling bits on my drill press for small items like bridges.
Cheers! Ross

[TKAY]

Milling with a drill press is somewhat problematic. I have a NOVA voyager DVR press, which is able to achieve up to 5000 rpm ,however one needs to be extremely careful that the spindles are secure as most are only a morse taper and the chucks do not even have a tang.
It is very disconcerting to have the chuck and cutter to drop down while being used . Cutting on one side can lnduce small vibrations which will dislodge the shank of the drill. That said this drill is able with care (at a price) for minor milling in timber and the speed changing at the turn of a knob is FANTASTIC!!!!!

[sleake]

Thanks so much for the first hand advice everyone.

Time to go mill shopping