Drill press advice? New maker.

The Wen drill press in your link has what I call a "friction" depth stop. This will eventually wear and become unreliable. This will be a problem if you are doing anything that requires critical or repetitive depth control, such as countersinking or counterboring.
 
Dave Hub said:
Why do you use different sized bits? Why would you not use a 1/8" bit for 1/8" pins?
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The bit sizes I listed will give you holes that the pins will slide in easily with no gaps. Using an 1/8" bit for an 1/8" hole will have you blowing out material when you hammer them through your handle material. (Ask me how I know)[emoji6]
 
Oh, and since you may need to order them anyway, I might suggest colbolt, so you can drill through hardened steel.
 
Thanks for the tip! I just started this hobby, and I am having a helluva time fitting up my knife with pins. So the general rule is to go one size larger, correct?

Again, thanks a bunch. That should make life easier.
 
You can check a feed and speed calculator or chart for yourself; with 1/8" HSS, you should be doing 1200 RPM or more. That's at 40 SFM, which is slow and safe. I looked up a typical stainless (440C) and found the recommended speed was 65 SFM, so 1986 RPM.

Small tools can go very fast because the linear speed of the cutting edges is low.

Good drill bits make all the difference, and you should be using cutting oil. Something like Ridgid pipe threading oil is fine. Home Depot has gallon jugs. You will never run out!

Just be sure you don't buy your drill bits there, unless they're non-Chinese. Even Chinese Harbor Freight bits are better than Chinese Home Depot bits.
 
Dave Hub said:
Thanks for the tip! I just started this hobby, and I am having a helluva time fitting up my knife with pins. So the general rule is to go one size larger, correct?

Again, thanks a bunch. That should make life easier.
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If you have a set of fractional drill bits, the next size up will be too large and you will have gaps. Use the sizes I referenced. Check Amazon for deals, or just order them from one of the knife supply places when you place your next order.
 
Dave Hub said:
So the general rule is to go one size larger ?
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Sort of, one would use a larger dia. bit, but it wont necesseraly be the "next size larger"
You need to get a drill size chart. It will show the actual diameter of a drillbit measured in thousanths of an inch.
For any given drillbit, its next closest larger or smaller size maybe identified by a number, letter, or fractional.

Metric drillbits sometimes included in Drill Charts also.
Of course they can be measured in thousandths of in as well and might be the precise larger dia. needed.

But...
Ordinary drillbits even in a decent drillpress will drill a hole whats "kinda sloppy".
But for the most part its plenty accurate enough for a guy making hobby knives.
 
I'd recommend investing in a numbered and lettered drill bit set. Harbor Freight carries a set of Cobalt HSS bits for about $99, which goes on sale from time to time. I think I picked up a set for $89. Also, find a chart as mentioned by several folks that gives you the correct drill bit to size of hole. Not all of the bit's are labeled in SAE or Metric values, just the number/letter for the size.
 
That is one way to go stomp, and I considered it, but for knife making I only really ever use F, #30 (for pins), 3/8" for putting holes in a full tang knife to lighten it, and a chamfer bit for lanyard tubes. Just my two cents.
 
I will strictly be using the drill press for tiny pins and lightening the tang as kdog said. Considering I'm still on a 1x30 grinder I'd like to save as much money as possible on the drill press. I don't plan on doing any folders at the moment, mainly just fixed blades like asian tantos and eventually Kitchen knives with japanese style wa handles.
Only drill press that has been on my local craigslist in the past 2 months has a minimum speed of 720 and is pretty old. A friend of mine has the WEN 4214 which is the model above the one I am currently looking at and he raves about it but it is $100 more.
Not sure if it is worth $100 to go to for the better one between the two.
https://www.amazon.com/WEN-4214-12-Inch-Variable-Speed/dp/B00HQONFY6 - 4214
http://www.sears.com/wen-10inch-dri...ears&prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2#Imagezoom - 4210
I would like to sell my knives one day but I'm getting mixed feelings. Some people tell me I'm fine using a $70 from Harbor Freight and some people are saying the WEN isn't good enough.
 
You will get many opinions. I will tell you I have a friend who is a local maker who makes a living making fixed blade knives. He has a mill, but he uses his harbor freight bench top press for drilling for pins. His work is top notch.
 
Thanks kdog. My teacher told me the WEN should be fine and I consider him a master of the craft. His folders are Top Notch and the way his "pinned" pins become invisible in a bolster blew my mind at first. I was the sous chef at a local fine dining restaurant but now have an 11month old child and became a part time prep cook to help my wife raise him so money is now an issue where it was not before. I also have been running a knife repair/sharpening on business on the side using diamond plates and water stones and consider my freehand sharpening top notch, but the business is very slow in my area.
the 4212 is the top of my budget but goes slower than the 4210 and has a stronger motor.
https://www.amazon.com/WEN-4214-12-Inch-Variable-Speed/dp/B00HQONFWS
I unfortunately cannot go above this with my budget. The $80 saved by the 4210 is appealing but a better machine will pay for itself in the long run.
 
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You will likely be fine with the cheapest drill press you can find... especially for holes under 1/4". A larger more rigid press that runs slower will enable you to drill holes easier, cause less bit wear and likely drill without clamping the knife... good for production. I made 100's of knives with a $35 HF press then stepped up to a larger Grizzly that runs slow... i now mostly use my mini mill as a press and it will do it all.

You probably need F bits for 1/4" holes, #30 for 1/8" and maybe W for 3/8"... no need for lots of bits.
 
I'm going to echo the Count and say buy something decent used. Drill presses are common as house flies on craigslist and can be had fairly cheap.

-Clint
 
i have to step up and saywhen i was building my tools up from the start i used my dads drill press (little crafsmen bench top) so when it cam time for me to get my own it wass a HF mini mill. you can drill with a mill but milling i a drill press is jsut waitig for bad things to happen
i will haveot mike my pin stock but i have been using 1/8 inch bits for years with SS pinstock i get as mig wire 1/8 inch spec
it is snug fit but have only cracked one scale in years due to pin too tight
 
Generally speaking I find Sears power tools to be over priced (so they can put them on sale and sell them at a fair price for what you get) . . .

less than Pro duty rated (more like home wanna be but never gets around to it duty).

The exception is old Sears power tools from like the 1960s. They had some iron and quality in them.
Most now are sheet metal and aluminum and plastic.

I would stick with a reputable power tool supplier rather than a department store.
No seriously. When you have a warranty claim or need a part or a repair you are going to thank me.
Talk to people who have tried to get a timely rational response out of a Sears store along those lines; you'll come around.
 
Harbor Freight
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The one time I went in a Harbor Freight store I got so depressed at what I saw I never went back.
It is like Disney Land . . . just facades and fantasy for tool dudes but without the fun or the quality.

You've been warned.
 
Thanks again for all the advice guys. About to order some drill bits from MSC and my press should be delivered tuesday. Any particular threading oil that just works the best I should order along with my bits or should I just grab some generic threading oil from Home Depot as Ginsu said? Also I am extremely new to this, do I need machine length drill bits? Had no idea there would be so many kinds of drill bits oO
 
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For your uses, You can get by just fine with most any cutting oil. Btw, Regular motor oil will work pretty good...
For general work, I use Rigid NuClear. Simply because I was given a gallon jug & its lasted a couple years now.

For drillbits, Jobber length is probably best all'round, but stubbys are a bit easier for accuracy.
You will end up using alot of drillbits in some sizes, others will be seldom ever.
Experience in your style of work will tell you what sizes to stock up on.

comet_sharp said:
Thanks again for all the advice guys. About to order some drill bits from MSC and my press should be delivered tuesday. Any particular threading oil that just works the best I should order along with my bits or should I just grab some generic threading oil from Home Depot as Ginsu said? Also I am extremely new to this, do I need machine length drill bits? Had no idea there would be so many kinds of drill bits oO
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