Knifemakers Modded Drill Presses and Getting the Folder Shop Tuned In!

Daniel Fairly Knives

Daniel Fairly Knives

Full Time Knifemaker
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Jan 9, 2011
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I'm streamlining my setup for folder making... re-arranging and improving!

My goals are to :

Improve Dust Collection and Ventilation - I was recirculating my air with a 3 micron dust collector which worked OK but not well enough for the amount of grinding I do. I'm moving to venting out into a collector and having airflow in for positive ventilation.

Drill Presses - I just chopped my 2 old presses down and ditched the movable tables for more accuracy while drilling. Instead of tables I use precision ground 1-2-3 blocks to support my work. I also got a new press and a tapmatic which are going to be used for a dedicated tapping setup.

Improve Grinders/Sahara Desert Situation - my grinders and big press are always covered in sand from the blast cab! Some sand stays in the blast cab but not much! :D Everything has been moved away from the blaster and I'm adding a partition to keep the sand off of everything. My horizontal and standard KMG are also right next to each other which has already helped a ton!


The dust collector still needs to be set up direct and is behind the grinders...









Low Rider converted press on left, standard one (same size originally) on right. The new Grizzly is getting a tapping head permanently installed as soon as I get this stuck Tapmatic arbor removed...





Low Rider big Grizzly Press! Newly chopped and column removed... I still need to check it with a dial indicator. The shop is a big mess!

 
Dude lookin sick!

I didnt realize you had a horizontal KMG. Epic.

I need to replace my HF drill press. You recommend grizzly?
 
Farchyld said:
Dude lookin sick!

I didnt realize you had a horizontal KMG. Epic.

I need to replace my HF drill press. You recommend grizzly?
Click to expand...

I get a lot of use from the horizontal KMG, it is great for keeping everything squared up.

Grizzly equipment and customer service is great, you can't go wrong. They are a step or two up from HF on the presses. The catalog is epic, phone book size! Woodworking and Guitar Making gear seems to be another specialty of theirs.

There are no Harbour Freight stores in my region, if one was nearby I'd go pick up their cheapest press. I think the quality varies between each press... all of the Chinese presses are the same castings/parts/etc but are made to different tolerances depending on the application. My small one is great but I bought a bigger one that had tons of runout at the spindle. They were great about returning it but I had to drive to Albuquerque.

If the spindle is straight with little runout I'd chop it then use a dial indicator/holder to sweep the press table... get it all straight and with $60 you can make folder holes! No mill required...
 
Thata boy, Daniel.
duz red dust need a special dust filter?
Do you back all your work, also? :D
 
:D Primered Flames for the presses are next... right after I install the stereos. I lightened them and threw in bigger windings for more torque! :D :p

Now time for that blast cab partition!
 
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