Converting Drill press to Mill?

R

Rylorien

Joined
Oct 7, 2000
Messages
26
What are the disadvantages of doing something like this instead of shelling out the amazing amount of cash for a milling machine? What are the drawbacks? The pluses?
Thanks for any info

Dennis

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Is that all you monks ever think about? Sects! Sects! Sects!
 
Don't do it!!! The only time I used my drill press for a milling type operation resulted in a bent spindle. I had chucked a small slitting saw to cut slots for a guard. I fed the stock very slowly and gently but it turns out even a slight lateral pressure would bend my MT3 spindle. I guess there is a reason that the column on a mill is at least 5-6 times thicker in diameter than on a drill press. Hope this helps.

Hugh

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President of Knifemakers Anonymous - "The sickness can be cured!" Call 1-800-cutfingers
 
Yeah bad idea.
I bought a cross feed vise and used that on a drill press to make guards. If everything was 100% tight with no lose parts you might get a decent slot.I made a lot of scrap for the caster. Bought a low budget end mill from Grizzly. It cuts guards just fine.
Hope this helps. The drill as a end mill is better than a hack saw but not much.
TJ Smith
 
Drillpress bearings are not designed to take side loading pressures like a mill.

BlacksmithRick@aol.com
 
I convert a Sears radial arm to a mill. I attached a mill table to the work table,then I attached 1" X 1/4" flat stock from work table to the base this stop the side play. I use it at the slowest speed and the majority of the time on brass, with no problems.

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INDIAN GEORGE
http://www.onlineknifeshow.com/maker36.html
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Another possibility happened to me when I tried it. If the MT isn't seated REAL firmly a little lateral pressure will knock the taper loose and let spindle, chuck, cutter and all exit the column while spinning rapidly into your workpiece, hands etc. Not the best way to spend an evening.

A Smithy 3in1 does it for me now. Good luck.

Gary Bradburn www.toptexknives.com/bradburn.htm
 
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